UFCW Local 1500 Update from the Democratic National Convention

UFCW Local 1500 Assistant to the President, Patrick Purcell,  is representing our union at the 2012 Democratic National Convention.  Patrick will be blogging and providing social media updates (@UncleBuck9265) from the DNC 2012 all week.

Hello folks!

Hope all is well.

I arrived Sunday and to call it organized chaos would be kind (lol).

We spent Sunday with the UFCW including International President Joe Hansen.  Speaking to him was great! The highlight of that night was Patrick Gaspard, Executive Director of the Democratic National Committee, who came by to greet us and talk about the re-election.  Patrick is a good friend to us and has been for quite a while.  The guest of the UFCW at the dinner was California Speaker of the House, John Perez, a long time UFCW member prior to entering politics. We talked about policies that affect larger states like California and New York.  It's refreshing and always an amazing feeling to meet former UFCW members who now represent the hard-working men and women of our country.  That's why we're always looking for any Local 1500 members who want to get involved in local politics back home.  It's a remarkable feeling to work for the betterment of your community and your neighbors, and there is no better representative of people than union members....Union members like John Perez who will always be a part of the UFCW family.  John is a great friend to us, labor, and a great representative for California, he's one of the politicians who really gets it. 

Many of the NY folks are at our hotel.  We keep running into many elected officials we know so well from back home, and our union brothers and sisters we work so hard with back in NY.  Among the many people we spoke with were, Congressman Serrano, Assemblyman Kellner, Council Member Debbi Rose, Suzy Ballantyne (Executive Assistant to the President at the New York State American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations in Albany), Mario Cilento (President NYS-AFL-CIO) and Vinny Alverez (NY-CLC President).  It was a great opportunity to talk to a lot of folks in a relaxed setting, something that's very rare when meeting with politicians and their staff.

We attended the NYS Delegation Welcome Breakfast Monday morning and spoke to dozens of folks. It was a nice event and Mario Cilento got an award for being an outstanding progressive leader. After that we took the light rail down to the Convention Center to attend the first UFCW Breakfast. We will be doing that every morning to recap yesterday's events and discuss the days activities, plans and agenda.   That group was even smaller and you can tell the International is very glad we are there on behalf of our 23,000 members from New York.

We did three great things last night:

1. First we attended an event where our close friend Jessica Lappin was one of several folks who were honored as up and coming Democrats on the rise. She personally invited us and it was really great. She is very appreciative of all we do to make New York better for working men and women.   We also spoke to Christine Quinn's campaign manager at the event about Paid Sick Days and we are setting up a meeting for when we all return to NY.
2. We attended the NY State Dems "Salute To Labor" get-together downtown.  It was a great event where all the major NY political players were.  We met and spoke to all of them.  Like I mentioned earlier, these events are priceless, politicians and their staff's are in a relaxed atmosphere, making speaking to them much easier.
3. We closed the night at a DCCC event where again we spoke to a bunch of people but my highlight was meeting with Speaker Nancy Pelosi who actually took a couple of minutes to speak to me while taking a pic with me.  In fact, she shared some UFCW gossip and jokes, that was funny. 

That concludes the first two days. Again, big thanks to our Political Director, John Woods, who has gotten us everything we need!  That's all for now and I will continue tweeting live w/ hashtag #DNC2012, until next time, stay tuned!

Patrick Purcell

Sticking Up for Union Contracts

Our own Assistant to the President, Pat Purcell, was a guest on Fox Business News' Cavuto Show last night, discussing the importance of union contracts.   On privatizing industries, Purcell had a great quote, paraphrasing Astronaut's Alan Shepard's line "What worries me is going to the moon in a rocket that was built by the lowest bidder."


Watch the entire interview here: http://www.foxbusiness.com/on-air/cavuto/index.html#/v/1768490902001/will-unions-help-improve-airport-security/?playlist_id=87065

Before NLRB Trial, Target in Valley Stream Cleans Out Workforce, Turnover Nearly 25% in 6-months

Target Cleans Out Workforce at Valley Stream Store, turnover nearly hits 25% in 6-months

With eye toward a new union election, Target has replaced over 20% of its workforce at the Valley Stream store after a union election in June 2011

WESTBURY, NY (01/27/2012)(readMedia)-- Preparing for the February 1st federal hearing on Target Corp.'s violations of the National Labor Relations Act, United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Local 1500 Assistant to the President, Pat Purcell, expressed outrage that over 20% of the workforce at Valley Stream Target has been "turned over" or replaced, cleansing the store of longtime employees seeking better working conditions from the billion-dollar company.

