UFCW Local 1500 Announces Endorsement of Jessica Ramos in NY Senate District 13

 WESTBURY, NY (03/19/2018) (readMedia)-- United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Local 1500, New York State's largest grocery workers union today announced its endorsement of Jessica Ramos to be the next New York State Senator to represent the constituents from District 13.

"Working in the Labor movement for over a decade, Jessica has shown strong leadership, aggressively fighting for her Union brothers and sisters while also organizing within her community," said UFCW Local 1500 President Anthony G. Speelman. "UFCW Local 1500 is excited to support Jessica Ramos and help her bring her strong working-class values and deep understanding of working women and men's values to the New York Senate, " Speelman concluded.

UFCW 1500 represents 18,000 members and promotes progressive policies such as demanding Walmart be held accountable for its unethical business practices, supporting the expansion of supermarkets into underserved communities and creating good food, good jobs and good health for all New Yorkers. Other Issues of importance to Local 1500 members include aggressive wage theft prosecution, demanding labor standards be attached to corporate subsidies and strengthening New York City land use laws.

UFCW Local 1500 has an active "Women's Network Program," which addresses issues particular to women such as domestic violence and breast cancer. Over half of UFCW Local 1500's members are women.

"Jessica Ramos has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of working families for many years," said Robert W. Newell Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of UFCW Local 1500. "We know that Jessica will be an aggressive fighter for the residents of Queens and will bring the same passion that she has for improving the lives of her Union members to the New York State Senate. UFCW Local 1500 members look forward to helping elect a true labor candidate in the 13th district" Newell concluded.
"Thank you, Anthony G. Speelman, Robert W. Newell Jr. and UFCW Local 1500 for their strong support and commitment to our effort to build a coalition to make a difference for our working families our immigrants and our youth in Queens," stated Ramos.

UFCW Local 1500 has members in New York City, Long Island, Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties. Members of Local 1500 are employed by Stop and Shop, Shop Rite, Fairway, King Kullen, Gristedes, D'Agostinos, Key Food and workers at the Hale and Hearty Commissary. Learn more at www.ufcw1500.org

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We are over 18,000 workers standing together to build an economy that every hard-working family in New York deserves. Join the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1500 at ufcw1500.org and follow us @ufcw1500.

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Stop & Shop and King Kullen Ratified [2.21.2018]

     Stop & Shop and King Kullen Ratified

      We are extremely pleased to announce that both the Stop & Shop and King Kullen contracts were overwhelmingly ratified today!  After a months-long battle at the bargaining table to win better wages and secure pensions and healthcare, the membership of Local 1500 that work at Stop & Shop and King Kullen got to vote on their tentative settlements today.  For the record that’s over 9,000 Local 1500 members that are celebrating a new contract!  Without a doubt, this was a very unique set of negotiations, and the membership negotiating committees deserve all the credit for working hard and bringing these deals home for a vote.  Thank you to the great Local 1500 membership for your continued support as we could never do it without you!

Stop & Shop members in Staten Island reviewing & voting on the agreement today.

Stop & Shop Settlement [2-8-2018]

Stop & Shop Settlement

        Good afternoon.  We are very pleased to announce that late this afternoon the Stop & Shop negotiating team reached a tentative settlement with the company. After many weeks of difficult negotiations, your negotiating committee unanimously recommended a new 3 year contract that will secure benefits, increase wages and better your working conditions on the job!  It was an extremely tough road given the challenges that the negotiators faced with the NY Minimum Wage on the rise and the cost of maintaining your current level of Pension and Welfare benefits.  Your Stop & Shop committee fought through it all and stood firm on their belief that any reductions in your pension and/or welfare plans were completely unacceptable.   Your ten-person committee, along with the three Executive Board members should be highly commended for sitting across from the company and holding the line during such difficult negotiations.  It was not an easy task by any stretch of the imagination, and in the end your committee saw it through to a successful conclusion.  Voting on this agreement is being scheduled to take place within the next two weeks.  As always you will all have an opportunity to read through the settlement and ask questions prior to voting.  Look out in your stores and on social media for voting notices and announcements.  Once again, thank you to the entire committee on a job well done! #OurUnionHasValue

King Kullen Settlement Reached!! [Feb 6th 2018]

King Kullen Settlement Reached!!

