uncharted.ca

The parties recognize that one of the purposes of the Super Card is to generate income.

If Retirees are already paying for their medical coverage, then why are these employers proposing to eliminate retiree medical benefits in its entirety?

E-negotiations update no.10 says "Employer paid retiree health care" I've heard it said both ways at this time who knows who is right. Some retirees are on "self pay" and some pay the $70 a month premium depends when you retired.

Effective with hours worked in December 2010 and payable in January 2011, the Employer agrees to contribute six dollars and twenty cents ($6.20) until the expiration of this Agreement.

After reading the above Local Union Negotiation Updates, what more do these three (3) Food Employer's have to threaten to takeaway from our Active / Retiree Members before our UFCW Leaders get off their asses and do something?

2010 Summary Plan Description (SPD)
UFCW Northern California Employers Joint Pension Plan

Suspension Of Benefits After Your Pension Payments Begin (Page 30.)

Once you retire, the Pension Plan places restrictions on the number of hours you can work in the same industry and in the same trade or craft in the same geographic area covered by the Plan while continuing to collect retirement benefits. Such work is defined as “Suspendible Service”, if you work more than 63 hours per calendar month.

You may work as vacation relief up to 756 hours in a calendar year, provided you notify the Administrative Office in writing in advance of the date you begin such employment.

Once a year you will be required to disclose all post-retirement employment. Your pension payments may cease until your response has been received by the Administrative office.

For additional information about restrictions on your employment after retirement, please contact the Administrative Office.

If you work in Suspendible Service your pension payment will be suspended for each month you work in excess of 63 hours per month. Your benefit will resume when you are no longer employed more than 63 hours per month.

Once you reach age 70, your retirement benefits will not be suspended, no matter how many hours you work. If your benefits are suspended before you reach age 70, they will no longer be suspended beginning the first day of the month after the month in which you reach age 70.

With respect to the H&W costs for retirees I what share with you what I currently for my wife and myself on a monthly basis.

You are correct they would not pay a thing if they were not forced to, the locals better get their act together and let the public know what they are trying to do to their retirees.....

Memorandum of Agreement Between Albertson's, Ralphs & Vons And UFCW Local Unions No. 8-GS-, 135, 324, 770, 1167, 1428 and 1442

Southern California UFCW Agreement

25. Article 15- Trust Funds C. Retiree Health and Welfare, Section 6 - Add the following new paragraph to Section 5 to read (MOA / Page 6.):

"Effective April 1, 2012 and annually thereafter, the pre-65 retiree co-premium shall be equal to $125 per person per month and the Post-65 retiree co-premium shall be equal to $50 per person per month. Thereafter, the retiree co-premium shall be adjusted by the same annual percentage increase of the Medicare Part B rates."

Raley's and other unionized grocers have been trying to reduce costs to cope with heightened competition from Wal-Mart and other nonunion supermarkets that pay lower wages. The competition threatens to erode what has for decades been a middle-class occupation for people without a college education.
In contract talks with the United Food and Commercial Workers union, Raley's, Safeway and Save Mart are seeking benefit and wage concessions from 60,000 workers in the Central Valey and Bay Area.

The reports said the reason for the latest closures is the more than 250 non-union stores that have opened in Raley's operating area in Northern California and Nevada since 2008. "Since they're non-union, they can sell at a lower price, and with our operating costs, we have a situation where we have to lower costs to be able to compete," a Raley's spokesman was quoted as saying.

The grocers wouldn't discuss their proposals in detail. But Loveall and Lind said the supermarkets want to eliminate paid health care for retirees, and force current workers to start contributing to insurance premiums. The contributions could be as high as $23 a week, Lind said.
Also, the companies want to eliminate bonus pay for working nights, Sundays and holidays, the union officials said. Workers say this extra pay can add up quickly.
Tiernan said Raley's offer to the workers "will save the company millions and is critical to our future success."

It would seem that walmart traffic hitting the 'hood might not be all bad after all.

