July 7 Update for all Local 1500 Pathmark Members

Dear Pathmark member,

The UFCW Local 1500 A&P bankruptcy negotiating team continues to meet with company officials and other effected Unions. Two meetings were held this week: Tuesday July 5th and Wednesday July 6th. At both meetings, information was exchanged and proposals were discussed. These are very difficult negotiations and they continue to move slowly.

The next round of meetings are expected to be held in approximately 10-to 14 days. As always, we will keep you updated on any developments that may result from our meeting with the company. Please remember the following:

1. Stay united. We are all in this together and together is the only way we can succeed.

2. Please ignore all the rumors and count on your Union to deliver you the most up to date information to you.

3. Stay in touch with your Union Representative and Shop Steward.

4. Visit the Union web site and Facebook page for information.

5. Should you want to email us information or questions, please do so at info@ufcw1500.org

6. Show your solidarity by wearing your buttons. If you need more, speak to your Union Representative.

Thank you for continued patience as our Union deals with this crisis. It is only with your tremendous support and solidarity that we will help turn this company around.

Message to Local 1500 Members Working at Pathmark/A&P

By: Bruce W. Both, President UFCW Local 1500 

A message to UFCW Members at A&P-owned supermarkets:
June 3, 2011

In recent weeks, your local union and the other UFCW local unions at A&P-owned stores have been meeting with A&P about the company’s bankruptcy proceedings. The goal of these meetings, and all our previous work on the bankruptcy committee, is for A&P to emerge from this process healthy enough that our members can continue to serve customers in as many communities as possible.

One of the requirements of our union’s participation in the bankruptcy process is to maintain strict confidentiality about financial, operational, and other information that is provided pursuant to a court-approved confidentiality agreement. That confidentiality also covers the Company’s review of such information at meetings. It’s difficult, mind you, to have a look behind the company’s curtain yet and not be able to communicate that information to our members. It’s very important that we honor the agreement lest we lose the opportunity to participate in the process and review that key information so that we can advocate for your job standards and your union contract. Ultimately we will be able to review the conclusions the unions reach after reviewing such information.

One thing is very clear - A&P would like to change everything in your union contract, under the cover of bankruptcy reorganization. In the information sharing process, the company has shown that it views all economic contract provisions as up for negotiation. Even worse, it views non-economic provisions, including those about transfers, schedules, hours, and classifications, as potential items to demand to negotiate away.

Our union will not let this happen. Our financial analysis clearly shows that there is no economic need for the type of wholesale change to the contracts sought by the company. While some changes to our contracts may happen, by standing strong together, we can keep any changes to the minimum of what’s actually necessary.

A&P needs to make changes to its corporate structure that put it back on a long-range path to success. Many of those changes will need to happen at the management level.

We are still early in this process, but it’s never too early to stick together. A&P workers are willing do to our part to get this company back on the right track and to make changes that will have a long-term positive impact on our company.

UFCW local unions will continue our coordinated work to protect UFCW members throughout the A&P chain. Shop stewards will continue to serve as key leaders in your store and we encourage you to talk with your steward about the bankruptcy process and what each of you can do to help secure a positive outcome for all A&P workers. As always, your union representative is also available to answer any questions.

In Solidarity,

Bruce W. Both
President, UFCW Local 1500

Pathmark/A&P Update from Local 1500 President Bruce Both

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A Message from UFCW Local 1500 President, Bruce Both:

On May 5, 2011, a meeting was held between A&P and all the UFCW Local Unions that represent the companies under the A&P banner. The representatives of the various unions present, including Local 1500, were required to sign confidentiality agreements. Because of these confidentiality agreements the details of what was discussed at the meeting cannot be shared at this time.

The company has requested that the current collective bargaining agreements be changed or modified. These requests are currently under review by each Local Union, the International Union and Legal Counsel. These company requests are subject to negotiation.

At some time in the near future, the changes to your collective bargaining agreement will be presented. It should be noted that if the Unions cannot reach an agreement the Bankruptcy Judge, under Section 1113, could have the Unions’ collective bargaining agreements voided or modified.

The members of Pathmark will be receiving two mailings sent to their home. 

• You should receive a document “Notice of Meeting of Creditors” on May 31, 2011. In Chapter 11 cases, companies are required to schedule a meeting which any creditor, including employees, may attend where a representative of the company gives a short presentation with public information on the status of the bankruptcy and may answer some questions.
• There is no requirement or need for you to attend this meeting, and the notice can be ignored. 

• The second notice you will receive is from the Court regarding a “Bar Date” for the filing of any personal claims against the Company outside the collective bargaining agreement. Only those members with a personal claim need to take any action.

Please email us or contact us for any questions you may have at 1-800-522-0456.

A Message from President Both; Re: Pathmark

                                                                                    February 28, 2011

A&P announced last week that the company would close 32 underperforming stores in the chain’s network of stores.  Every UFCW member is affected by this announcement in one way or another.  Together, the 14 UFCW local unions who represent workers at the chain’s 395 stores are working diligently to put UFCW members in the best possible position for whatever the future holds for this company.

The UFCW A&P local unions have retained financial analysts and bankruptcy attorneys so that our interests are represented in the bankruptcy proceedings. UFCW leaders sit on the creditor’s committee.  By committing to a unified approach, every UFCW local union is operating from the same position – that together, we are stronger. 

We are facing a lengthy process and encourage you to have patience.  Last week’s store closing news was a shock, but as a group, the UFCW was able to respond similarly in every location by using the existing collective bargaining agreement to protect as many jobs as possible.  Several hundred Teamster brothers and sisters have lost their jobs as a result of A&P’s management decisions during this process. You may have seen them protesting the company at your store or stores in your area.  Talk to your union representative about the best way you can show your support.

If you have any questions about the bankruptcy process and how it might affect your store, please attend your next General Membership meeting on March 9, 2011 (RSVP on Facebook), or ask your union representative at (800) 522-0456. 

Yours truly, 

Bruce W. Both
President

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