Top 10 Stories This Week!

Northwestern University Football Players Given Right to Form a Union 

This monumental ruling could potentially change the $16 billion dollar NCAA college sports industry. Universities and the NCAA couldn't be more furious about giving rights to players they've been profiting off of for decades.  Read more.  And if you're still unconvinced that College Athletes need unions, here's 8 reasons why.

WHAT'S NEWS THIS WEEK   2. GOP Senators put Unemployement Aid Pressure on John Boehner

3. Former A&P Exec. Pleads Guilty to Fraud  Later in the week, A&P admitted they tipped investigators off.  Last week the company named a new President.

4. Instacart is now in NYC A service that hires "freelance" delivery persons to shop at your favorite supermarkets, and deliver them straight to your door.

5. US Senate Report: Target Missed Warning Signs Prior to Massive Data Breach

6. Triangle Shirtwaist Fire's 103rd Anniversary  A major turning point in U.S. labor history after 146 immigrant garment workers perished after being locked inside a building when a fire broke out at their job.  This emotional day is commemerated each year in New York City, and after last year's horrific factory fire/collapses in Bangladesh, the lessons or workplace safety still need to be taught. Professor Peter Drier asks, Have we Forgot the Lessons from the Fire?

7. Hobby Lobby Case "challenges" "Obamacare" A For-Profit company craft store is asking the Supreme Court to recognize them with the same religious freedoms as a Church or individual. Are corporations people, yet?  John Stewart gives his take.

8. Fresh Market's Original CEO is leaving the Board

9. UFCW President Hansen Urges Support on Immigration Reform

10. Huge thanks to all who came out and donated at our bi-annual Blood Drive this week!

Top 10 Industry Stories This Week:

1. Say Goodbye to Sam Martin, A&P has a new CEO. 

2.  The Salon looks at the battle between UFCW and Target, and why a re-election won't be happening.

3. Mrs. Green's announced plans to open more than 20 stores..

4.  Expanded Paid Sick Days bill is now a law in NYC.

5.  For the first time, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has recognized that federal labor law protects workers in the medical marijuana industry. Read more.

6.  Great read by Michelle Chen: "On-Call Schedule", is this right for Retail Workers?

7.  There has been a different approach to fixing "low-wage workers" in our country.

8.  The richest 10% in our country take a bigger slice of the pie than in 1913, the peak of The Gilded Age.  Check out this New York Times report on unequal wealth.  

9.  Happy Women's History Month: A GOP lawmaker says bills like equal pay and sick leave, make women look like whiners.

10.  UFCW 1500 Negotiation Committees from Manixx and SRS ShopRite will meet on March 27.

11.  We're hosting an Emergency Blood Drive on Tuesday, March 25th from 2-8pm at our union HQ- For more info or to RSVP head here. 

A&P Gets a New CEO

Pathmark (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Attention Pathmark members: A&P has named Paul Hertz as new CEO.  Hertz replaces Sam Martin, read more.

Top News 3/14

— TOP 10 16 INDUSTRY/LABOR NEWS ARTICLES FROM THIS WEEK —

1. McDonald's workers across 3 states launch class-action suits... The battle to transform the enormous fast-food industry continues, workers allege wage theft. 1a. Associated Press: Low Wage Workers, an Unexpected Reality for Many Americans. 2.  On Thursday Kroger's board of directors approved a billion dollar stock "buy-back".  They're also rumored to be "mulling" acquisitions. 3. Raising minimum wage talks are happening all over Washington, and it's about time.  4.  Don't let Ahold cry broke, they just bought 50 Czech stores for over $230 million, and announced they'll be sourcing sustainable coffees and teas. 5.  King Kullen's Wild by Nature is replacing a closed King Kullen in West Islip. 6.  Chicago's plastic bag ban is getting a second shot. 7.  What happened to being unstoppable?  The touted Fresh Market is closing 4 stores to concentrate on "existing markets". 8.  Last week, Safeway and Albertson's agreed to merge. 9.  Forbes: Raising the Minimum Wage would help Walmart...And America. 10. Walmart's CEO publicly acknowledged the "lack of opportunity for workers". 11. Truck Stop workers in Jersey just voted to join the RWDSU. 12.  UFCW 1500 Negotiation Committees from Manixx and SRS ShopRite met with the company and exchanged proposals this week.  Next negotiation session will be on March 27. 13.  We're hosting an Emergency Blood Drive on March 25th from 2-8pm at our union HQ- For more info or to RSVP head here.  14.  Mrs. Green's Natural Market fired 9 workers who were leading voices for unionization.  Now, Westchester politicians are calling for a boycott.   Mrs. Green's has refused to comment publicly, to get involved send us an email! 15. The UFCW International just launched a new Facebook page for retail workers, focused on #RaiseTheWage. 16. The new CEO of Delahize (Hannaford) has some new plans for the company. Thanks! Got a suggestion? Reply to this message.  Follow us on Twitter for news all day long!

March Event Calendar

March 2014

Spring is almost here! Below you'll find the latest news and some upcoming events our Union is holding throughout March.

— LATEST NEWS & EVENTS — General Membership Meeting Wednesday, March 12, 20147:00 PM @ UFCW 1500 HQ Get involved at our first General Membership meeting of the year.  Have your questions on contracts, health benefits, pensions and negotiations answered by your Union Reps. and Executives. The meeting is held at UFCW Local 1500 HQ: 425 Merrick Ave. Westbury, NY 11590.   RSVP Now Emergency Blood DriveMarch 25, 20142:00- 8:00 PM @ UFCW 1500 HQ Make a difference in your community, give blood!  After a cold winter filled with blood shortages, the New York Blood Center has reached out and asked our union for help. Please donate or volunteer on March 25th, so we can help others in desperate need of blood!  RSVP is necessary, food and refreshments will be served throughout the day. Learn More Now & RSVP your time slot now! March Newsletter Now Available Online Check out the latest edition of The Register, our quarterly periodical addressing important issues our union faces each day.   Inside this issue we take a close look at our Organizing Team's fight against Mrs. Green's Natural Market in Mt. Kisco, we check-in at Whitestone Key Food, give a 2014 Political outlook and much more!  Download your copy (PDF) here! After you've read it, we'd like to know what you think!  Simply reply to this message or email info@ufcw1500.org with your comments or suggestions! UFCW International Scholarship: Apply Today - June 20, 2014! In 2014 the UFCW International will award several Scholarships, up to $8,000 each, to UFCW members or their unmarried dependents under the age of 20.  The application will be available online through June 20, 2014.   If you're unable to apply online, you may request an application by writing to: UFCW  International Union, Attn: Scholarship Program, 1775 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006. If you need the scholarship rules or an application in another language, please contact us at 1-800-551-4010 and we will obtain assistance for you.  Learn More Now Get social with your union:  Find us on Facebook.com/ufcw1500 and follow us @ufcw1500