Which are you?

Some members keep their Union strong,

While others join and just belong.

 

Some dig right in-Some serve with pride.

Some go along just for the ride.

 

Some volunteer to do their share.

While some lie back and just don’t care.

 

On meeting day, Some always show.

While there are those who never go.

 

Some do their best, Some build some make.

Some never give but always take.

 

Some lag behind, Some let things go.

Some never help their Union grow.

 

Some drag, Some pull, Some don’t, Some do.

Consider-Which of these are you?

 

Submitted by Muriel Watson

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The excerpts from the two essays below were written by the UFCW Local 1439 $1000 Scholarship WINNERS

We are proud to have them as members!

KRISTA BIRKMAIER, Member/Safeway, Baker City, OR 

   "I realized that because of the Union, I had rights.  I didn’t have to succumb to unfair things my bosses proposed, and they knew that.  The working environment was peaceful and fair…  Some people may have had a bad experience with a Union or dislike paying their dues.  In my opinion, you can’t put a price on freedom; this is why we live in America.”

 NOEMI CORREA, Member/ Safeway Sunnyside, WA

   “Some believe that the American Dream is an idealistic goal.  The American Dream is an idea which suggests that all people can succeed through hard work, and that all people have the potential to live happy, successful lives.  This is what unions do for the working people of America.  They provide the essential necessities for hope and change in a diverse nation.”

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 Guess who said what 

On Thursday May 14^th the Spokane Fred Meyer Meat Union members voted to accept the Fred Meyer Meat offer. While we had not had Meat members fired under Fred Meyer’s inhumane termination policy, we have had CCK and Grocery members fired under that policy. The CCK and Grocery members have chosen to fight to get a contract that will provide progressive discipline and just cause. 

 

Below are some quotes regarding this issue

 

A.     …the policy is reasonable. As a matter of fact, it is the same policy that applies to all Fred Meyer’s associates.

 

B.     I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence I can reach for, perfection is God’s business. 

 

 

C.     To error is human.

 

D.     Fred Meyer has already agreed to a just cause provision in its contracts. Each employer has a right to implement its own reasonable work rules.

 

 

E.      Firing people for one mistake isn’t reasonable, isn’t just, in fact it's a heartless act that I find to be both callous and merciless.

 

a)      Carl Wojciechowski, Fred Meyer Human Resources

b)      Michael J. Fox

c)      Alexander Pope

d)      Scott Powers, Allied Employers

e)      Larry Hall

                                                     

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As of April 17, 2009:

Members,

We've been in contract discussions with Albertsons, Safeway, and Fred Meyer, through Bill McDonough--the Collective Bargaining Director for the UFCW International. Because of these discussions, we expect to have contract offers for Spokane Albertsons and Safeway stores to vote on in the near future. These offers will be mailed to the members in those bargaining units, and meetings to vote the contract will be scheduled as soon as possible.

In Solidarity, Larry Hall President, UFCW Local 1439  

As of January 30, 2009:

We have been negotiating the Spokane Grocery and Meat agreements with Albertsons, Fred Meyer and Safeway for over a year.

 

Many more of our Local Union Grocery and Meat contracts are now up or will be coming up for negotiations this year.

 

Back in January 2008 Mike Ellis, President of Fred Meyer, proclaimed 2007 as “Another record year” in March of 2008 Safeway President Steve Byrd projected a boost in sales of   “More than 50% in the next few years”. In April 2008 the Spokesman Review reported analyst as saying food inflation was “Now at a 17 year high”. In August the Spokesman review reported “Retail food prices have jumped an average 6% this year”, and in December they reported that “Grocery prices had increased 7% in 2008”. Finally in January 2009 SuperValu/Albertsons CEO Jeff Noddle stated “...the grocery business is a good place to be in tough times.” With all the prosperity going on in the grocery business you would think negotiating a fair contract wouldn’t be that hard. The grocery business isn’t as good a place to be economically if you are working in a grocery store as apparently it is if you are the CEO of a grocery corporation.

 

During the last few years while CEO wages skyrocketed your wages stagnated. We all know that every one working in your grocery store needs a fair wage increase and just treatment.

 

While you have been struggling to survive on less and less in real wages, your CEO’s have been living in the lap of luxury on the back of your hard work. Your corporations’ upper management can not understand why they should treat you with dignity and respect. Without your hard work, your company could not survive and your CEO’s could not give themselves huge bonuses.

 

I think we all remember when they had to raise grocery prices when gas went up. Well gas went back down but not grocery prices. There is actually a term for this – it is called sticky prices.

That’s what analyst call it when companies slap higher prices on products and keep them there after the rational for the price increases is gone. The falling cost of gas is helping grocery companies pad their profit margins as they pay less and less to transport goods. But that hasn’t translated into a break in the average grocery bill or an increase in the average grocery workers wages.

 

Why does Jeff Noddle say that “...the grocery business is still a good place to be in tough economic times”? The reason is most of us won’t be buying cars or TV’s or appliances, but we will all continue to buy groceries. More and more of you are going to become involved in these on going negotiations. Please attend your Union Meetings so you will be informed. We intend to keep working for fair contracts. We are asking you as members to STAND STRONG for the contract you deserve.