UFCW 876's Union Video

Our Brothers and Sisters from UFCW 876 created this new video on what a union is. Check it out!

Union-Made New Year's Eve

Enjoy your New Year with some Union-Made spirits.  IF you plan on celebrating, make sure you do so responsibly! Happy New Year!

Thank You for Your Hard Work This Holiday Season

It's not said enough, thank you.

Your work throughout the last few weeks has helped thousands of families enjoy their holidays.

We appreciate it!

We're Thankful this Holiday Season

We are so thankful for the men and women who make up our Union...every day they're helping thousands of New York families enjoy their meals and time with their families. We are especially thankful this holiday season, check out what the men and women of UFCW Local 1500 have to say:

President Speelman Receives Labor Press Leadership Award

Last night Local 1500 President Tony Speelman was among six honorees for the annual Labor Press Leadership Awards. Speelman was introduced and presented an award by UFCW International President Marc Perrone.

Speelman's remarks are below.

Thank you- Today, in such a divided nation unsure of its future - communication is more important than it has ever been.

Organizations like Labor Press are vital, and I mean vital to the millions of hardworking men and women throughout our state and country.

If we can’t rely on the mainstream media to properly cover an election without putting profits before effective journalism, how can we expect the media to cover stories that affect the true backbone of our country, America’s workers?

We can’t.

Our stories, the amazing stories of the hardworking men and women we are all so privileged in this room to represent, are rarely heard by people outside the audiences in rooms like these. They are given far below the attention they deserve.

Issues of fair pay – trade – health care – job security – building infrastructure the right way, with union jobs – affordable college education – raising our wages - pension reform - these are real issues we all face each day that are rarely sprinkled throughout news cycles covering scandals and outrageous quotes from elected officials.

That’s why what Neal and his team at Labor Press do each day is so important. That’s why I’m so honored to receive this award. The one thing we all take away from the election is the power of the media. The power of message – The more of our stories that are out there, the more people will hear the realities of what workers are going through and why we need ACTION from our elected officials, not just their rhetoric.

This is how we win. This is how we build a better country, community and movement for working people. Thank you very much for this honor and lets get to work.

Hale & Hearty Workers Vote in Union

In a huge victory for working men and women in New York City, workers at Hale & Hearty’s commissary in Brooklyn, N.Y. banded together and voted last night to unionize. The 56 workers overwhelmingly chose to be represented by New York’s largest food workers union, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1500.

Donald Torres, who has worked at the Hale & Hearty factory for 2 years said, “We all feel that we deserved better. We want to have a voice and to build a better life working here.”

Tony Speelman, President of the over 20,000 member UFCW Local 1500, said “I want to congratulate the hard working men and women at Hale & Hearty for joining us at Local 1500. Our entire union is proud of them and admires their courage. We look forward to building a relationship with Hale & Hearty, and working together to find ways to benefit workers and the company together.”

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1500 represents over 20,000 men and women throughout New York State.

Key goals for the union will be working with the company to enhance the lives of their newest members, provide them job security and secure a better level of benefits.

"By working together we will improve their lives and make Hale & Hearty into better and more successful company. This cannot be done alone, it will be a joint labor-management effort and we look forward to beginning that relationship. I think New Yorkers will be excited to know their delicious soups are now going to be union-made." Speelman concluded.

Fairway Job Fair: Thursday 9/15

Fairway is having a job fair this Thursday!

9-15-2016 from 9AM to 1PM.
Please call or email to confirm.

Miriam.reynoso@fairwaymarket.com
212-327-2008 (Ext 2007)
347-266-3939 (cell)

JOB FAIR LOCATION
Fairway Eastside Store
230-240 E. 86th Street
New York, NY 10028

Wild By Nature Contract Update: Agreement Reached

—WILD BY NATURE CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE —

 

 

We are pleased to report your Union negotiating committee has reached a tentative agreement with Wild by Nature. Thanks to your support, the negotiating committee has worked hard to come to an agreement you can be proud of.  The next step is reviewing and voting on the agreement.

 

Voting will take place on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016 at five different locations (you may vote at any location) from 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM & 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM.

