uncharted.ca

Virtual union town hall Dec.5 2012

Ron Lind "We will not through our retirees under the bus"

Employers Make Unwarranted Demand for Health and Welfare Concessions:

At negotiations on November 29 Raley's, Safeway and Save Mart made an initial health and welfare proposal that would seriously diminish the membership's access to quality, affordable health care and in the case of
Retirees eliminate it entirely.

Local 8's Website Update:

http://yourbreadandbutter.com/news/industry-discussions

Proposals would end health care for retirees
and slash benefits for active members.

Several months into the most challenging contract negotiations in memory, Raley’s, Save Mart and Safeway have proposed drastic takeaways that would affect both active members and retirees.

The proposals vary in many ways, but they all include eliminating health care benefits for retirees and massive takeaways for the health care benefits of active members.

The severity of the employers’ proposals is unprecedented. They would reduce your take-home pay and diminish your rights on the job.

If the employers had their way, contract language affecting vacations and wage premiums for working evenings, Sundays and holidays would be made worse or eliminated.

One company has said it wants to slash overall employee costs by 10 percent. Another wants to bring costs back down to 2008 levels.

All of the employers say rollbacks are needed to help them compete against non-Union competitors that are making inroads into our region. They also point out that their profitability has been hurt by the sluggish economy.

We are interested in seeking creative and innovative ways to help the employers control costs while protecting the welfare of our members. At this point, however, the employers have not provided sufficient evidence that these drasticcuts are necessary for their survival.

The UFCW Solidarity Alliance of UFCW Local 5, UFCW 8-Golden State and UFCW Local 648 is determined to fight back against these proposals at the bargaining table. As always, the solidarity of our Union membership will be the key to our success.

You can help by shopping only at Union stores during this holiday season and throughout the year. Please tell your friends and family members to do the same.

Also, please volunteer for your Union’s programs to protect and increase the market share of Union employers. The job you save could be your own!

Keep in mind that it’s better to walk a picket line in front of a non-Union store while we are still collecting wages and benefits than it is to walk a picket line in front of your own store during a labor dispute.

Please contact your Local Union to learn how you can protect your wages, benefits and working conditions.

There is no substitute for sticking together!


Download PDF:
http://yourbreadandbutter.com/images/ufcw_solidarity-2.pdf

I am very concerned as to the position from UFCW Local Union President's Jacque Loveall and Michael Sharpe (Local's 8 & 648) "if" they are also in agreement "We Will Not Throw The Retirees Under The Bus", as is UFCW Local 5's President Ron Lind..

The UFCW Solidarity Alliance of UFCW Local 5, UFCW 8-Golden State and UFCW Local 648 is determined to fight back against these proposals at the bargaining table.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- David Frias works two minimum-wage jobs to squeak by in one of the most expensive cities in America.

Come New Year's Day, he'll have a few more coins in his pocket as San Francisco makes history by becoming the first city in the nation to scale a $10 minimum wage. The city's hourly wage for its lowest-paid workers will hit $10.24, more than $2 above the California minimum wage and nearly $3 more than the working wage set by the federal government.

UFCW Local 8

Solidarity Alliance Newsletter

December 15, 2011

http://www.ufcw8.org/Docs/UFCW-Solidarity-12-15-11.pdf

Contract Extended to January 24, 2012 for Raleys / Nob Hill..

Contract Extended to February 25, 2012 for Safeway / Vons and Save Mart / Luckys..

If you believe Raleys/Nob hill an action aimed at them could destroy an already weak company. A company that is taking the hardest line at the contract table.

Bargaining Update:

Grocery Contracts Extended

Grocery contracts between UFCW Locals 5, 8 and 648 have been extended with Safeway, Save Mart and Raleys. The agreements between the unions and Safeway and Save Mart are extended to February 25, 2012. The contract between the locals and Raleys is extended through January 24, 2012.


A week of meetings has been scheduled to begin January 9 to resume talks. Subsequent meetings have been scheduled with all employers through the expiration of the respective extensions. During the extensions all wages, benefits and working conditions remain intact.

Local 5's Website Update:
http://ufcw5.org/