Awful Timing for Stop & Shop's Associate Appreciation Day

As of now you may know that Stop and Shop workers  authorized a strike. 

Now, Stop and Shop is having an “associate appreciation day” this upcoming Friday.  This is simply outrageous as the contract with 6,000 workers expires the next day!

Release: Union Contract Covering 5,500 Stop and Shop Workers Set to Expire Midnight Sunday

United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500 (UFCW), New York State's largest grocery workers union, received authorization Monday evening from their members employed by Stop and Shop Supermarket to call a work stoppage should negotiations fail to produce an acceptable agreement. The strike authorization allows the Union to call a strike after the November 2 contract expiration date. The strike vote was taken in response to Stop and Shop's attempts to drastically reduce employee healthcare benefits and, for some workers, eliminate them completely.

A labor dispute with Stop and Shop would affect 5,500 members employed by Stop and Shop Supermarkets operating in Long Island, New York City's Five Boroughs, Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties. The current collective bargaining agreement with Stop and Shop expired on September 28, 2013 however both parties agreed to two contract extensions

"The members of our Union working for Stop and Shop are prepared to negotiate a fair contract," said Anthony Speelman, Local 1500's Secretary Treasurer and lead negotiator for the Union's Stop and Shop bargaining committee, "They understand there must be changes to their Health Fund to be compliant under the legal requirements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). They have approached these negotiations with an open mind."

"Unfortunately, Stop and Shop has responded to their employees' good faith bargaining efforts with negotiating tactics that are arrogant and insincere," Speelman continued. "Last night those employees sent a clear message to Stop and Shop that they will do whatever it takes to protect the Union contract they have earned over the years and will no longer tolerate disrespect from Stop and Shop management. Our members always hope for the best but are prepared and ready for the worst," concluded Speelman.

United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500, based out of Westbury, New York represents grocery workers in New York City, Long Island, Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties. Members of Local 1500 are employed by A&P/Pathmark, Fairway, Stop and Shop, Gristedes, D'Agastino, Key Food, Shop Rite and King Kullen. Stay up to date with UFCW Local 1500 on twitter @ufcw1500, facebook.com/ufcw1500, www.ufcw1500.org.

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Stop and Shop Supermarket Workers Set To Authorize Strike

Union Contract Covering over 5,500 Members Set to Expire Midnight Sunday

United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500 (UFCW), New York State's largest grocery workers union, will ask over 5,500 Stop and Shop Supermarket workers for the authority to call a Union strike that could come as early as next Sunday, November 3rd. The strike authorization meetings will take place Monday night October 28th in Nassau and Westchester Counties. The strike vote is being taken in response to Stop and Shops attempts to drastically reduce employee healthcare benefits and, for some workers, eliminate them completely.

Effected members are employed by Stop and Shop Supermarkets operating in Long Island, the five boroughs, Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties.

The current collective bargaining agreement with Stop and Shop expired on September 28th, 2013 but both parties agreed to two contract extensions. The most recent extension is set to expire on November 2nd, 2013.

"The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was not passed with the intent of eliminating an employers responsibility to provide affordable and comprehensive healthcare to its employees," said Anthony Speelman, Local 1500's Secretary Treasurer and lead negotiator for the Union's Stop and Shop bargaining committee. " Stop and Shop seems to think the ACA is an opportunity to achieve three goals: increase their profits, pick their employees pockets and undermine the Union contract. That type of irresponsible bargaining will only lead to three conclusions: a work stoppage, unnecessary inconvenience for their customers and devastating economic damage to hundreds of New York communities," Speelman continued.

"The Union came to the bargaining table in good faith understanding that we would have to make changes to our Health Fund to be compliant under the legal requirements of the ACA and there is no question that the ACA has presented unprecedented challenges," Speelman stated. "However, there are solutions. The Union's solutions will address both sides' economic needs. Stop and Shop's solutions will only address their greed," Speelman concluded.

The meetings being held Monday nights are at the following locations:

- 7:00 PM, Long Island Marriott in Uniondale (by Nassau Coliseum) 101 James Doolittle Blvd, Uniondale, NY

- 7:30 PM Holiday Inn, 1 Holiday Inn Drive, Mt. Kisco, NY

United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500, based out of Westbury, New York represents grocery workers in New York City, Long Island, Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties. Members of Local 1500 are employed by A&P/Pathmark, Fairway, Stop and Shop, Gristedes, D'Agastino, Key Food, Shop Rite and King Kullen. Stay up to date with UFCW Local 1500 on twitter @ufcw1500, facebook.com/ufcw1500, www.ufcw1500.org.

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Negotiation Committees Meet Up to Prepare for Negotiations

With negotiations between Stop & Shop and King Kullen stagnant, negotiation committees met this morning to gear up for today's negotiation sessions.

The two committees gathered together to discuss negotiation strategy, and issues that have been affecting both sides.  "I've been with King Kullen for 37-years," said committee member Norman Checkers, "We're fighting to create a better future for ourselves and our families, that's the most important thing about our union,  we're all  fighting for our families' livelihood."