 

Voting Locations

• Wild by Nature 201: 198 Main St. East - Setauket, NY
• Wild by Nature 202: 369 West Main St. - Huntington, NY
• WIld by Nature 203: 260 West Montauk Highway - Hampton Bays, NY
• Wild by Nature 204: 2709 W. Long Beach Rd. - Oceanside, NY
• Wild by Nature 205: 478 Union Blvd. - West Islip, NY

 

 

At the vote you will receive a tentative agreement which you will be able to review. Your Union Representative and negotiating committee members will be present at each voting location to answer your questions. The Union negotiation committee unanimously reached this agreement and unanimously recommends to accept the new contract.

 

It is very important that you participate in the voting so that you may ACCEPT or REJECT the company’s last proposal for the new contract. Please encourage your coworkers to read the tentative agreement and vote on Sept. 8th!

 

Contact your Union Representative by phone or email if you have any questions.
 

 

In Solidarity,

 

Wild by Nature Union Negotiating Team

UFCW Local 1500

 

 

Are you a UFCW Local 1500 member?

We want to hear what you think.
Please take a 30 second survey on what you think of your union:

http://www.ufcw1500.org/Survey16

 

UFCW Debuts Union Label for Cannabis Products

Perma, a recreational cannabis producer-processer in Tacoma, Wash., is proudly declaring that their products are union made with a new a UFCW label. The workers at Perma are members of UFCW Local 367, and made history in June of this year as the first recreational cannabis producer-processor in Washington state to join a union. The UFCW union label will be attached to Perma’s AK-47 and Gorilla Glu products.

“This label will help customers choose a quality product that is made by my hard-working coworkers with the quality of jobs we want in the state,” said Janie Wallace, one of the processors at Perma. 

Read the full story at UFCW.org

Labor Day Art Contest!

www.ufcw.org/contest

Every year, we celebrate Labor Day to honor working people and all their contributions to our country and its middle class. The UFCW is made up of hard-working men and women who serve in our communities at retail and grocery stores, meatpacking and processing plants, and countless other facilities across multiple industries.

This year, the UFCW International is hosting its first ever Labor Day art contest, to celebrate working people with something made by working people! UFCW members and their children are eligible to enter an original work of art to be in the running for a $500 Visa gift card AND have their artwork framed and displayed at the DC labor Fest in the fall! The winning piece will also be available for all UFCW locals and members at our online UFCW Store.

Two runners up will receive $50 Visa gift cards, as well. To enter, send us a high resolution photo image of your art at www.ufcw.org/contest. Your submission must have a Labor Day theme. The deadline to submit is August 25th, and winners will be notified by August 29th.

This is your chance to showcase what you think Labor Day is all about while showing off your creative skills—we can’t wait to see what you can do!

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

Have a Union-Made Fourth of July!

Planning on celebrating the 4th of July this weekend? Make it a Union-Made celebration! Here's a list of union-made products for a BBQ and awesome 4th of July celebration. List compiled courtesy of AFL-CIO.

UFCW Outreach Pride!

This past weekend UFCW and RWDSU Outreach members joined up to march in the NYC Pride Parade. "It's great to see so many UFCW members marching today," said UFCW Local 1500 Union Representative and UFCW Outreach Region 1 Coordinator John Woods.

"Seeing the support from our community, and our brothers and sisters throughout the labor movement is especially moving after the Orlando attacks a few weeks ago. This day is about our diverse community coming together to celebrate, inspire, and commemorate  the freedom we all have to live our lives openly and proud.”

For more information on future Outreach events or to join UFCW Outreach, visit http://ufcwoutreach.org/ or contact John Woods at jwoods@ufcw1500.org.

Summer Event Calendar

Looks like the warm weather is finally here!

 

We have a few upcoming events we're excited to share with you, including our first General Membership Meeting with our new union president Tony Speelman on Wednesday, June 8th at 7PM at our Union Hall! Come meet and speak with your new president of UFCW Local 1500, Tony Speelman!

 

July 12th will be our annual BBQ and Blood Drive supporting the New York Blood Center. We'll be donating our 1000th pint in the last three years! The blood drive runs from 2-8 PM in our Union Hall. All donors/volunteers will receive a free shirt and BBQ! You can RSVP here or contact your Union Representative.

 

Our latest newspaper, the June edition of The Register, is now online. Read it today to find updates on contract negotiations, and what's going on with your union!

 

 

Here's a list of upcoming fundraisers we're hosting. For any information on any of the events below, please contact your Union Representative.

