uncharted.ca

It angers me when our pension fund is in such dire straights and Northern California locals will be heading into negotiations in about a year from now looking at possible CBA’s with a “3rd tier” and more devastating language for Pensions and Trust Funds while certain labor leaders(I use that term loosely) find it more important to live out “personal challenges” then to prepare and take care of the people who put food on his table everyday.

Turning your attention to the power point presentation document , please turn to page 13. As you can clearly see there is a Pension Protection Act (PPA) Required Time line (Based on January 1, 2010) that appears to be driving the train with our Union Leadership in No. Cal.

To that extent, the mere fact that thousands of UFCW Members throughout No. Cal., who are currently Food Pension Plan Participants, are not being informed of the serious changes that may be taking place within their Food Pension Plan is unacceptable!

Other than a handful of UFCW members who "may" have attended Local 5's Pension Informational Meetings, there are a hell of a lot more UFCW members who have a stake in the Food Pension Plan / Rule of 85 that deserve some answers and continue to be left in the dark.

Once again, turn your attention to page page 13 in the document:

The Notice requirement to participants is critical because it sets the date for which early retirement subsidies COULD be reduced in any Rehabilitation Plan. Retroactivity to this date IS NOT required.

At the top of page 14 in the document it states:

Examples of Early Retirement subsidies
* Disability Benefits
* Rule of 85
* Subsidized Joint and Survivor Factors

One thing is for certain, with all of the discussion taking place with what may or may not be taking place with our Food Pension Plan, anyone contemplating retirement in the near future had better do a lot of investigating as to what exactly you will be entitled to as a UFCW Retiree in No. Cal.

Especially, having a clear understanding what you will be entitled to as a Retiree concerning Retiree Health & Welfare. As everyone should be fully aware of is the unresolved issue of "redesigning" the Health and Welfare Plan (Medical) for Retirees resulting from our contract settlements back in 2007.

MAINTAINS "GOLDEN 85" FOR ELIGIBLE MEMBERS

A sweet deal with a little help from a friend?

Interesting how the years coincide, 1982, 1986, 1998, 2001.

The actions of these people are well planned. They are considered the best most street smart corporate raiders in the business. Certainly the large pile of money in our pension did not go unnoticed.

Did a plan develop to unlock its value? Did they cultivate a relationship with the leader UFCW local 588 family?

Not even the UFCW International can stop them?

Amend Section 17.1 as follows:

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' bargaiing representative.

Section 17. Strike or Lockout

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

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

17.3 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.

Article 23(A) of the UFCW I.U. Constitution provides as follows:

The terms of proposed collective bargaining contracts or proposals for renewal or any modifications of existing contracts, whether proposed by the employer of the Local Union, shall be submitted to the International President, upon his or her request, for review prior to any membership action thereon.

Such review shall be for the purposes of determining whether the aforementioned terms conform to the applicable established policies, practices, and objectives of the International Union relating to wages, hours, and other working conditions, either on the locality involved or nationally, and enabling the International Union to discharge its obligations in the event such proposed terms are found to be injurious to the best interests of the membership of other Local Unions or the International Union.

If the International President exercises his or her authority under this paragraph, terms of proposed collective bargaining contracts or proposals for renewal or any modifications of existing contracts shall not be submitted to the membership for its action pending completion of review or following any disapproval by the International President.

Any membership action on the aforementioned terms of proposals pending completion of review or following any disapproval by the International President shall void and without effect.