Both King Kullen and Stop & Shop will be holding contract update meetings where strike authorization votes may be taken next week (Monday, 10/28 Stop and Shop, Tuesday, 10/29 King Kullen).  After the meeting and exchanging of ideas, committees went out to negotiations with their respective companies.

Release: UFCW 1500 Schedules Contract Update/Potential Strike Vote Meetings for Next Week

For Immediate Release:

Supermarket Union Schedules Contract Update Meetings

Strike Vote to Be Taken if Necessary as November 2nd Expiration Date Approaches

United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500 (UFCW), New York State's largest grocery workers union, announced today that they would be scheduling contract update meetings for over 10.000 members employed by King Kullen and Stop and Shop supermarket chains. The Union also announced that the purpose of these meetings may also be to take a strike authorization vote should the lack of progress towards a fair settlement continue.

The collective bargaining agreements with each company expired on September 28th, 2013 but all parties had previously agreed to two contract extensions. The most recent extension is set to expire on November 2nd, 2013. However minimal progress has been made due to repeated attempts by the employers to use the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements as a basis to rollback the entire Union contract.

"We came to the bargaining table in good faith understanding that we would have to make changes to our Health and Welfare Fund to be compliant under the new requirements of the ACA" said Anthony Speelman, Local 1500's Secretary Treasurer and lead negotiator for the Unions Stop and Shop bargaining committee. "Stop and Shop came to these negotiations with the hopes of using the Affordable Care Act to gut the entire Union contract. That was a tremendous mistake. The members of our Union have worked and fought for many years to protect their hard earned benefits and if Stop and Shop thinks it is going to undo all of that because of Obamacare they are in for a rude awakening," Speelman stated.

"There is no question that the ACA has presented challenges during these negotiations," Speelman continued. "However our Union negotiating committee has no doubt that a resolution can be reached that will preserve our member's affordable and comprehensive healthcare plan if the company representatives would focus on mutual need rather than employer greed. The membership of our Union is prepared to do whatever is necessary should Stop and Shop continue to take this troubling approach," Speelman concluded.

Meetings are being arranged for Monday October 28 for Stop and Shop members and Tuesday October 29th for King Kullen members. Further details on times and locations will be released by the Union as soon as arrangements are finalized.

United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500, based out of Westbury, New York represents grocery workers in New York City, Long Island, Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties. Members of Local 1500 are employed by A&P/Pathmark, Fairway, Stop and Shop, Gristedes, D'Agastinos, Key Food, Shop Rite and King Kullen. Stay up to date with UFCW Local 1500 on twitter @ufcw1500, facebook.com/ufcw1500, www.ufcw1500.org.

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• WA State: 98% of UFCW Union Vote to Strike Because of Obamacare

Top 13 things that Happened this week! Congratulations to Rhonda Nelson!

1.  Secretary Treasurer Tony Speelman on this week's negotiations with Stop & Shop and King Kullen: "We will not allow them to GUT our Healthcare." #standStrong.

2.  Here's a shocker alert, Humans are trumping robots at self-scanners.  Only optimism, self-scanners have tons of simple deficiencies 

3.  Check out UFCW 21's countdown till strike and show your solidarity with them.  Update on last week's story- Maximus workers in Texas are on day-nine of their strike with no date scheduled to resume negotiations.

4.  Walmart workers went on strike in Miami on Friday, in protest of firings.  They also offered a job back to an employee who was fired after helping an assault victim, problem is, the former employee doesn't want his job at Walmart back.

5.  Target has a new sustainable product gouge. 

6. The Shutdown: is OVER! By the way, the Labor Department was operating at just 20% during the shutdown.

7.  Fairway introduced new Fairway Coffee pods! Hooray

8.  Pittsburgh is solving their Food Desert problems. 

9.  Looming SNAP Cuts are putting our country in danger of falling off the #HungerCliff- Find our more about the growing anxiety in families throughout the country as SNAP (food-stamps) are set to expire on October 31st.

10.  NYC Mayoral Candidate Bill de Blasio stopped by to support Fast-Food workers this week.  He said: “The bottom line is, this is an unsupportable situation where every day hard-working people can’t make ends meet, and the companies involved certainly can do more,” de Blasio said as a squad of fast-food workers cheered behind him, and reporters scribbled notes on steno-pads. “And it is right, it is right, for leaders in government to step up on behalf of these workers and help them organize to win their rights."

11.  Graphic of the week via ProLaborAlliance:

12. Check out a sneak-peak of the Food Chain Workers Alliance new video- "Guess Who's Coming to Breakfast"

13. Breast Cancer Walk is THIS Sunday! Register here!

Like the news? Follow us on Twitter!

14. Bonus: Our Recorder, Rhonda Nelson, for being named one of the top 50 influential women on Long Island this week! Well deserved and we're proud to have her in fighting for our UNION!

