uncharted.ca :: View topic - The plans for the next contract .

Home

The plans for the next contract .

page: 1, 2, 3, 4 next	Display posts from previous:

Author	Message

Jeff-Hulk-Hemp	Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 6:57 pm
Joined: 10 Feb 2006 Posts: 448	Since the locals have no nationwide plan for the next contract talks in southern California as members .We can discuss ideas on how to help the members win out in Southern California !I say if any problems and a strike is needed we sould do a national sick week .Maybe on our time come in and question management on their plans .
Back to top	profile :: pm :: www :: aim







loonietunes	Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:29 pm
Joined: 30 Mar 2006 Posts: 1210	Jeff-Hulk-Hemp wrote: Since the locals have no nationwide plan for the next contract talks in southern California as members .We can discuss ideas on how to help the members win out in Southern California . One of the ways that would help achieve this "National Strategy" is to send "Hartwell" president of Local 1036 packing. Everyone should contact--Hartwell's two right hands Rick Crane at 661-834-6710 and Martel Fraser at 805-383-3312 and the Local 1036 bookeeper--Sandy Bruce at 805-383-3300. Demand that they contact Special Agent Dean Ferguson at 415-975-4570 or FAX 415-975-4575-- --They need to spill their guts about the 2001 and 2002 Hartwell orchestrated UFCW International Pension scam. Once Hartwell and his lawyer Dennis Hayes go down--the rest of the Southern California Union Leaders would get the message loud and clear--which is to------ Listen to the "Rank and File UFCW Union Members" Of course you will still have Local 770's Rick Icaza and Rod Diamond--but if Hartwell comes crashing down--these two buzzards will find religion as well. LT
Back to top	profile :: pm



ross53	Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 10:54 pm
Joined: 24 May 2006 Posts: 1435 Location: california	LT, Please help I'm confused. Why we the UFCW Members should be concerned about the next contract negotiations. I guess not everyone is in tune with the latest news. Kasparian tells UFCW allies: "We're united" Local 135 president meets with UFCW 8 union reps to bring Northern and Southern California unions together. Kasparian said. 'When the companies wouldn't budge and kept us on the picket lines for 20 weeks, they were not only trying to break the locals involved in the strike/lockout, they were trying to break the entire union" Kasparian continued: " But they have awakened a sleeping giant and helped us achieve unprecedented unity. That will be a significant factor in the negotiations next year." Source; www.ufcw135.org, The Worker President report, Volume 33, Number 5 , May 2006. Page one. I, have no fear "Slick Mickey" will make another deal with the Grocer '"WITHOUT THE UNION MEMBERS KNOWLEDGE OR CONSENT" "A strike against one company is a strike against all and we the Grocer have the right to lockout our workers" That will give "Slick Mickey" SOLIDARITY Remember the slogan in "SOLIDARITY WE SHALL PREVAIL" Mickey was right himself and the other union official did not endure financial difficulty while the rank and file had to apply for welfare benefits. A union leader who main goal is: WIN WIN WIN. More $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ for union official, and ????????????for the members. "union official earn their paycheck by betraying the union members"Ross53
Back to top	profile :: pm :: www



Jeff-Hulk-Hemp	Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 11:59 pm
Joined: 10 Feb 2006 Posts: 448	We need this strike to national !Not just local .Here in Chicago we have in our contract if there is picket line our local members have to right not to cross !
Back to top	profile :: pm :: www :: aim



loonietunes	Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 12:33 am
Joined: 30 Mar 2006 Posts: 1210	ross53 wrote: LT, Please help I'm confused. Why we the UFCW Members should be concerned about the next contract negotiations. I guess not everyone is in tune with the latest news. Ross- -One of the big fiascos amoung many made during the Southern Cal-2003/2004 grocery strike was that Local 770 and Local 1036 insisted on letting "Ralphs" Grocery Company off the hook and removed the picket Lines off of their stores- -which as we all know turned out to be a disaster--and truly helped to divide and conquor our union forces in the strike. Local 770 and Local 1036 have often joined forces behind the scenes--especially during the contract negotiations. In the case of "Ralphs"--both Local 770 and Local 1036 have had a special relationship with them over the years. Unfortunately--they convinced the rest of the Local Unions to follow their advise on pulling the Pickets off of Ralphs-- Well we all know the rest of this ugly story. During the upcoming 2006/2007 contract negotiations one of the key negotiators will be Martel Fraser the Secretary Treasurer of Local 1036. One big problem-is that-Fraser is sleeping full time with an Albertsons Executive. Sounds like a big conflict of interest to me. There are some Locals in Southern California that seem to be promoting better member participation and seem focused on achieving a comprehensive and National Strategy as it relates to the contract negotiations. These progressivly leaning Locals are Locals 324, 1167 and 1428------ but as long as Local 1036 and 770 remain in the mix with their current leaders--we are looking at a potential greater disaster in the next contract. LT
Back to top	profile :: pm