"How is it in this job starved economy, with so many people looking for jobs, Target has turned-over 20% of its workforce at Valley Stream in a short 7-month span?", Purcell questioned. "It's evident Target began a practice of 'cleansing' their workforce in fear and in anticipation of another union vote and the possibility of providing wages and benefits up to par with unionized retailers," Purcell said. Addressing the February 1st National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) hearing on Target's violations of workers' rights, Purcell said: "Target has resorted to playing games with people's livelihoods. Their actions demonstrate what we and the National Labor Relations Board have asserted: Target will do anything to prevent their employees from banding together to fight for more respect at work, even violate the law,"

Questioning the motive behind the high turnover rate, Purcell questioned why Target's turnover rate was on pace to nearly double the national retail average: "If Target paid more and provided better benefits would we be seeing a turnover this high? If working for Target is as good as Target says it is, why is their turnover rate so high? The retail behemoth Target enters communities across America with a promise of jobs. Unfortunately communities like Valley Stream are finding these jobs fail to provide stability, consistent hours or affordable benefits. Our communities need a commitment from all retailers to provide jobs they can rely on. Not retailers with exceptionally high turnover rates, making it near impossible for hardworking men and women to accumulate benefits and provide for their families. Shamefully Target has continued to demonstrate they're simply committed to putting profits ahead of people, "

UFCW Local 1500 knows companies like Target, who are on the forefront of retail growth, have the ability and should lead by example. Rather than focusing on higher profits and cutting hours, jobs and benefits, Target should focus on setting an example as a retail leader, by providing good jobs for hundreds of communities across America. "We've presented Target with an opportunity to change. They have the ability to make their retail jobs, good jobs in our country. They have an opportunity to be a responsible employer by making commitments to their employees and the communities they inhabit. They should start by ending the intimidation and threats to employees who are banding together to demand better working conditions from their billion-dollar employer," Purcell concluded.

United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500 represents 23,000 grocery workers throughout Long Island, the five boroughs , Westchester, Putnam and Duchess Counties.

Connect with Target workers from across the country and join the movement to Change Target on Facebook @facebook.com/targetchange #targetchange.

Union Files Final Board Charges against Target Corp. for Objections to Conduct of Union Election

Request for Re-run Election Proceeds
For more information email: info@ufcw1500.org

On Friday, June 24, 2011, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1500 filed objections to Target Corporation's conduct during the course of the recent union election in Valley Stream, N.Y. The charges filed on Friday were in addition to numerous unfair labor practices previously filed against the Target Corporation during the weeks leading up to the Union election in Valley Stream.

Bruce Both, President of UFCW Local 1500 explained Target could have easily held a fair & democratic election, "Instead of playing by the rules, Target showed they were willing to do whatever it took to keep their workers from attaining a basic right: respect at work." "Eighty-Five (85) courageous workers from Valley Stream should be commended for withstanding the intimidation and scare tactics Target management suffocated them with every day leading to the June 17th election. What's troubling is that Target had an opportunity to become a corporate role model and do right by their employees. Instead of helping their employees attain the American dream, they've chosen to continue to focus on their profit growth, not their employees' growth," Both concluded.

UFCW Local 1500 pledged that the campaign to "change" Target has just begun, as they announced they are seeking a rerun election at Valley Stream Target. "In addition to the laundry list of unfair labor practices already filed against Target, filing of these objections to their [Target's] conduct during the election period, shows a blatant disregard for basic democratic practices," said Assistant to the President Pat Purcell. "We are confident Target's actions will result in a new election and hopefully an opportunity for all parties to sit down and discuss a process for a new election that will better represent the democratic principles Target's workers and consumers have come to expect in a free society."

Days after the June 17th election at Valley Stream Target, the National Labor Relations Board announced proposed changes to union election process. The rule addresses a key obstacle workers face when deciding to vote on whether to form a union. "The proposed NLRB rule reinforces our statement that the process is unbalanced. Target workers at Valley Stream didn't have a fair election process," said Purcell. "The rule change would eliminate excessive delays in the vote, delays which allow companies to further their anti-union propaganda in the stores to their employees, something we all saw as recent as last week in the Target election," said Purcell. "This rule change is a step in the right direction toward giving more workers respect, a voice on the job, and rebalancing our economy," Purcell concluded.