Top 13 Things That Went On This Week: Oct. 11

1.  We've signed another contract extenstion with Stop & Shop and King Kullen, bringing our deadline to midnight, November 2nd.  Supermarket News covered the extension also. 2.  Amazon's German workers threaten to strike before Christmas. 3.  250 workers in Houston Texas at Maximus Coffee (most of which are UFCW members) went on strike yesterday, in protest to managment's proposals to cut wages & benefits, increase premiums, and eliminating overtime...even on holidays. 4.  Safeway is exiting the Chicago market and disposing of its' 74 stores by 2014.    6. The Shutdown: Tired of this nonsense? Senator Warren is too- Check out what she had to say.  Business groups are seeing a major loss of influence in the Republican party...Why? The Tea Party.  And businesses are not happy to be hurting during the shutdown.  Republicans are getting the most blame for the shutdown....And apparently Americans like 'Nickelback more than Congress' 7.  32BJ has a ULP strike in Chelsea Manhattan, check picket line info here. 8.  Postal workers have elected new leadership, dedicated to building a movement. 9.  Anxiety is growing in families throughout the country as SNAP (food-stamps) are set to expire on October 31st. 10.  Fast-Food workers in Oregon have won a union! 11.  Interested in Immigration Reform? Check out The Daily Show's take on reforming immigration in U.S. from last night. 12. Another deadly factory fire has left 10 dead. 13.  Hospitals and insurers throughout the nation are trying to figure out how to reduce costs from patients dubbed "Super-Utlizers" - (Good read on ACA, healthcare) 14. Breast Cancer Walk is next Sunday! Register here! Like the news? Follow us on Twitter!

Second Contract Extension Signed with Stop & Shop, King Kullen...Deadline: Nov. 2nd

October 11, 2013:  Negotiations for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) covering over 10,000 UFCW Local 1500 members working for Stop and Shop and King Kullen Supermarkets and Pharmacy have been ongoing now for months.

Our Union negotiators felt it was important to sign another extension through November 2, 2013, so we may continue to remain patient while thoroughly reviewing every option and every issue the ACA has created. Our committee is doing everything we can to resolve the difficult issues and cost increases created by this new Federal law.

Read the full update here: www.ufcw150.org/contract2013

Maximus Coffee Workers Strike in Houston to Protest Company’s Plan to Slash Benefits

The UFCW International just released a statement regarding over 250 workers (mostly UFCW member) going on strike to protest company plans to reduce wages & benefits, increase premiums and eliminate overtime.  This is outrageous, we stand with our union brothers and sisters at Local 455.

Houston Texas: Over 250 Maximus Coffee Group workers in Houston, a majority of who are members of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) Local 455, went on strike this morning to protest the company’s plan to reduce wages from 25 to 50 percent per hour, reduce retirement benefits, increase insurance premiums, and eliminate overtime pay. Maximus Coffee Group’s U.S. headquarters is located in Houston.    

“Maximus Coffee workers in Houston are simply trying to protect middle class jobs and their benefits after working hard to make their company profitable,” said UFCW Local 455 President Bill Hopkins. 

 “I hope this strike sends a strong message to the company and moves the negotiation process to a successful conclusion.” “I’ve worked at this plant for 41 years and for Maximus Coffee since 2006 when they purchased the plant from Maxwell House,” said Robert Barnes. “I haven’t gotten a real raise since 2009, and don’t know how I’ll be able to support my family if my wages and benefits are reduced.” 

What Went on This Week: ACA, Fairway Openings, Walmart Struggles

1.  We've released another update on negotiations with Stop & Shop and King Kullen

2.  The amazingly delicious (and union) Fairway is opening up in Tribeca....And in Suffolk County in 2014.

3.  Fresh & Easy filed for bankruptcy, officially.  The details: Fresh and Easy owes their parent company, Tesco, $738 million.

4.  More Fresh: Fresh Direct has done the unthinkable, convinced customers to buy fish...over the internet.

5.  The Teamsters are back to work after rejecting the latest contract offer from Wegmans.  Around 900 workers rejected the offer.  The two sides are continuing to talk through the weekend, and expect to have a contract by Oct. 15.

6.  We hear a lot of bad things on the ACA for companies, but major drug stores have to a lot gain from health care reform.

7. The GOP Shutdown is not only hurting real people, it's hurting businesses: Business Week reports many companies can't hire new employees, and are finding it harder and harder to sympathize with their default business party, the Republicans.  Two videos to watch on the Shutdown, 1) John Stewart.  2) President Obama tore into Republicans on the shutdown, which is worth the watch.

8.  The march for Immigrant Respect & Dignity is tomorrow, UFCW will be there.

9.  Earlier this year Walmart struggled to stock shelves, now, they're cutting supply orders as unsold merchandise is piling up in stores. Which leads to the question media outlets are asking, are Walmart customers disappearing? And of course, Walmart's Bangladesh safety scheme is dividing the Democratic Party...

10.  In These Times asks: Is the Fast-Food workers' fight for $15 real?  

11.  The Food Marketing Institute is urging customers not to panic during the government shut down, and to use their SNAP allotment wisely.

12. A CNN poll shows, people in unions are happier. 

13. Disney World has promoted their Part-Time workers to Full-Time for Obamacare benefits.  And the question still looms, which is better, Obamacare or the Affordable Care Act?

Bonus: Check out our October Event Calendar.