Jeff-Hulk-Hemp	Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 1:27 am
Joined: 10 Feb 2006 Posts: 448	Ok Bill and Siggy lets hear your ideas !
Back to top	profile :: pm :: www :: aim



Pearson	Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 1:54 am
Joined: 03 Feb 2006 Posts: 1417 Location: Sun City AZ	Quote: Ok Bill and Siggy lets hear your ideas ! Jeff: Your ideas are way too radical. You have to start thinking like a ufcw leader, not like some poor schlepp member who believes solidarity works (oops, spose i'm in trouble now for stealing Loveall's slogan?). I think what we really need is some big pay raises for the guys in charge. I think we should be finding ways to get Jacque into that $400,000 range like daddy. It is imperative we keep the dues flowing in so captain Jack can get the rest of his rumored million dollar walk away money. Hopefully they are planning lots of mergers, thus protecting the leadership from abuses by members who think democarcy is important. It is just plain selfish on members part to be thinking of themselves in these trying times. These leaders have endured hardship after hardship and it appears you have failed to grasp just how much they have done for you: Ingrates is the first word that comes to mind. It is perfectly clear to me they have a strategy, one that takes into consideration all variables. Don't you get it? They see the BIG picture and you only see that little piece pertaining to yourself. It is imperative you stop acting so radically irrational and just become a mindless robot ready to follow their well thought out game plan. _________________ If we don't do it, who will?
Back to top	profile :: pm :: e-mail



ross53	Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 2:44 am
Joined: 24 May 2006 Posts: 1435 Location: california	Pearson, The sick out day in my opinion will not be effective, let me tell you why? At the present time, 45% of the work force in Southern California are workers who came after the new contract, therefore they are two tier wages employee. They have no vested interest on taking a day off simply because the old timer are attempting to chance the union,or to force the company to give you a better contract. If the company 'kick you out of the door" for not showing up to work when you are schedule, the union official will be telling you anything you want, they will even tell you we take to arbitration and you will be just like a union member in San Diego who was unjustly let go by the company and more than a year latter the union cannot set up a date for arbitration yet, way to go "SLICK MICKEY" Do you think that the union really care about you?. You are an old timer, you know a lot, they don't need you ,they need new comers so they can make them believe that the union is the only way of life. With you. out of the way, the company will replace you with two new employee. The company will save money in a form of wages and benefits and the Union will break even because they will get two new members. two initiation dues and two members monthly dues. With this approach you cannot win THEY WIN. The new comers are in this job for a very short period of time, they no financial; or benefit package incentive to be motivate to help us. The idea of a leaflet is okay you express your opinion to the general public, the problem is that we the union members have constantly been deceived by the UFCW BIG BRASS. Do you know that on the last contract the grocer offered the union to increase the minimum hour for journeyman from 24 to 30hr a week and for Clerk Helper from 16 to 24 in exchange for a two tier wages. We the member did not know anything about until six months after the strike was over. One of the "BIG Official" had what we "call a slip of the tongue" and few of us pick up the the phones and started to question people no one got the B...... to public confirm that company request but no one denied. I'm not pessimist, I'm expressing my opinion based on my experience with the UFCW Local 135. 'union officials earn their paychecks by betraying the union members"Ross53
Back to top	profile :: pm :: www



