Wednesday, April 30, 2014

ShopRite Contracts Ratified


UFCW's OnPoint, a weekly synopsis of what's going on within the UFCW nation wide, covered the ShopRite vote.  Here's what they had to say below:

Last week, UFCW Local 1500 members who work in over 15 ShopRite stores in the greater New York area ratified new three-year contracts. The new agreements provide for wage increases, premiums for part-timers and full-timers, improved working hours for night crews, and preserve pensions. The new agreements also recognize same-sex marriage. The contracts cover over 3,100 ShopRite workers. 

“We’re extremely proud of our negotiating committees,” said UFCW Local 1500 President Bruce W. Both. “Their com- mitment to their union and to bettering their coworkers’ lives achieved higher wage increases and premiums for full and part-timers. That’s what made this a success. These contracts will guide us into negotiations with Stop & Shop and King Kullen in December.”


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Friday, April 25, 2014

Northwestern Union Vote Opens the Eyes to Rights at Work

English: National Collegiate Athletic Associat...
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
By: Joe Fedele

Today is a huge day for student athletes across the country.  Northwestern football players will be voting in a secret ballot election on joining the CAPA.  What's great about this case, is the national attention it's receiving in an industry [sports] that sparingly touches on the abuses of workers' rights.   It's also educating college students on rights they have at work.

But the best thing this attention has done, is show this audience the reaction wealthy corporations (in this case the NCAA) have, when workers (football players) start to demand more from their billionaire employers. 

In their nervousness on the threat of unionization, the NCAA has used a classic "we're not so bad and greedy after all," anti-union playbook strategy, something I've seen first hand here for years.   First, the NCAA offered free food programs to all student athletes.   A proposal was passed earlier this month that NCAA President Mark Emmert said was on the table and being discussed "since last year".   This just "happened" to be passed days leading up to the Northwestern vote.  What also helped the proposal being pushed through was UConn basketball star guard Shabazz Napier saying on national TV moments after winning the National Championship, that he would often go to bed "starving" because he didn't have enough money for food.



At UFCW Local 1500 organizing campaigns, we have seen this repeatedly.  Once employees band together and petition for a union election, companies start to straighten up their act.  At Target, in weeks leading up to the election, the company bought a brand new lunch and break room for employees (previous break room had shotty equipment and wasn't updated in years), and began having pizza parties each week for the store employees.  Even at Stop & Shop, a unionized company, last year in the days following 5,000 workers authorizing a strike, the company held Employee Appreciation Days throughout their stores, just one day prior to their contract expiring.  At the appreciation days the company bought lunch like, pizzas and Chinese food, for employees.  Ultimately Stop & Shop workers were able to negotiate a contract and avoid a work action, but the reaction of companies is the same, union or not, when employees (or student-athletes) begin to band together and demand respect.  Workers, or in this case students, clearly have always had the power.  These quick changes clearly demonstrate the absolute fear companies have just on the threat of employees unionizing.
 

Second, the NCAA just announced they will offer "full cost' scholarships.  Right now student athletes do not receive scholarships that cover the full cost of attending a University.  This new change will cover all expenses on what it actually costs to attend and live at the particular school.    Another change that immediately significantly improves the lives of college athletes.   New York Times reported Wednesday that Northwestern officials “have pulled out all the stops to squash the union before it is formed,” citing celebrity coaches having one-on-one meetings with players and contacting their families.

It's funny how these two significant changes are swiftly proposed and approved when a small group of football players decide to band together and demand more and a threat of a union present.    Without the courage to stand up for what's right, greedy companies alike will continue to take advantage of workers, students and communities.   That's why the world's largest employer (Walmart) receives subsidies to open stores in neighborhoods, while putting small mom & pop shops out of business.  Without the labor movement's message, what kind of world would we be living in?



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Thursday, April 17, 2014

This Week's Top 11 Stories: Walmart Costs Taxpayers $6.2 billion, MTA Close to Deal

FEATURED
 

Walmart’s low-wage workers cost U.S. taxpayers an estimated $6.2 billion in public assistance including food stamps, Medicaid and subsidized housing, according to a report published to coincide with Tax Day, April 15.

Read more @ Forbes
 
34,000 NYC subway & bus workers near deal for 8% raise over 5 yrs. Governor Cuomo abandons push for 3-yr pay freeze. @NYTimes
WHAT'S NEWS THIS WEEK
 
A new General Mills policy says if you use coupons or 'like' a brand online, you give up your right to sue. @NYTimes
 
Bangladeshi labor activist Hasina Akter said she was signing up workers during a unionization drive at a garment-factory dormitory in Dhaka when a group of men burst in, beat her, tore her clothes and threatened to rape her.  Read more @WSJ
 
An independent member of the Wakefern Food Corp. will open a discount store this summer in New Jersey.  Wakefern also opened a new food warehouse this week.
 
Newsday has the exclusive coverage of the endorsement
 
Three cheers to our brothers and sisters at the RWDSU!
 
 
Checkout some union made products that might surprise you

Top News April 11:

FEATURED
 

After refusing to back down from its decision to terminate 250 drivers, UPS on Wednesday agreed to give them back their jobs. The Atlanta-based company faced criticism for its stance, but then reached an agreement with the union to re-hire the drivers who work from a depot in Maspeth, Queens.

