The Issues that Matter to Our Union Family

By: Marc Perrone
UFCW International President

As you all know, our union family endorsed Secretary Hillary Clinton for President of the United States because a clear majority of our members believed that she would be the best person to fight for the issues that matter the most to them.

But we also understand that some of our members preferred other candidates or other parties.  The truth is – racially, ethnically, and politically – we are a diverse union family.  That is our strength.  Such diversity makes us stronger, and we should embrace it.

While some UFCW members may not all share the same political beliefs or preference for candidates, we want to make sure that every UFCW member has the opportunity to express their views on the issues that they care about the most.  Most importantly, we want to make sure Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump understand that our members’ concerns matter in this election.

The Issues that Matter to Our Union Family
To ensure that both Clinton and Trump’s campaigns understand the needs and concerns of UFCW members, we will be sending a letter to both campaigns that details our members’ top issues and asks each presidential candidate what they will do to address them during the campaign and if they are elected President.

In many cases, Hillary Clinton has already addressed these issues.  In most cases, Donald Trump has not.  Either way, we will be formally reaching out to both campaigns, and want to make sure our members have an opportunity to speak out by going to UFCWAction.org.

By visiting UFCWAction.org, UFCW members will have the opportunity to review the issues that will be included in the formal letter that we will be sending to each campaign.

We are determined to fight for the issues, causes, and better lives that all workers have earned and deserve.  And we will fight to hold the candidates whom we have endorsed, and even those we have not, accountable for the impact they have upon our union family once elected into higher office.

Thank you again for everything you do for your local union, our members, our entire union family, and workers everywhere.

Sincerely,

Marc Perrone

UFCW Endorses Hillary Clinton for President

Former President Clinton visited Pathmark in the 90's

Some breaking news from our International President Marc Perrone. As the early primary and caucus states are gearing up to vote in just three weeks, the UFCW is announcing its endorsement of Hillary Clinton for President of the United States.

Please read the message from International President Perrone below:

Dear Sisters and Brothers:

Since last year, we have actively engaged and reached out to our diverse 1.3 million members about the issues they care about and the positions they want the next President of the United States to fight for.  Based on this feedback, the UFCW is announcing today its endorsement of Hillary Clinton for President of the United States.

We have been completely committed to pursuing a thorough presidential endorsement process. This effort included a series of nationwide meetings with current members and UFCW Local Union officers, internal polls of our union members, as well as focus groups with working and middle class non-union families from across the country who currently work or have worked in retail. By doing this, we were able to determine the issues that matter most to UFCW members and the workers we fight for every day.

Based on these results, as well as additional discussions with UFCW Local Union Presidents and the UFCW International Executive Board, the collective decision was that Hillary Clinton is indeed the best qualified and positioned candidate to win in 2016 and fight for the issues--such as job security, fair scheduling, paid leave, raising wages, immigration, and health care reform--that matter most to our diverse union family.

Hillary Clinton has also held consistent polling leads with women, African Americans and Hispanics.  The broad diversity of the people who support her, coupled with her robust stances on the most important issues, point to our members’ having a strong belief that Hillary Clinton is not just the strongest presidential candidate, but the right one.

Our incredible members, both retail and non-retail workers, who help feed and serve this nation, deserve a president like Hillary Clinton who will fight to make sure that paid leave, stable schedules, and higher wages become more than an election promise--they’ll become a reality.

In Solidarity,

Marc

UFCW President Hansen on Senate Rules Agreement

UFCW President Hansen on Senate Rules Agreement

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Joe Hansen, International President of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), today released the following statement after the Senate reached an agreement on nominations to the Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and other key posts. 

“When it comes to the Senate, this is the best day for workers and their families in years, if not longer. Today a path was created to confirm a Secretary of Labor with a track record of standing up for workers’ rights, a fully functioning NLRB that can carry out its important mission of promoting collective bargaining and protecting the right to organize, and the first director of the CFPB so everyday consumers have an advocate to defend them from the predatory practices of big banks.

