UFCW 1496

On July 7th nominations for Union Officers for the 3-year term of January 1, 2011 thru December 31, 2013 were completed by 7:30 PM. The candidates were unopposed and were deemed elected by acclamation.

EXCITING UP COMING SOLIDARITY EVENTS

Fairbanks Solidarity Picnic is Labor Day, Monday September 6th, 2010. Parade starts at 11:00 AM those walking and participating in the Parade will receive a stamp to enjoy food and drinks at the picnic free. Picnic starts at 1:00 PM at the Pioneer Park.

INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT JOSEPH T. HANSEN

Dear UFCW Brothers and Sisters:
As many of you already know, UFCW/RWDSU Local No. 220* workers in Williamson, New York have been forced out on strike by the greed of their employer, Mott's. The more than 300 members work in a very profitable plant for Mott's, owned by the Dr Pepper Snapple Group. In recent contract negotiations the company attempted to slash wages by $1.50/hour, reduce retirement contributions, and undercut a long-time experienced workforce. Meanwhile, the CEO's pay has doubled in the last 6 years and the company continues to post record profits. A more blatant and stunning example of corrupt corporate greed has rarely been seen.
The Williamson plant is now being run by replacement workers who are taking our hard-working Union members' jobs.

We ask you to stand with Local No. 220* members and show your support by not buying the following Mott's products:

Mott's Apple Sauce Hawaiian Punch Margaritaville Margarita Mix Mr. & Mrs. T Drink Mixes

Welch's Grape Juice (64 oz.) Rose's Lime Juice Snapple cans Mott's Fruitsations Mott's Garden Cocktail ReaLime Juice ReaLemon Juice Holland House Cooking Wines Clamato

For more information on the strike and on additional ways you can help, please visit: www.NoBadApples.org

AUGUST 24TH ALASKA PRIMARY ELECTIONS

Robert Beedle District 5, Don Benson District 13, Martin Lindeke District 18, Pete Peterson District 19, Max Gruenberg District 20, Barbara Norton District 21, Sharon Cissna District 22, Les Gara District 23, Berta Gardner District 24, Mike Doogan District 25, Lindsay Holmes District 26, Bob Buch District 27, Jodie Dominguez District 28, Chris Tuck District 29, Lynda Zaugg District 30, Bob Lynn District 31, Mike Hawker District 32, Janet Reiser Senate District P, Bill Wielechowski Senate District J, Lesil McGuire Senate District N, Johnny Ellis Senate District L. Fairbanks CLC Endorsed Candidates: John Brown District 9, Bob Miller District 7, David Guttenberg District 8, Sean Rice District 11, Joe Thomas, Senate District D.

BOYCOTT SHERATON & HILTON HOTEL

Sheraton workers have overwhelmingly voted to place their hotel under boycott – 80% and counting. They made this difficult decision after Remington, Sheraton’s management company, imposed new working conditions that have made things more difficult for workers. After months of slow negotiations and hollow speeches from management, this out of state corporation has stripped workers of many of their rights, including but not limited to increasing housekeeper workload; ceasing to pay workers during their half-hour, meal breaks; and have stated that they will no longer provide the current, affordable, union healthcare plan. The hotel is “offering” a plan that will cost workers' families about $800/month with a higher deductible. No service sector worker can afford that! So, Sheraton workers are asking potential guests not to eat, sleep, or meet at the Sheraton or Hilton until the boycott is over. The boycott will end only when these workers’ rights have been restored and they can once again provide for themselves and their families.

The UFCW has launched a new legislative and political web site, www.voteufcw.org. The site was designed with UFCW members and locals in mind—we’ve stocked it with crucial information and helpful tools to make it easier to take action and stay informed on politics and the issues that matter to working Americans.

LABOR QUOTE OF THE MONTH

Recently Walmart held its annual shareholder’s meeting where investors make decisions about the company. They are spending huge sums to bring in celebrities and rock stars.

But all the glitz and glitter can’t hide something terrible – how Walmart has treated women.

Right now, more than one million women are suing just to get equal pay and opportunities for promotion. It’s the largest gender discrimination lawsuit in American history.

Until Walmart proves that women have equal pay and promotional opportunities, Walmart executives should not be getting million dollar bonuses -- especially when they say 15% of executives’ bonuses are supposed to be for meeting diversity goals.

That’s why we’re asking you to join our fight to give shareholders a say in executive pay – because top executives need to be held accountable until they show that the old sexist culture has changed.

WITHDRAW CARD

DON’T FORGET— If at any time you are going to be off the schedule for 30 days or more for any reason, be sure to call the Union office at 258-1496 (or 1-800-478-1496) to request a withdraw card.

The withdraw card is honored throughout the United States and Canada. The withdraw card does not affect your insurance eligibility, which is based on the hours reported by your Employer.

You are not required to pay dues while you are withdrawn. Upon returning to work you are required to notify the Union within 30 days.

LOCAL 1496 STRIKE FEE

In June 1982 Local 1496 established a Strike and Defense Fund.

The fund is utilized to help with organizing campaigns in defense of our contracts, and to provide for members in the event a strike becomes necessary .

The fee is a one time payment of $25.00, and must be paid in order to receive a withdraw card.

EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT

In the upcoming months we can win the Employee Free Choice Act. The Employee Free Choice Act will make it easier for women and men to form or join a union when they choose to in their workplace. It will give workers a fair and direct path to form unions through majority sign-up, help employees secure a contract with their employer in a reasonable period of time, and toughen penalties against employers who violate their workers’ rights. The Employee Free Choice Act does not take away the right to a secret election if that is what the workers want. With a free choice to join unions, working people can bargain for better pay, health care and pensions and build a better life for themselves and their families. We all need to work together to make this happen. SOLIDARITY WORKS!

EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT

“I support this bill because in order to restore a sense of shared prosperity and security, we need to help working Americans exercise their right to organize under a fair and free process and bargain for their fair share of the wealth our country creates.

The current process for organizing a workplace denies too many workers the ability to do so. The Employee Free Choice Act offers to make binding an alternative process under which a majority of employees can sign up to join a union. Currently, employers can choose to accept--but are not bound by law to accept--the signed decision of a majority of workers. That choice should be left up to workers and workers alone."

-Pres. Barack Obama

For more information on The Employee Free Choice Act. “Check out these sites on the Web @ !”

www.ufcw.org

www.alfcio.org

www.employeefreechoiceact.org

www.changetowin.org

www.themiddleclass.org

Do we have your current Information?

Does local 1496 have your current information? Have you moved, changed phone numbers? Many members do not receive their refunds when dues sometimes get overpaid, or important news may not be received because we can not contact or connect with our members Please make sure our information for you is up to date, give us a call so we can more effectively serve you at (907) 258-1496 or 1-800-478-1496.