    Good morning!  We are pleased to announce that last night the King Kullen negotiating team reached a tentative settlement with the company. After many weeks of difficult negotiations, your negotiating committee unanimously recommended a new contract that will secure wages and benefits for the next five years!  It was an extremely tough road given the challenges that negotiators are facing with Minimum Wage on the rise and the cost of maintaining your current level of Pension and Welfare benefits.  Your King Kullen committee fought through it all and stood firm on their belief that any reductions in your pension and/or welfare plans were completely unacceptable.   Your committee, Kelly Johnson (store #16), Jean Picard (store #46), Cindy Williams (store #55), George Romahn (store #51), and Danny Gleason (store #1) should be commended for sitting across from the company and holding the line during such difficult negotiations.  It was not an easy task by any stretch of the imagination.  Voting on this agreement is being scheduled to take place within the next two weeks and as always you will have an opportunity to read through the settlement and ask questions prior to voting.  Look out in your stores and on social media for voting notices and announcements.  Once again, thank you to the entire committee on a job well done! #OurUnionHasValue

Thank you for your membership and your continued support.
Your UFCW Local 1500 negotiating team

Attention Dan’s Supreme members [1-19-2018]

Attention Dan’s Supreme members

We are pleased to report that this afternoon your negotiating committee and company have reached a tentative agreement on your contract!  This contract expired on June 24^th, 2017 and we have been working with an extension since then.  Today we tentatively settled on a four year deal that we feel will substantially benefit the members of Local 1500 working at Dan’s Supreme.  Please stay tuned for voting information as we are looking for this settlement to be voted within the next two weeks.  Congratulations to Theresa Perrino, Mike Nass, and Joanie Stilson for a job well-done, and the rest of the Dan’s membership for their support!

Your Dan’s Supreme Key Food negotiating team

TOPS Update [12.13.2017]

Dear Tops Members,

We are pleased to announce that we were able to secure a contract extension from the Tops Supermarket Company yesterday. In light of the pending store closing, both your Union and the Employer felt that this was the best way to proceed. In addition, the Company has agreed to what is commonly referred to as a “me too” agreement for the new contract. This “me too” agreement means that Tops Supermarkets will agree to the same terms and conditions that our other Industry Employers settle for during this round of bargaining. Please be advised that no matter what the settlement is the members working at Tops will all have the right to vote on the settlement and either ratify or reject that agreement. At present time we feel that our time is better spent trying to help the members that are scheduled to be displaced, transferred, bumped or laid off because of the store closing. Should you have any questions and/or issues please do not hesitate to contact your Union Representative Greg Pasquale or Field Director Terry Quinones.

Fairway Update [12.13.2017]

Attention Fairway Members...

In an effort to negotiate a new contract for the members working for Fairway Markets we have met with the Company 3 times since November 14th, 2017. Unfortunately, we must report that very little progress has been made thus far. Although we understand the difficulty that both competition and the pending minimum wage increases present for them we had hoped for significantly more progress and cooperation. We agreed to start negotiations much earlier than normal this time, hoping to bring you all a new contract to vote on before the end of 2017. That is clearly not going to happen, and we have decided to cancel the remaining scheduled bargaining sessions for this year. We will resume negotiations sometime in mid to late January 2018. Your Union Representatives will be out in the stores to meet with all of you and discuss the specific issues and the process further over the next few weeks. As always, we appreciate the strong support the Fairway membership has shown for its negotiating committee and we remain hopeful that we can bring you a final settlement that you can vote on before your current contract expires on April 1st, 2018. Have a great Holiday season.
#myunionhasvalue

Stop & Shop Update [12-21-17]

Dear Stop & Shop Members,

Update on Stop & Shop Negotiations…All members employed by Stop & Shop Supermarkets should be aware that your contract expires at 12:01 am on 12/31/2017. Over the last few weeks your Union negotiating committee met with the company 3 times in an effort to negotiate a new agreement. Although some progress has been made in each session there hasn’t been any significant movement as of yet. Stop & Shop’s desire to change and/or withdraw from the Pension Fund and their push to have the membership pay even more than you already do towards your healthcare are currently the two biggest obstacles to the progress. Currently there are no additional meetings scheduled for the rest of 2017, but I am sure that both sides will get back to the table in early January. For now, please continue to go to work and do what you all do best because your current contract remains in full effect throughout this process unless one side or the other decides to make a change. We believe the during the Holiday’s it is much better to be working together and providing for your families than any other alternative. On behalf of President Speelman and the rest of the staff of Local 1500 we want to wish all of you, and your families, a very safe and healthy Holiday Season! 
#myunionhasvalue

King Kullen Update [12-22-17]

Dear King Kullen Members,
 
Update on King Kullen negotiations…All members employed by King Kullen Grocery Co. should be aware that your contract expires at 12:01 am on 12/31/17. However, we have a signed extension through February 3rd, 2018. Although we have had five negotiating sessions since November, minimal progress has been made. The Company has made proposals that, among others, would substantially increase your out of pocket expenses with respect to your medical plan. This is unacceptable, and we will continue to endeavor to bring you the best contract possible. We have no additional meetings scheduled for 2017, but we are confident that we will be able to get back to the bargaining table in January. For now, please continue to go to work and do what you all do best because your current contract remains in full effect throughout this process unless one side or the other decides to make a change. We believe the during the Holidays it is much better to be working together and providing for your families than any other alternative. On behalf of President Speelman and the rest of the staff of Local 1500 we want to wish all of you, and your families, a very safe and healthy Holiday Season!

#myunionhasvalue