Check out:

Safeway - No. 4

Save Mart Supermarkets - No. 31

Raley's Supermarkets - No. 43

Negotiations Resume
Efforts Redoubled to Reach
Just and Fair Contract


*New Town Hall Union Meeting Set*
February 2, 7PM SSF Office
and Everywhere Online

The week of Janary 9 marked the first face to face bargaining between UFCW locals 5, 8 and 648 and Safeway, Save Mart and Raleys since the holiday break. The unions used the time away from the bargaining table to meet with health and welfare consultants to look at benefits and how to pay for them for active and retired members. The bargaining team also met with the entire representational staffs of all three locals along with leaders from the international union to discuss the talks. Preparations were made for all possible contingencies that may develop as a result of negotiations.

Since Monday the 9th he parties have met and discussed retiree medical and alternate dispute resolution models for disagreements on worker comp issues. No agreements have been reached and the union and companies remain far apart on the issues. The main sticking point throughout the talks has been whether or not the companies will back off their uncalled for demands for concessions on benefits and wages for members in the stores and the elimination of medical for retirees. The union will not agree to these unreasonable requests and continues to work to reach an agreement that is acceptable to our working and retired members.

The negotiations page is in the process of being updated to include a section that lists all the proposals exchanged between the parties to date, check back soon for this new addition.

Make sure to tune in for the latest union town hall meeting. The update will be held live at the SSFoffice on February 2 at 7PM and streamed live everywhere else. You can ask questions and participate live and by email or text.

The negotiations page is in the process of being updated to include a section that lists all the proposals exchanged between the parties to date, check back soon for this new addition.

Hello Ron Lind and John Nunes -- As our Chief Negotiators for UFCW Local 5, I would like to request the following.

As outlined in UFCW Local 5's Negotiation Update #6:
http://ufcw5.org/PDF%20Files/ENegotiationsUpdate6.pdf

On October 17, 2011, UFCW Locals 5, 8 & 648 met with Raleys, Safeway and Save Mart and submitted a comprehensive list of proposals.

I would appreciate it if you could please provide me with the following information:

1. Copy of the Comprehensive List of Union Proposals submitted on 10/17/11.

2. Copies of any and all Employer Proposals submitted to the Unions up to today's date.

3. Copy of any additional proposals submitted by the Unions to the Employer's as of today's date.

Additionally, please provide me with any and all proposals from the Union and or the Employer that the parties have already agreed to.

Quite frankly, as informative and updated as our website as been, I am a bit surprised that Local 5 hasn't already posted this requested information on Local 5's Website by now.

BTW... I am curious as to what "if" any discussions have centered around Retirees. Specifically, what is going to be taking place with Retirees Health Care Benefits? Along those lines, how committed and dedicated are the three (3) UFCW President's (Lind, Loveall & Sharpe) in protecting and preserving Retiree Benefits during these Negotiations?

Looking forward to your response.

Thank You

John Briley

Hi John

Thanks for the call the other night. I haven't had time to check but I believe the proposals are up on the web site.

Hello Ron --- thank you for your response. I just checked the website and couldn't locate said proposals. Where would one look?

JB

Hello Ron --- Just checking in on the status of Local 5's / your letter to the Retiree's that you had mentioned during the last Town Hall Meeting. Are you still planning to send one out?

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Thank You

Wishing you very Happy New Year.

John Briley

JB how do you see this ending (assuming it ever does). But if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, any chance it might not be a duck. I think it's a freakin' duck but then again I'm not there.

Local 8’s / Solidarity Alliance Newsletter
UFCW Solidarity 2011
Northern & Central California Food Negotiations
“Benefits Under Attack”
http://www.ufcw8.org/Docs/UFCW-Solidarity-12-15-11.pdf

UFCW Food and Meat Agreements between UFCW Local 5 and Nob Hill General Store from December 2, 2007 to and including October 11, 2011.

Section 19. Strike Or Lockout (Page 57.)

19.1 During the life of this Agreement, the Union agrees not to engage in any strike or stoppage of work.

19.2 During the life of this Agreement, the Employer agrees not to engage in any lockout.

19.3 Refusal of any employee covered by the terms of this Agreement to pass through any lawful primary picket line which has been sanctioned by the Central Labor Council of proper jurisdiction and/or the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union shall not constitute a violation of this Agreement.

UFCW Food and Meat Agreements between UFCW Local 5 and SaveMart Supermarkets from December 2, 2007 to and including October 8, 2011.

Section 20. Strike Or Lockout (Page 43.)

