Update #2 from the DNC: Zings for Romney

UFCW Local 1500 Assistant to the President Patrick Purcell, Union Representative Rob Ecker and Political Director John Woods, are representing our union at the 2012 Democratic National Convention. Patrick, Rob & John will be guest blogging and providing social media updates (@UncleBuck9265) from the DNC 2012 all week. 

By: Rob Ecker
Union Representative, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greetings from the South y'all!  I first would like to say how honored I am to be down here at the Democratic National Convention representing our union, New York's best supermarket workers, UFCW Local 1500!

The trip has been amazing.  It's great to be surrounded by so many people who are working to improve our nations many problems.

Yesterday we attended the New York State Dems Breakfast where we heard from United States Senator Charles Schumer and Assemblyman & Speaker Sheldon Silver.  The message has been clear: Win back the U.S. House, keep he U.S. Senate Majority and win a majority in the NY Senate.

The speeches have been nothing short of amazing. Governor Deval Patrick from Massachusetts spoke fiercely and encouraging.  He rallied us all up and demanded the Democratic party to start fighting back against GOP lies, especially Mitt Romney.  He had a few memorable lines and statistics which were alarming that they haven't received much media attention:

"By the time Mitt Romney left office, Massachusetts was 47th in the nation in job creation…and household income in our state was declining. Today Massachusetts leads the nation in student achievement, health coverage and energy efficiency.

Today’s Republicans are saying is that if we just shrink government, cut taxes, crush unions and wait, all will be well. Never mind that those are the very policies that got us into recession to begin with! Never mind that not one of the governors who preached that gospel in Tampa last week has the results to show for it. But we Democrats owe America more than a strong argument for what we are against. We need to be just as strong about what we are for."

After Governor Patrick spoke, former Governor of Ohio, Ted Strickland, followed up his speech with more emphasis on countering Romney's lies and ideologies.  He, like all the speakers down here had some great lines...Actually they were more like zings, the room filled with laughter and applause on the Santa Claus line here:

"Mitt Romney proudly wrote an op-ed entitled, "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt." If he had had his way, devastation would have cascaded from Michigan to Ohio and across the nation. Mitt Romney never saw the point of building something when he could profit from tearing it down. If Mitt was Santa Claus, he'd fire the reindeer and outsource the elves." 

“Mitt Romney, he lives by a different code. To him, American workers are just numbers on a spreadsheet. ”

The keynote was by a rising star in the Democratic Party Mayor Julian Castro from San Antonio who reminded us all what we Democrats stand for: We stand for what is right.

"We know that in our free market economy some will prosper more than others. What we don't accept is the idea that some folks won't even get a chance," he said. "And the thing is, Mitt Romney and the Republican party are perfectly comfortable with that America."

There was also a moving tribute to one of the best progressives in our history, Ted Kennedy.  Then, probably one of my favorite highlights from this week so far, hearing the First Lady, Michelle Obama speak.  What a great speaker and charismatic presence.  She reminded us why we voted for him four years ago and why we must again.  We need to continue to move America in the right direction.

Yesterday we also met with some local elected officials, NYC Council Members Viverito, James, Reyna, Mendez, Dromm and Ferrara.  They were more than happy to see us down there representing our union.

On a side note in closing, Hollywood was in force last night throughout and after the speeches.  We got some face time with activists John Leguzamo, Beau Bridges, Patricia Arquette who love unions, that was a unique and pretty cool twist.

Well, gotta run to the next UFCW meeting.  It's great seeing all the UFCW delegates from throughout the nation, I couldn't be happier and more proud to represent a great union of America's supermarket workers!  Talk to you soon!

Democratic National Convention Committee Returns Walmart Gift Cards

United Food and Commercial Workers (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

UFCW PRESIDENT COMMENDS DNCC FOR RETURNING WALMART GIFT CARDS
WASHINGTON, D.C. — 

Joe Hansen, International President of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), today released the following statement commending the Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) for returning $50,000 in Walmart gift cards.