 

 

NY Yankees Game: July 15th vs Boston Red Sox @ Yankee Stadium - Tickets $30

RSVP Contact Jay Scorzelli: jscorzelli@ufcw1500.org 516.214.1340

 

 

5th Annual Brooklyn Cyclones' Local 1500 Night! Aug. 25th @ 7PM

Tickets Only $5

Join your union brothers and sisters at Coney Island for our annual Brooklyn Cyclones Night on August 25th @ 7PM to watch the NY Mets minor league affiliate, Brooklyn Cyclones take on the Scrappers.  For tickets and more information contact Rob Ecker: recker@ufcw1500.org 516.214.1353 or buy tickets online here.

 

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Comedy Club Fundraiser for Leukemia Lymphoma Society - Sept. 18, 2016

@ McGuire's Comedy Club: 1627 Smithtown Ave. Bohemia, NY 11716

More information contact, Lynn Shiels, lshiels@ufcw1500.org 516.214.1339
 

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NY Mets Game: Sept. 19th vs Atlanta Braves @ Citi Field - Tickets $30

RSVP Contact: Jay Scorzelli, jscorzelli@ufcw1500.org 516.214.1340

 

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Light the Night Walk: Sat. Oct. 15, 2016 @ Eisenhower Park

Join your union brothers and sisters as we walk to support patients, survivors and in memory of those affected by Leukemia and Lymphoma at the Light the Night Walk.

You can team here & start fundraising at your stores today! For more information contact Joe Fedele or Paul Santarpia.

 

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Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk @ Jones Beach - Sun. Oct. 16th @ Jones Beach State Park - Field 5

Join your union brothers and sisters as we walk to support those affected by Breast Cancer- For more information on fundraising for Breast Cancer or to join the walk contact, Rhonda Nelson: rhondan@ufcw1500.org 516.214.1305

 

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Annual Long Island Fishing Trip Fundraiser for Leukemia Lymphoma Society (Summer 2016, date TBD) - Hop on board the boat with your union brothers and sisters to "Fish for a Cause!" All proceeds go to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.

For more information contact, Paul Waldron, pwaldron@ufcw1500.org 516.214.1360

 

 

Finally, we're thrilled about an exclusive opportunity from our union friends at AT&T. AT&T will buy any UFCW member out of their contract with Verizon, Sprint or T-Mobile, and offer 15% off your monthly At&T wireless bill. Check out more information here or find more summer discounts on our discount page.

Thanks!

 

UFCW Local 1500

 

For all our archived news, check out or blog or view some recent blog posts below.

 

Have a great day and a wonderful June!

 

UFCW Local 1500

ufcw1500.org

facebook.com/ufcw1500

@ufcw1500
info@ufcw1500.org

—UPCOMING UNION EVENTS —

Meet Your New Union President

General Membership Meeting: Wed. June 8th

@ UFCW Local 1500 Union Hall

7PM

 

 

Attend your next General Membership Meeting and meet your new Union president, Tony Speelman!
Refreshments will be served and updates on current contract negotiations, union campaigns and summer events/fundraising opportunities will be presented.

Most importantly, come meet and speak with the new president of UFCW Local 1500, Tony Speelman!

 

Please contact your Union Representative and he/she will give you more details on the General Membership Meeting.
 

 

 

UFCW 2016 Lobby Day...A Success!

On Tuesday UFCW & RWDSU members from throughout New York hopped on buses to our state capital, Albany. Over 100 UFCW members attended Lobby Day this year, to lobby for legislation to help UFCW families.

Local 1500 members with NYS Assembly Member Michaëlle Solages

Jerome Gomez, who works at Fairway on Long Island, explained why he went to Lobby Day this year said, “We are the voice for the working families. It’s very important that here in Albany, they hear us and our families. We are here to represent our community and our neighborhoods. The assemblymen and women we saw today, they live in our neighborhoods, they need to know and see us representing our community.”

James Williams, a UFCW Local 1500 member from Fairway Market, spoke about his first lobby day experience, “It gives you a chance to actually speak to the people who make things happen for your community. I was very pleasantly surprised the way they took to us and they were open to our ideas and agendas. I’ll definitely be back.”