Read more @ Labor Notes
WHAT'S NEWS THIS WEEK
 
Under pressure from mothers working in their stores and women’s groups, Walmart recently altered its policy around accommodating pregnant women
 
In a move to directly compete with Whole Foods, Walmart, the nation's largest seller of groceries, aims to drive organic food prices down. Read more.
 
The new contracts will be reviewed and voted on 4/22 and 4/23
 
Robert Reich explains how $10.10 is a nice start, but we're far from a fair wage.
 
While restaurant operators across the country are grappling with higher local minimum wage rates or bracing themselves for a possible boost in the federal minimum wage, some restaurateurs have voluntarily lifted employee wages.
Checkout some union made products that might surprise you
 
NFL Cheerleaders aren't paid minimum wage and sometimes are paid in cash.  Read the alarming report.
 
Victories for Walmart Associates fighting for change this week.

OnPoint: April 16, 2014

Checkout the latest edition of UFCW OnPoint:




Key Food Contract Update



Contract negotiations continue progress with Key Food.  Negotiation Committees will meet on Thursday, April 24th Dan's & Pick Quick Key Food.  On  April 30th a tentative negotiation session has been scheduled with Mandell Key Food.

Stay strong, don't buy into rumors in the stores and support your negotiating committees!

If you're not already, please follow our Facebook & Twitter, where updates will be posted regularly.


Thanks again,

Your Negotiating Teams

Friday, April 11, 2014

Top 12 Stories This Week: April 1

FEATURED
 
The biggest winners of the SNAP economy are the ones the government won't tell you about. Read more >
WHAT'S NEWS THIS WEEK
 
Just look inside the numbers of how "well" American workers are doing.  In a somewhat related story, see how low of a wage you could "get by" with.
 
Emails from a Senator's Chief of staff show a direct coordination between Politicians and an Anti-Union group hired to keep the UAW out of the Volkswagen plant.  UAW requested a delay after collusion was suspected, later in the week an anti-union group requested the hearing delay denied.
Tomorrow, April 5th, A&P will host private label events at Pathmark and Waldbaum's stores.
 
23 Domino's Pizza franchises throughout New York settled wage violations spanning from 2007-2013, for paying workers under minimum wage.  It's about time.
After 250 Teamsters protested a coworkers firing, UPS handed out pink slips to all of them.  On Thursday, NYC Politicians rallied and threatened to pull the plug on UPS city contracts.
 
AFL-CIO gives a translation of Target's latest installment of union-busting film.  This week Gawker discovered they even hired union actors to star in their new film.
Read his full statement here.
 
It doesn't add up; Big retailers like Walmart are donating millions to food shelters that their employees rely on.
 
 
A service that hires "freelance" delivery persons to shop at your favorite supermarkets, and deliver them straight to your door, last week they expanded to NYC.

Monday, April 7, 2014

Westchester Faith Leaders to Hold Prayer Vigil for Fired Mrs. Green's Workers

 March 25th marked the 2 month anniversary of 9 workers being illegally fired by Mrs. Green's. The National Labor Relations Board is currently investigating the firings. Faith Leaders from throughout Westchester County are holding for a Prayer Vigil in support of demands that the company reinstate the workers who were unlawfully terminated.

WHO:  
9 Fired Workers from Mrs. Green's, Westchester Faith Leaders, UFCW Local 1500 Union

WHAT:  
March 25th marked the 2 month anniversary of the illegal firing of 9 workers from Mrs. Green’s Natural Market in Mt. Kisco.  As Holy Week is approaching, Faith leaders from throughout Westchester County are holding a Prayer Vigil at the Mt. Kisco store in support of demands that the company reinstate the workers who were unlawfully terminated.

WHEN:    Tuesday April 08, 2014 at 12:00PM Eastern Time (US & Canada)
WHERE:    Mrs. Green's Natural Market
666 Lexington Ave.
Mt. Kisco, New York 10549
NOTES:  
Photo/Video opportunity. Interview opportunities for: Clergy, Faith Leaders, Union, Fired Workers


Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Support 250 Fired UPS Drivers

Tomorrow our Public Advocate Letitia James is holding a press conference to support and demand 250 UPS Drivers who are fired be re-instated.  If you're in the City Hall area, stop by and show your support to our Teamster brothers and sisters!

Public Advocate Letitia James and Teamsters Protest UPS Decision to Lay Off 250 New Yorkers
James Calls for City to Reconsider Parking Ticket Deal That Saves UPS Millions


(New York, NY)— Delivery giant United Parcel Service (UPS) is in the process of terminating 250 of their New York employees from their Maspeth, Queens facility.

UPS— who fired the employees after they walked off the job for 90 minutes in February to protest the dismissal of a long-time employee— currently benefit from a $43 million public contract in which the company provides delivery services to city and state agencies. The company also participates in a program in which it receives millions of dollars every year in reduced fine and fees for parking tickets.

Public Advocate Letitia James is demanding that UPS rehire these drivers, and that the City of New York reconsider these public deals with UPS until such a time that the company makes a good-faith effort to negotiate with employees.
 
WHAT:               Press conference calling on UPS to rehire 250 drivers

WHO:                 Public Advocate Letitia James, Teamsters Joint Council 16 President George Miranda, Teamsters Local 804 President Tim Sylvester, Dozens of Laid Off UPS Drivers

WHEN:               Thursday, April 3rd 2014
                             10:00 AM  
 
WHERE:             City Hall steps

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