“I commend the DNCC for doing the right thing. The allegations of bribery and corruption against Walmart are serious and there is no way to know whether these contributions are tainted. Furthermore, Walmart has a long track record of mistreating their workers, discriminating on the basis of gender, trampling on the right to organize, and fostering a race to the bottom in the retail industry that is bad for the middle class and our entire nation. Walmart is also a flagship member of the controversial right-wing American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), which has been linked to laws busting unions and weakening voting rights. Simply put, this is a company whose conduct flies in the face of the values we stand for as Democrats. I hope the DNCC’s decision to return these gift cards signals the beginning of the end of the Democratic Party’s relationship with Walmart.”

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The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) represents more than 1.3 million workers, primarily in the retail and meatpacking, food processing and poultry industries. The UFCW protects the rights of workers and strengthens America’s middle class by fighting for health care reform, living wages, retirement security, safe working conditions and the right to unionize so that working men and women and their families can realize the American Dream. For more information about the UFCW’s effort to protect workers’ rights and strengthen America’s middle class, visit www.ufcw.org, or join our online community at www.facebook.com/UFCWinternational and www.twitter.com/ufcw.

UFCW International's Statment on Wisconsin GOP’s Attack on Workers’ Rights

Image via Wikipedia

A Statement from United Food and Commercial Workers International Union on Wisconsin GOP’s Attack on Workers’ Rights

         MADISON, Wis.-- One of the nation’s largest private sector unions, the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) condemns the cowardly attack on Wisconsin’s public servants by Governor Scott Walker and Republican state senators.

         Joe Hansen, UFCW International President, said, “Tonight’s late-night actions by Wisconsin’s Republican Senators will not stand. Working families and the broader community in Wisconsin and across the country have overwhelmingly stood up for the right to bargain collectively. Governor Walker’s true motives have been made clear that this was never about balancing the budget, but rather to exact political revenge on the hard working teachers, firefighters and public workers that make Wisconsin a great state.”

         Hansen continued, “And for those politicians who seek to emulate Governor Walker, rest assured, these attacks on middle class families have unified and inspired an even stronger grassroots movement for change in this country.”

         Tricia Hawkins, a UFCW Local 1473 member was inside the Wisconsin capitol building when the vote was taken. She said, “I work at Hormel Foods in Beloit and I have a good job because I have a seat at the bargaining table. I know collective bargaining works because our members work with management to reach the best agreement to make a stronger company and a good place to work.” She continued, “Working people understand that hard times call for shared sacrifices but Governor Walker proved tonight that his motivation was never about shared sacrifice. He is out for political revenge.”

        UFCW members work in some of the nation’s largest supermarket chains and major food processing and meatpacking plants. UFCW members put food on America’s dinner table and with a voice at work and the right to bargain with their employer, they are able to bring middle class jobs to every neighborhood in America.

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110309007152/en/Statement-United-Food-Commercial-Workers-International-Union

Quick Recap of this past Election Day

By: Jessica Lynch

United States Senator (NY) Kristen Gillibrand visits a UFCW Local 1500 Represented ShopRite

Election Day results were deeply disappointing to the millions of voters who voted to support candidates that fight for hard working Americans.   Candidates who fight for everyday people who go to work to do their best to support their families. Although overall results throughout the country were not in our favor, we would like to thank all of you who went out to vote for values of equality, freedom and solidarity with our Union. Your votes helped send Carl Paladino packing by electing Andrew Cuomo for Governor and Eric Schneiderman for Attorney General. In the State Comptroller race, Democratic/Working Families candidate Tom DiNapoli won. Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer kept their spots in the U.S Senate.  Another key victory was Frank Padavan's 38-year Senatorial reign ended, as it was toppled by Democrat Tony Avella on Tuesday night. "People voted for change, they voted for different representation," said Avella. We were not as fortunate with wins in other areas of New York. Overall the Democratic Party won New York and we would like to thank again all of you who went out and voted in this election.