Let's face it, we all have friends and relatives that work non-union jobs. At some point, one of them has probably expressed to you how much they don't like their job. Whatever the reason may be, the solution is simple. THEY NEED A UNION! UFCW Local 1496 firmly believes that all people deserve a voice in the workplace, and we believe it is so much more meaningful for prospective new members to not only hear from the UFCW Local 1496 staff, but from actual members of our Union as well. As a member, you have the perfect opportunity to help that friend or relative. All you have to do is connect us to the person that needs a Union! If that connection eventually leads to a Union election, you will earn $500. Remember, UFCW Local 1496 isn't just a "Food Union". We have Union contracts with a variety of companies from wholesale-retail, office clerical, hospital, dental, medical, insurance, meat packing, manufacturing, barbers, cannabis, parking authority, sales merchandising and distributing and that's just to name a few.
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The UFCW is about workers coming together to build better lives for themselves. It is about creating opportunity. That is why each year, the UFCW Charity Foundation awards several scholarships of up to $8,000 each to UFCW members or their unmarried dependents under the age of 20. The Charity Foundation is also introducing a Loan Assistance Program that encourages young people to enter and continue to work full-time in the labor movement. Under the program, college students and college graduates may qualify for loan assistance payments for education loans while employed within the labor movement. The scholarships are limited to any UFCW member who has been active since January 1, 2018. The children and/or dependents of active members are also eligible to apply if they are unmarried and under the age of 20 on May 31, 2019. Scholarship recipients will receive annual payments of $2,000 for each year they are enrolled in an accredited college or university as a non-probationary student for up to four years. You may apply by going to ufcwcharityfoundation.org. The procedures for the scholarship program are also printed in French and Spanish on this website. If you need help with understanding the scholarship rules and application in another language, please call 1-800-551-4100 and they will obtain assistance for you. If you are unable to applu online, you may request an application by writing to UFCW Charity Foundation, Attn: Scholarship Program, 1775 K Street N.W., Washington D.C. 20006.
The year 2019 promises to be a busy one for Local 1496 members and staff. Twenty-one of our thirty-plus contracts are up this year around the state from Fairbanks with Safeway Fairbanks and North Pole stores, Fairbanks Distributors, Market Basket, and Fred Meyer East & West stores in the fall. Southeast Alaska with Tatsuda's IGA, Tongass Trading Co. and Safeway in Ketchikan, Trading Union IGA, and Hammer & Wikan in Petersburg, Safeway and Plumbers Local 262 in Juneau. Kenai Peninsula with Safeway in Homer, Kenai & Soldotna and Seward. Mat-Su Valley with Safeway Palmer-Wasilla stores to Anchorage with Safeway Warehouse Shipping and office clerks at Sheet Metal #23 and Iron Workers #751 and Plumbers #367 who just ratified a new 4 year agreement last month.
First, you co-workers/fellow Union members negotiated it into your current contract and you earned it. To not take your paid Union breaks is against the spirit of any Labor Agreement. Recently, a heard working Union member wrapping meat in a store said to us, "My work place is always so busy that I just don't have time to take my two-15 minute sit down breaks for my 8 hour shift." Our response was, "Why would you give the Employer thousands of dollars of your hard earned money?" Our fellow member said, "What to you mean?" Our response, "You're making $16.41 per hour to wrap and stock in the meat shop. If you give up a half hour of your pay every day because you work through your break, that's what it amounts to. 2.5 hours per week X $16.41/hr = $41.03 per week X 52 weeks in a year = $2,133.56." That member hasn't worked through one break since that day, and neither should you. You deserve a break today and everyday for your hard work.
The basic policy with regard to shoplifting is one of prevention. This is usually best accomplished by cheerfully greeting customer and asking if they need assistance, as shoplifters do not like to be recognized and avoid stores with friendly, attentive employees. If an employee becomes aware that someone may be leaving the store with unpurchased merchandise, he or she should report the incident to management immediately. Do not engage them. Under no circumstances may any employee pursue or otherwise chase in an attempt to detain a suspected shoplifter within the store or outside the store premises. To do so places your safety and the safety of your co-workers and customers in jeopardy. The company will not tolerate any violation of this policy and any employee that decides to pursue or otherwise chase in an attempt to detain a shoplifter will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination irrespective of whether anyone was injured.
They kill jobs, resulting in a race to the bottom. Working class Americans have faced a tough struggle the least few decades as jobs have become more scarce. Using self-checkout machines reduces the number of jobs, therefore reduces the number of man hours. This puts downward pressure on the wages of existing jobs as the available unemployed labor pool increases.
Self-Checkout machines don’t pay taxes. Each job killed is a reduction in taxes paid by a potential employee. It’s also a reduction in taxes paid by the employer. This decrease in taxes paid means less revenue for government and, consequently, less services that it can provide to those in need. Customers dislike these machines. While most people are tech savvy and can navigate their way through self-checkouts with ease, it can be problematic for others. Sometimes bar codes and coupons don’t scan properly, products require age verification, or customers need assistance. In these types of instances, lines can become backed up. And some customers still like the personal interaction with cashiers. They don’t want the work of checking themselves out. Potential for Theft. Because employees are unable to monitor customer transactions as closely, it’s easier to steal. Some examples would be replacing bar codes of high priced items with lower priced items or just not scanning an item or two. When caught, it’s possible for customers to plead ignorance or blame it on an equipment malfunction. |
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