“Today would not have been possible without the voices of millions of Americans—including many UFCW members—who have demanded that the Senate end the gridlock and give nominees to important posts an up or down vote. While a change in rules did not occur, today’s agreement is a direct result of those pushing for a more functional Senate. I sincerely hope this marks the beginning, not the end, of a process where executive branch nominees are considered in a fair and timely fashion.”

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Message to Local 1500 Members Working at Pathmark Supermarkets

Image by Getty Images via @daylifeDear Pathmark Member;

The A&P/Pathmark bankruptcy process continues to evolve. I realize the frustration you must all be feeling and I greatly appreciate your patience. I assure you the process is moving along.

The affected Unions and A&P are currently exchanging information. A&P’s financial data and business plan are continuously being reviewed. The Union negotiating team must have the most accurate and credible information to properly assess A&P’s current financial situation.

I can tell you that the company has given the UFCW Locals its initial proposal and it is being reviewed. I expect to make a summary of the company’s initial proposal available for your review within the next few days. I caution you that these are only the companies’ first set of proposals. As long time Union members, you understand that the first proposal will only be a starting point for negotiations and that we will only use it for purposes of negotiating a more reasonable settlement.

Our goal from day one of this process has been too work with the company to reach an agreement that allows them to recover and grow economically while protecting the rights and livelihoods of our members working in their stores. That goal has not and will not change.

While we must hope for and work towards the best possible solution, we must prepare for the worst possible result. Our staff has developed a comprehensive response should one become necessary.

Again, I thank you for your patience. I also want to thank you for the many words of support and encouragement I have heard over the last few weeks. As long as we continue our strong solidarity, we will survive these difficult and challenging times.

Remember: One Union, One Voice!!

Bruce W. Both
President

Wal-Mart manufactures American Flag pins in China, Patterson's wine sale proposal, Interview with BJ's Wholesale Club's new CEO, more one liners....

Image via Wikipedia
Wal-Mart awarded a manufacturing job to create American Flag pins to China, over an American company.

D'Agostino customers purchased over 9,000 food bundles this holiday season to feed the needy.

Here's an interview with the new CEO of BJ's Wholesale Club, Laura Sen.

Supermarket News has a piece on preparing Supermarkets for 2009.

Negotiations between Loblaw Cos. and the union representing workers at Maxi stores in Quebec resumed over the weekend as the strike affecting 14 stores continued.
Read more of this story

New York will join 35 other states that permit wine to be sold in multiple grocery stores if one of the revenue actions in the Empire State’s 2009 budget proposal is approved.
Read more of this story

A new proposal by Patterson could also boost wine sales in grocery stores.

More on the wine sales at the Progressive Grocer.


Politics

David Paterson plans a state work force reduction of about 3,000, but will suggest that layoffs can be averted if unions agree to givebacks

The governor yesterday signed a bill that would, at least in theory, provide for the collection of taxes on cigarettes sold from the state's Indian reservations.

Patterson has an Op-Ed in the NY Daily News explaining the budget cuts and new taxes.

Bloomberg calls Patterson's budget cuts in NYC "unfair".

Hillary Clinton tells supporters to back off on criticisms on Caroline Kennedy.

Get out the Vote...

Tomorrow, we all have the opportunity that millions of people throughout the world aspire for, the right to voice our beliefs. This is an opportunity to have a voice in who leads us; it is a right and duty that should not be taken for granted. Tomorrow, you have a chance to be heard. I am writing to urge you to embrace your citizenship of this nation not merely as a duty and privilege, but as a way to meaningfully participate in democracy. I'd like to relay this one quotation for you:

~ To make democracy work, we must be a nation of participants, not simply observers. One who does not vote has no right to complain. ~

So I urge you, become a participant and as it has been said to "Act as if the whole election depended on your single vote…" Get out the vote; urge your friends, families and neighbors to fulfill their civic duty. And tomorrow when you have voted you will feel proud, proud that you have used your voice and that no matter what the results your voice was heard. Thank you.

Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a President and senators and congressmen and government officials, but the voters of this country.

In Solidarity,

Bruce W. Both
President, UFCW Local 1500

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