Pearson	Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 1:46 pm
Joined: 03 Feb 2006 Posts: 1417 Location: Sun City AZ	Sorry for the tongue in cheek JHH, this time i'll be a tad more serious about what we should be doing. It is intriguing to see members with better ideas than what is coming from the braintrust. I doubt a sickout day would ever be effective. It puts members in harms way and the probability of enough folks participating in numbers of significance would be highly unlikely. Having said that, it is the right kind of thinking we need. If you have read about any/virtually all of the shit going on with the UFCW in contract talks, one thing is apparent: Members are under attack. It is clear the time to think of these assholes (employers) as our "partners" is long past. The sooner the leadership comes to grips with that fact, the sooner we can begin to build a strategic plan. Any ability to overcome them is predicated on developing a national strategy with localized agenda's. What i mean is they should create a Canadian and USA map with all expiring contracts, dates and employers. For the next two years we should have targeted states with specific plans to abuse, assault and embarass anyone getting out of line. Let me be more specific. I'd begin training members in letter writing, handbilling and shadowing. I'd create flying squads of members who were the more aggressive, and i would work to grow those ranks. I'd identify every employer/employee working for those companies and structure a plan to go after them personally...where they work, live, play and pray. Nothing would be off limits. In markets where employers are vulnerable and visible, i would incorporate humor and exposure like they have never seen. Neighborhood papers and comic books would be just one of the strategies i would develope. Suffice to say, i would use members as the source of this creativity. Where employers are double breasted i would hammer them every chance i got. The unionized employers who have non union stores would be under assualt. Picketing would be done without regard to what the laws allow. The point here is there should be no rules. Conventional behaivor has killed us. Predictability has let employers make minor adjustments and then do as they please. Every day should be one where nothing is the same as the day before. Imagine if an employer awoke to a hundred union members singing solidarity forever outside his bedroom window. Imagine if the church he, his spouse and children were praying at found a thousand members joining in a pray in...all holding wanted signs for the theft of their future. Finally, the last piece of the puzzle is the committment by every union leader to agree they would reduce their salary to the level of their member while they are out of work and picketing. That way the likelyhood of them just going on strike would be far less. It may just inspire the leadership to look at things other than the strike. Just a few quick off the top thoughts. _________________ If we don't do it, who will?
Back to top	profile :: pm :: e-mail



Laboryes	Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 4:32 pm
Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Posts: 1967	Pearson, I love your ideas! And I agree fuck the laws! Any laws in place today regarding protest or what unions can or can not do are just to keep us in that little structured box! Hell the jails are over flowing now what are they going to do inprision a group of grocery workers for singing a song infront of some grocery guru's window? That would surely get some press attention! Quote: The sooner the leadership comes to grips with that fact, the sooner we can begin to build a strategic plan. This is where I disagree Bill! Why wait for the leadership? If we sit around and wait for this bunch of corporate labor fakers to "come to grips" most of us will be old and gray by then(ok so I am that now) but why not get started with some kind of strategic plan here and now? Right here on uncharted! We could combine the reform groups from the different areas and at least start making some waves here and there. What we don't want the companies or the ufcw troughers to know we could dicuss by private email. I think instead of all of us reformers going in different directions we should combine our forces into one and speak the same voice! No? _________________ "When people refuse to obey, then democracy comes alive." Howard Zinn
Back to top	profile :: pm



Plutodog	Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 4:46 pm
Joined: 06 Feb 2006 Posts: 300 Location: Oregon	Has anybody improved on Alinsky's Rules for Radicals? If nothing else they're an excellent primer. I think I extracted this from a anarchist site at some point but the basis is Alinsky. -------- MASS ORGANIZING TACTICS (excerpted from Rules for Radicals by Saul Alinsky, pp. 126-140) Tactics mean doing what you can with what you have. Tactics are those conscious deliberate acts by which human beings live with each other and deal with the world around them. In the world of give and take, tactics is the art of how to take and how to give. Here our concern is with the tactic of taking; how the Have-Nots can take power away from the Haves. For an elementary illustration of tactics, take parts of your face as the point of reference; your eyes, your ears, and your nose. First the eyes; if you have organized a vast, mass-based people's organization, you can parade it visibly before the enemy and openly show your power. Second the ears; if your organization is small in numbers, then...conceal the members in the dark but raise a din and clamor that will make the listener believe that your organization numbers many more than it does. Third, the nose; if your organization is too tiny even for noise, stink up the place. Always remember the first rule of power tactics: Power is not only what you have but what the enemy thinks you have. The second rule is: Never go outside the experience of your people. When an action is outside the experience of the people, the result is confusion, fear, and retreat. The third rule is: Wherever possible go outside of the experience of the enemy. Here you want to cause confusion, fear, and retreat. The fourth rule is: Make the enemy live up to their own book of rules. You can kill them with this, for they can no more obey their own rules than the Christian church can live up to Christianity. The fourth rule carries within it the fifth rule: Ridicule is man's most potent weapon. It is almost impossible to counterattack ridicule. Also it infuriates the opposition, who then react to your advantage. The sixth rule is: A good tactic is one that your people enjoy. If your people are not having a ball doing it, there is something very wrong with the tactic. The seventh rule is: A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag. man can sustain militant interest in any issue for only a limited time, after which it becomes a ritualistic commitment... The eighth rule: Keep the pressure on, with different tactics and actions, and utilize all events of the period for your purpose. The ninth rule: The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself. The tenth rule: The major premise for tactics is the development of operations that will maintain a constant pressure upon the opposition. The eleventh rule is: If you push a negative hard and deep enough it will break through into its counterside; this is based on the principle that every positive has its negative... The twelfth rule: The price of a successful attack is a constructive alternative. you cannot risk being trapped by the enemy in his sudden agreement with your demand and saying "You're right--we don't know what to do about this issue. Now you tell us." The thirteenth rule: Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it. In conflict tactics there are certain rules that the organizer should always regard as universalities. One is that the opposition must be singled out as the target and "frozen." By this I mean that in a complex, interrelated, urban society, it becomes increasingly difficult to single out who is to blame for any particular evil. There is a constant, and somewhat legitimate, passing of the buck.... It should be borne in mind that the target is always trying to shift responsibility to get out of being the target.... One of the criteria in picking your target is the target's vulnerability--where do you have the power to start? Furthermore, the target can always say, "Why do you center on me when there are others to blame as well?" When you "freeze the target," you disregard these arguments and, for the moment, all others to blame. Then, as you zero in and freeze your target and carry out your attack, all of the "others" come out of the woodwork very soon. They become visible by their support of the target. The other important point in the choosing of a target is that it must be a personification, not something general and abstract such as a community's segregated practices or a major corporation or City Hall. It is not possible to develop the necessary hostility against, say, City Hall, which after all is a concrete, physical, inanimate structure, or against a corporation, which has no soul or identity, or a public school administration, which again is an inanimate system. [He says your target should be a person in the organization you are opposing; a face within the opposition for you to focus on; it must be someone with power within the organization, like the CEO, school superintendent, governor, or something like that.] _________________ "I'm not a humanitarian,I'm a hell-raiser" -- Mother Jones
Back to top	profile :: pm :: www