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United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1500 represents over 22,000 supermarket workers across New York State. For more information on Target Change, head to Facebook.com/TargetChange Follow UFCW Local 1500 on Twitter @UFCW1500 and at Facebook.com/UFCW1500


 

OnPoint

The UFCW released their latest issue of OnPoint, check it out here:

More than 16,000 members of Local 1500 that work at
Stop & Shop, Pathmark and King Kullen supermarkets
ratified a new contract with their employers on July 8.
The new contract includes significant victories for
workers’ health care and pensions—both will continue
to be fully funded by the employer.
“The members of Local 1500 stood up as one union with
one voice,” said Local 1500 spokesman Pat Purcell.
“They also showed a great understanding of the effect a
strike would have on their customers, many of which
have become their friends over the years.”

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President Both Announces Staff Changes

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1500 continued with staff changes at the end of 2009 that will better prepare the Union for the upcoming negotiations and challenges in the future.

UFCW Local 1500 President Bruce W. Both announced that Vice President and Field Director Fred Walter would become the Executive Vice President replacing newly appointed Secretary-Treasurer Anthony Speelman. Fred has been with the Union for 21 years as a Union Representative, Field Director and Vice President.

President Both also announced the promotion of Union Representative Robert Newell who replaced Recorder Rhonda Nelson as a Field Director. Rob has been with the Union for 15 years as an organizer and Union Representative. Rob started with Local 1500 as a Special Projects Organizer on the Wild By Nature campaign back in 1995-1996 which lead to the successful organizing of those workers.

Patrick Purcell Jr., formerly the Director of Special Projects for Local 1500, has been promoted to the position of Assistant to the President. Pat was formerly a Union Representative and Director of Organizing for the Local in addition to having been the Director of Special Projects.

“These three individuals are each talented in their own way and have helped this Union grow and succeed. In addition to the other promotions announced earlier this year, I feel confident that our Union is well prepared for the challenges that we face in the coming years,” stated President Both.

Pat Purcell on Democracy Now

This morning, Pat Purcell, Local 1500's Director of Special Projects, joined Democracy Now for a discussion on Wal-Mart's irresponsible actions and lack of precautions leading up to Black Friday. Wal-Mart had little or no security and mainly relied on local police to control outlandish crowds. Our sincere deepest sympathies go out to the The result, an employee's death.

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/12/1/wal_mart_worker_crushed_to_death

The Politics of Food

Image via Wikipedia
Today at Columbia University, UFCW Local 1500 took part in a conference presented by Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer on New York's next policy challenge: "Food Policy" Keynote speakers included Mayor Bloomberg & United Nations General Assembly President H.E. Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann, while Pat Purcell of Local 1500 served as a co-moderator for the event. The event filled the auditorium at Alfred Lerner Hall with activists, policy makers and community members.

The overall focus of the conference was to gain insight from participants on solutions to solving the growing problem New Yorkers and people throughout the world are facing, access to healthy affordable food. It asked the question why low income areas are facing riveting diabetes and obesity rates. Questions were raised asking, How can supermarkets be retained and improved? Speakers outlined the recent "decay" of the Supermarket industry throughout New York City and stressed the need for more Supermarkets throughout the city.

It seems that government is finally understanding the big picture. Bodega's that inhabit every street corner throughout the five boroughs fail to provide affordable food, not even healthy food. Gourmet Grocery stores provide healthy foods, but at prices no working class person can afford. The lack of supermarkets force people to rely on shopping at Bodega's, 99 cent stores, Fast-Food restaurants and Drug Stores like CVS or Rite-Aid that have poor quality and limited selections of food. This brings us to where we are today:

• Diabetes now affects over 700,000 people in New York City
• 1.1 Million New Yorkers are obese
• 2 Million are overweight
• 3 Million New Yorkers live in neighborhoods with a "high need for grocery stores and supermarkets"

That's why Local 1500 launched its Building Blocks Campaign. Our plan to bring Good Food, Good Jobs which will bring Good Health to the supermarket starved communities. Please read our principles, and please comment, we'd love to hear your ideas and suggestions.

The Politicker also had a write up on the conference here.