Thank you to all UFCW New York Local Unions and members that joined: Local One Local 888 Local 2013 Local 1500 Local 342 Local 1262 Local 1245 Local 464-A RWDSU Local 338 RWDSU Local 1102

What We Lobbied For: 

 Pass Fair Work Schedules S-52 & A-261

 Problem: Companies use “on-call” scheduling to force people to work harder and longer and be unaware of their shift until the last moment. These “on-call” shifts require workers to call their employer, often just hours before their shift starts, to and out if they should come in. While there is no guarantee of a shift, the worker is expected to be available, preventing them from attending to other responsibilities.
  
Solution: S-52/A-261 would guarantee at least four hours of pay (at minimum wage) for workers who are required to contact their employer or wait to be contacted less than 24-hours before their shift starts.  Workers in New York are currently guaranteed four hours of pay each day they report to their job. S-52/A-261 simply closes a loophole that employers are using to avoid this requirement.

Repeal Minimum Wage Reimbursement Tax Credit S-1280 & A-6532 (also known as the “Walmart Tax Break”) 
If an employer in New York State hires a student aged 16-19 and pays them minimum wage, then they are provided with a tax credit of $1.35 multiplied by the total number of hours worked by all eligible employees.

Problems with this tax credit:  All employers are eligible—including: Walmart, McDonalds, etc.
n Provides employers with an incentive to hire young workers and pay them low. As of 2013, 90 percent of New York’s lowest wage workers were above age 20. n The New York Department of Taxation and Finance estimates the credit will cost the State $43 million in FY 2016. n Does not require employers to disclose participation or credit received. n The cost of the program is not capped.

Stamping Out Hunger on Long Island

Local 1500 members joined their sisters and brothers from Local 342 to Stamp Out Hunger today in front of King Kullen in Massapequa. Over 100 bags were donated by customers and union members today, and King Kullen donated an enormous amount of canned corn (pictured below) to support local food banks.

We want to thank King Kullen for the generous donation, our sisters and brothers in Local 342 and all Local 1500 members who participated in this year's Stamp Out Hunger campaign to help local food banks! Great work! Remember that your #StampOutHunger bags will be collected this Sat!

NYC Stamps Out Hunger

Over the last few weeks, Local 1500 members have been collecting donations and working alongside of communities to collect food for the annual Stamp Out Hunger campaign!

Here in New York City at D'Agostino, it's no different. Local 1500 members have collected over a hundred pounds of food for local food shelters in preparation for May 14th!

You can collect food at your stores drop off some donations at our Union Office, or fill up your bag and leave it at your doorstep for your postal worker to pick up on May 14th!

UFCW Local 919 Ratifies Contract

Local 919 just ratified a contract with Stop & Shop! Check out this video of the reaction of  Stop & Shop workers after the ratification.

New York's Largest Grocery Workers Union Urges Senator Bernie Sanders to End Presidential Bid

Anthony Speelman, Secretary-Treasurer of New York's largest grocery workers union, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1500, released the following statement after Secretary Hillary Clinton's New York Primary Victory:

"Congratulations to Secretary Clinton on her primary victory in New York. Secretary Clinton has a tremendous history of fighting for hard working New Yorkers. Our members know her values and we were excited to help campaign for her over the past few weeks. Whether it was knocking on doors or making calls, we are proud to support a candidate that will unite our country. She is clearly the most qualified candidate for President.

"Senator Bernie Sanders has run a tremendous campaign, bringing many issues facing working men and women in our country to national attention. He has inspired and engaged many amazing people throughout our country. However, now is the time for him to end his Presidential campaign.

"I urge Senator Sanders to end his bid for President of United States of America and to unite the Democratic Party. By doing so, our voices will become even stronger to fight for a better middle class, and to make sure hard working men and women aren't left behind. It is only a unified voice that can crumble the campaigns of hate and division run by the Republican Party."

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United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1500 is New York's largest grocery workers union, representing over 20,000 men and women throughout New York. Join us at ufcw1500.org and follow us @ufcw1500.

New York UFCW GOTV for Hillary Clinton

Sat. April 16th: GOTV for Hillary, Locations Throughout New York State

Primary day in New York is approaching fast! April 19th is only a few weeks away and the UFCW is gearing up to help Hillary Clinton over the next two weeks. 

On April 16th we'll be hitting the streets in UFCW gold to canvas and phone bank for the Hillary campaign. There are many volunteer GOTV locations throughout our entire jurisdiction. If you're interested in helping out, please contact your Union Representative and he/she will give you details on the event.

For specific questions, please contact Brendan Sexton.