20.1 No Strike: During the life of this Agreement, the Union agrees not to engage in any strike or stoppage of work as long as the Employer has not committed an act held by the Adjustment Board or Arbitrator to be in violation of this Agreement, or the Employer is not in clear violation of a provision of this Agreement where no question of interpretation is involved.

20.2 No Lockout: During the life of this Agreement, the Employer agrees not to engage in any lockout as long as the Union has not committed an act held by the Adjustment Board or Arbitrator to be in violation of this Agreement or the Union is not in clear violation of this Agreement where no question of interpretation is involved.

20.3 No Violation: Refusal of any employee covered by the terms of this Agreement to pass through any picket line which has been sanctioned by the Central Labor Council of proper jurisdiction and/or the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union shall not constitute a violation of this Agreement.

UFCW Food and Meat Agreements between UFCW Local 5 and Safeway Food Stores from December 2, 2007 to and including October 6, 2011.

Section 17. Strike Or Lockout (Page 107.)

17.1 (Food and Meat) During the life of the Agreement, the Union agrees not to engage in any stoppage of work. Furthermore, the Union and its representatives, including store representatives, agree not to boycott, handbill, publicly disparage or engage in any adverse economic action against the Employer’s stores covered by this Agreement. This provision does not apply in any of the Employer’s stores where the Union has not been recognized by the Employer as the employees’ bargaining representative.

17.2 (Food) During the life of this Agreement the Employer agrees not to engage in any lockout.

17.3 (Food) Refusal of any Employee covered by the terms of this Agreement to pass through any lawful primary picket line, which has been sanctioned by the Central Labor Council of proper jurisdiction and/or the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union shall not constitute a violation of this Agreement.

17.4 (Meat) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, it shall not be a violation of this Agreement for any person covered by this Agreement to refuse to cross any lawful primary picket line or to refuse to work behind any lawful primary picket line; and such refusal shall not constitute grounds for or cause for discharge, layoff, demotion, suspension, or any other disciplinary action.

17.5 (Meat) There shall be no strikes, lockouts or other forms of work stoppage while any matter, dispute or grievance is under process of adjustment or arbitration as provided for herein.

In conjunction with Section 17 here is the applicable Letter of Understanding between UFCW Local 5 and Safeway (Page 148.):

The Employers agree that Section 17.1 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement does not prevent the Union from assisting the employees covered by the Agreement from filing any state or federal lawsuit which is designed to enforce any state or federal employee protection law or laws. Further, the Employers agree that the Union can be party to such lawsuits. The Employers further agree that Section 17.1 of the Agreement does not prevent the Employees covered by the Agreement does not prevent the Employees covered by the Agreement from personally boycotting and/or hand billing the Employer.

It is simply astounding to me that with “Our Benefits Under Attack” , including the “Employer’s Proposals For Rollbacks and Takeaways” that UFCW President’s Ron Lind, Jacques Loveall and Michael Sharpe continue to sit on their “collective asses”, including refusing to take any kind of action and or demonstrate any militancy toward these three (3) Food Employer’s while they try and decimate our Union Contracts!

As negotiations heat up Northern California UFCW Locals 5, 8 and 648 met to review the latest and plans to move forward. All three locals have a united and resolute message of solidarity: the message is in unity there is strength. The employer attacks on our health care, wages, working conditions and retirees will not be tolerated. We will not move backward, we will move forward and we will move forward together.

http://www.ufcwonline.com/ufcw-locals-united-in-solidarity

The employer attacks on our health care, wages, working conditions and retirees will not be tolerated.

Raleys Inks Contract Extension
Through February 29

Raleys has signed a contract extension that puts them in synch with Safeway and Save Mart who previously signed conract extensions through February 25. These extensions allow company and union representatives to pursue negotiations and attempt to resolve the many issue facing the parties.

Meetings between Locals 5, 8 and 648 are set to resume January 23.

Local 5 Negotiation Update #12:
http://ufcw5.org/PDF%20Files/EnegotiationsUpdate12PDF.pdf

Local 5 Negotiation Update #13:
http://ufcw5.org/PDF%20Files/ENegotiationsUpdate13PDF.pdf

The week of January 9 the parties met and some of the employer's indicated that they are contemplating backing away from their demand to completely eliminate retiree medical benefits. While this could be viewed as progress, the companies and the unions remain far apart on all substantive issues, including retiree medical and no proposals has been agreed to so far.