loonietunes	Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 5:10 pm
Joined: 30 Mar 2006 Posts: 1210	Laboryes wrote: I think instead of all of us reformers going in different directions we should combine our forces into one and speak the same voice! No? Good idea LY--- Kind-of what the whole Fucking "Union" Movement was supposed to do to begin with--Go Figure! "BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE" LT
Back to top	profile :: pm



ross53	Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 5:01 pm
Joined: 24 May 2006 Posts: 1435 Location: california	A STRONG UNION THAT IS THE SOLUTION FOR THE BRASS NOT FOR THE MEMBERS. www.ufcw135.org home page left hand side you see thec WORKER CLICK there and it will take you to the workers May 2006 front page "SLICK MICKEY AND JACQUES LOVEALL" and related story. "good reading" "union officials earn their paychecks by betraying the union members"Ross53
Back to top	profile :: pm :: www



Jeff-Hulk-Hemp	Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 11:17 pm
Joined: 10 Feb 2006 Posts: 448	Well someone at store gave a idea like this that all union members nationwide walk off the job one just day nationwide .
Back to top	profile :: pm :: www :: aim



SFway	Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 5:14 pm
Joined: 26 May 2006 Posts: 573	Plans for the next Contract... There are several things to do: 1. Strengthen ourselves where we are the weakest; that is in our relationship with our Members. Starting this very day, develop an issue, find a single member and get that Member interested in that issue and engaged in participation in the progress of the issue, doing something that can reasonably be done. .Chicago's "big-box" ordinance could be a model for other localities .San Francisco's recent ordinances for Grocery Workers Retention, for city-wide healthcare, and now for paid sick leave for employees of all businesses in San Francisco [see: www.beyondchron.org for [b]7/29/06][/b] are issues around which individuals can be organized into collective and participatory action. The information for these types of actions are widely available on the Net and can be adapted to any locality. This type of activity will provide members a foundation from which to build a contract campaign. 2. Strengthen ourselves where we are strongest - in Grocery that means in our relationship with our Customers. In the NorCal Bay Area Coalition campaign the "Customer Boycott Pledge" was a vital part of the overall strategy. Members had Customers, their own customers, in front of their own stores, sign tens of thousands of boycott pledge cards - and this was done well before and continually during contract negotiations. The Customers responded positively; the companies went ballistic. So, every day, every shift at work devise the means to make each Customer part of you, and your future.
Back to top	profile :: pm :: e-mail

Home

Forums

Your Union

The plans for the next contract .


Page 1 of 4 page: 1, 2, 3, 4 next	Display posts from previous:
	Jump to: