All Categories - UFCW 1496

JOB POSTING

2/16/2021

Membership Services Accounting/Receptionist

- Regular-Full Time 40Hrs, Monday-Friday, 8:00AM-5:00PM w/1hr lunch break

- Required Education, High School or Equivalent

- Required Experience, 2+years in Customer Service

- Compensation, $17.00hr or D.O.E. w/Health Benefits and Pension Plan

Apply no later than Friday, March 5, 2021 by sending your resume to mutchie@ufcw1496.org

Location:
UFCW Local 1496 Office
501 W. Northern Lights Blvd., Suite 200
Anchorage, AK 99503

Job Description:
This position is responsible for entering and upkeep of member applications and changes, reports to upload and process, auditing, open enrollment monitoring and other duties as assigned. Must be comfortable answering and making calls as needed. Some computer experience in Word and Excel is necessary.

February 2021 Newsletter

2/3/2021

PRESIDENT BUSTER MARTIN RETIRES!
The members and local 1496 staff say goodbye to a dear friend and strong leader for working families, protecting their union rights and serving the middle class. Buster will be sorely missed by his co-workers and the members that he has proudly served for over 20 years. Buster first joined the union when he moved from Missoula, Montana and went to work at Carrs #1813 in Anchorage, Alaska. He spent most of his time with the company at stores in Anchorage, working as a Meat Cutter and a Meat Manager before becoming an organizer for Alaska's UFCW in 1998. Buster then spent several years helping organize stores, shops, offices, and even transit workers in the state of Washington until moving forward in his career to become a Business Agent, Recorder, Secretary- Treasurer, and most memorably spent the last decade serving as President. Since 2010 he has fought to get more money in members pockets at the bargaining table while keeping comprehensive health care plans that members can enjoy at low copays and out of pocket deductibles. We wish him well as he plans on spending more time with his wife Suzi, his children and grandchildren.
Congratulations!

DID YOU RECEIVE YOUR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA? EVERY UFCW MEMBER CAN TAKE G.E.D. CLASSES FREE
UFCW members can take GED classes for free. Members can take General Equivalency Diploma (GED) for free through Essential GED. This GED program offers a customized learning plan, so that you'll be able to successfully prepare yourself to pass the GED test, regardless of when you last went to school. This program also allows you to study at your own pace-all classes are self-guided and can be completed from your phone or tablet. If you are interested in using this benefit, please contact the UFCW educational help desk at education@ufcw.org
It may take a few days to verify your UFCW membership. However, once confirmed, you'll receive an e-mail that explains how to login and begin taking free online GED classes. At this time this benefit is only available to UFCW members and retirees.

FREE COLLEGE FOR UFCW MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES
The UFCW Free College Benefit ensures that UFCW members and their families do not have to pay out of pocket for any tuition, fees or e-books at Eastern Gateway Community College-resulting in cost savings of thousands of dollars! The Free College Benefit covers any amount for tuition, fees or books that is not covered by federal or employer education grants. Children (or step children), grandchildren (or step grandchildren), spouses, domestic partners and financial dependents of UFCW members are eligible for the UFCW Free College Benefit! The process is simple and can save you a lot of money. Check it out at www.ufcwfreecollege.org or call 888-590-9009.
Upcoming Spring Semester start date: March 15th, 2021

BRIDGEHEALTH: FREE, FIRST CLASS SURGERY
Through BridgeHealth, plan participants can have many non-urgent surgeries-like total hip or knee replacement, coronary artery bypass graft or spinal fusion performed by top rated surgeons in premier facilities across the country-at no cost to you! All costs, from pre-surgery doctor visit to post-surgery doctor visit are paid for the participant. Travel expenses are included (airfare, lodging and food) for the participant and a companion to accompany them as a caregiver. Check it out at www.bridgehealthmedical.com or call
1-800-387-3909

UFCW LOCAL 1496 PREFERRED DENTISTS
Todd C. Miles, DDS and Affordable Dental Care Offices accept our UFCW plan as payment in full. This means you pay NOTHING for dental care provided within the limits of your plan. Simply give them a call and inform them you are a Local 1496 member. The staff will confirm your eligibility and schedule an appointment. You may also check your eligibility by calling Labor Trust Services at 907-561-5991 or 1-800-325-6532 ext.4241. If you are not covered by the UFCW Trust Dental Plan you may still realize savings of up to 50%. Call an office for details!

Todd C. Miles, DDS
880 N. Street #301
Anchorage, AK 99501
(907)276-7787

Affordable Dental Care
Anchorage: 401 Lake Otis Pkwy. Suite 200
(907)222-0400
Fairbanks: 503 14th Ave.
(907)374-3888
Wasilla: 701 E. Parks Hwy. Suite 209
(907)376-3368

Enhanced Benefits For Grocery Workers

3/25/2020

UFCW Local 1496 has reached an understanding with Carrs/Safeway to better support and protect grocer store workers and shoppers in this time of need due to the Coronavirus.
This resolution includes:
* More flexibility for schedules to accommodate childcare.
* Up to two weeks of pay for workers diagnosed with COVID-19 or workers required to self-quarantine, before needing to access sick leave and other contractual paid leave.
* Agreed to jointly work with State and Federal Government to treat Grocery Store Workers as first responders and set up a childcare fund for Grocery Store Workers.
* Expanded use of paid sick leave to cover childcare needs.
* Agreed to further discussions of ways to meet workers' childcare needs.
* Ensure workers do not lose eligibility for medical coverage or lose vacation accrual while out on sick leave.
* Temporarily allow the employer to bring in extra outside help to make sure we are able to serve our communities during this crisis - provided bargaining unit employees are offered hours first including overtime.
* As always, any work done in the meat cutter classification will only be performed by individuals qualified and licensed (where necessary) to perform such work.
If you have questions, please contact your Union Rep or Shop Steward.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

3/24/2020

Dear UFCW 1496 Members:
   Let me begin by sincerely thanking you-and all our members-for everything you are doing to help your customers, and our community, through this unprecedented health crisis. You are on the front lines of this crisis and you are proving how invaluable your work is and the vital role our Union Members play in times like these.
   Please know that Local 1496 and your International UFCW family is here for you during these difficult and challenging times. You are not alone. We are one Union family, and we are in this together.
   To help you and all members, we will be providing you regular updates, such as those noted below, on what actions your local Union and the International are taking to protect all of our members.
   Among the actions we wanted you to know about include:
1. Working with State and Federal leaders to develop immediate policies that will protect members' personal and economic health. Specifically, The International Union is working with elected leaders to ensure that any new local, state, and federal policies to address the Coronavirus pandemic also address the essential concerns of UFCW members.
2. The Local Union and International Union are having ongoing discussions with management and your employers about the steps they are taking (and should take) to protect your job, pay and benefits. These discussions include additional steps they need to take to protect co-workers from any workplace exposure to the coronavirus, as well as address concerns our members have raised.
3. To ensure the critical work you are dong is recognized and protected, we are working at the state and federal level to designate our grocery retail members as "first responders". This designation, we believe, will provide immediate access to testing and additional protections necessary to do your vital jobs.
4. To ensure that all our members are aware of any critical updates about this coronavirus pandemic, we are asking you to Please Text "Prepared" to 83071. These alerts will provide you invaluable updates throughout this crisis so we well be encouraging all of our members to sign up as quickly as possible.
5. To make you aware of the protective measures recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), we will be posting key information on our Local Union and International Union websites.
6. To help ensure your safety, we are strongly encouraging all of our members to reach out to us at (907) 258-1496 if they have any workplace concerns about their personal health or workplace safety. It is essential that we hear of these concerns from you so we can address them with your employer as quickly as possible.
   With respect to your health and the health of your loved ones, it is essential that we all take smart steps to protect ourselves. For example, if you show any symptoms of the coronavirus, which include fever, dry cough, and shortness of breath, you should immediately call your healthcare provider. To find out additional information of what you can and should do to protect yourself, please visit CDC.gov.
   On a more personal level, I know that these are incredibly stressful days for you and all members of our Union family. During such trying moments, we want you to know that your Union will be here for your. As difficult as the days ahead may be, we will get through this together.
   Thank you again for all the work your are doing, and please do not forget to sign up for text alerts by texting "Prepared" to 83071. For more information, please visit www.ufcw.org.
Stay safe,
Sincerely and Fraternally,
Buster

**You may also check out the "More" tab on this website, "Contact us", "Important Links" for more information.

DRIVE THROUGH COVID-19 TESTING AVAILABLE

3/19/2020

Providence Alaska Medical Center is partnering with Alaska Native Medical Center, Alaska Regional Hospital and Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center to offer free drive-through COVID-19 testing to the community. The testing is available beginning March 16 at 4115 Lake Otis Parkway, near the intersection of Lake Otis and East 42nd Avenue. People must have a referral before being tested; those without a referral will not be tested. Referrals can be obtained during a live, phone or virtual appointment with a clinician. Testing involves collecting a swab from the nose, which is then sent to a lab for testing. People will be contacted with results as soon as they are available.

Hours: 9AM-7PM seven days a week' photo ID required. For the safety of you and others, please follow marked traffic directions at the test-collection site.

COVID-19 INFORMATION FOR PHC PARTICIPATING GROUPS

3/18/2020

We have been working with our vendor partners on ways to best support you an your participants during this period of uncertainty surrounding COVID-19. The situation is changing day-to-day but following are the most recent updates:

Alaska Regional Hospital
We are ready! Alaska Regional Hospital is fully prepared to meet the needs of our community and patients. It is "all hands on deck". We are updating staff daily and screening patients and visitors for symptoms of illness. We are working closely with the municipality, state, CDC and our corporate partners to endure that we have the latest news and are following the most recent guidelines. We are collaborating with our community partners, such as Providence, Alaska Native Medical Center and Anchorage Neighborhood Health center to ensure we have a cohesive response to this crisis. We have taken measures to have a ore controlled environment that limits entry into our hospital and w have instituted health-screening checks for all hospital visitors. Masks are provided to those with respiratory symptoms who come to the hospital seeking care.

Messaging to Employees/Individuals: It's important that people understand this virus so they can make wise decisions and prevent the spread of infection. Here is some suggested messaging for you to share.

   The emergence of COVID-19 has complicated our usual flu season by presenting in very similar ways. It is spread by respiratory droplets which are produced when we cough, sneeze, and to a certain extent, even while talking - this is why the concept of Social Distancing is so frequently discussed. These tiny particles travel about 1 meter, or three feet from us. CDC is recommending we stay about 6 feet apart for this reason. These tiny droplets can also land on surfaces, which we touch, and then may inadvertently inhale after touching our own face. Wash your hands often, and try not to touch your face. COVID-19 is not known to spread by the airborne route, but healthcare providers who perform certain respiratory precautions may be seen in the media using additional masks and PPE. Prevention is best handled through hand washing, avoiding friends or coworkers who are sick, cleaning of surfaces and frequently used items (like our phones), and taking good care of ourselves by eating and sleeping well so that our immune system is functioning its best.

   Alaskans who have symptoms of flu (cough, achiness, "head cold") that are not severe should stay home and contact their primary care provider or 211 for guidance on whether testing for flu, COVID-19, or other reasons is indicated, and what they an do the alleviate their symptoms.

   Alaskans who are seriously ill should go to the Emergency Department. If they have a cough, fever, or shortness of breath, we will offer them a mask immediately upon entering the hospital.

   Alaskans who want to minimize their chance of exposure should review the CDC website and follow their suggestions under the heading "How to Protect Yourself". http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html. Currently, they are recommending:
*Avoiding close contact with others as much as possible. This may mean avoiding crowded places, handshaking, or even not traveling if you are over 60 years old and have medical illnesses.
*Good self-care - handwashing (soap and water are best, but if that is not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol), staying up to dat with your immunizations, and healthy habits.
*Take steps to protect others - stay home and wear a facemask if you're sick, cover coughs and sneezes, clean and disinfect surfaces.

Elective Surgeries. Yesterday, it was recommended that hospitals cancel or delay elective surgeries to preserve acute hospital capacity should the need arise. We respect the position the government is in and recognize they are taking this stance out of an abundance of caution. We are grateful they chose not to mandate this position and are trusting providers to make decisions based on needs of their patients and resources available. important to note is the definition of "elective", which simply means that it is a scheduled surgery rather than an emergency. These scheduled "elective" surgeries can include vitally important life-saving procedures such as replacement of a faulty heart valve removal of a serious cancerous tumor, or a pediatric hernia repair. Fortunately, as a member of the HCA family with over 2,000+ facilities across the country, our access is strong and lessons learned from markets ahead of us abundant. We are confident we have our finger on the pulse of COVID-19 activity and will make adjustments accordingly as conditions change.

Drive Through Testing Site. As stated before, we are working very closely with Providence, ANMC and Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center to ensure coordination and collaboration across the community to the greatest extent possible. This includes a drive up testing site, located at 4115 Lake Otis. We made a purposeful decision as a group to support one location and direct patients there that meet criteria/have an order for COVID-19 testing. For ese in processing, patient will be registered as "Providence" and results sent to the primary care provider of record. We also plan to have a follow up system in place to ensure results get back to the patient and provider as quickly as possible. Important to note: people coming for testing need to have a referral from their physician or 211. They will not test the worried well.

We're all In this together. Nothing highlights the most enduring and redeeming characteristic of our humanity than in times of crises. When people are afraid, hurting or in need, the ability and desire for all of us to come together and help one another is beautiful and the deepest reflection of our divine nature. This crisis gives us an opportunity to be an uplifter and help others overcome their fear and pain by reminding the what is good and right in the world, to focus on the constructive and the affirmative. We all have the power to make a positive difference and bring light into the world. Thank you for your partnership and your willingness to be such an important part of this solution.

Take care of yourself and your family, both physically and mentally. Wash your hands, go for a walk, read a book, play a game, clean your closets, laugh with each other. We will get through this together!

Congratulations, Homer

2/13/2020

Congratulations to Homer Safeway who just voted unanimously to a new 3 year contract on February 12th.

REDUCED HOURS

12/31/2019

Most UFCW Local 1496 contracts contain language that protects employees from having their hours reduced for the purpose of assigning such hours to new hires or extra employees. Senior employees within a classification shall be offered the most hours up to a maximum of 40 hours per week. If employees have restrictions to their availability, it can adversely effect seniority rights for available hours. If less senior employees are being scheduled more hours or you have lost hours to new employees, call the UFCW Local 1496 office and speak to a Union Representative.

THINK SAFETY AND JOB SECURITY BEFORE GOING AFTER SHOPLIFTERS

12/31/2019

With the decrease of accountability on those that commit petty theft throughout the state, we have seen a dramatic increase of shoplifters in the bargaining units Alaska's UFCW represents. We've had some of our members make the wrong decision and decide to try to take matters into their own hands. In doing so, they put their lives in danger! We've had members that have had knives pulled on them, our members have been tasered, and even shot while trying to pursue these individuals. Trying to apprehend these thieves is flat out dangerous and against the spirit of any Union contract we bargain. Our members' safety is paramount, and the Employers policy and procedures forbids our members from chasing or trying to detain a suspected shoplifter. If you see something, say something to Store Directors or PICS, but never put yourself at risk.

CONTRACT UPDATES

12/31/2019

The Local 1496 Fairbanks Fred Meyer West Grocery and Meat & Seafood, Fred Meyer Fairbanks East Meat & Seafood Negotiation Committee reached a settlement withe the Employer last month and members voted unanimously in favor to accept a new 3 year agreement on Wednesday, November 20, 2019. Next for upcoming Fred Meyer contracts will be the Fred Meyer #653 Wasilla Meat & Seafood contract in the Spring of 202 and the 4 Fred Meyer Stores in Anchorage for the Meat & Seafood Agreements which will open for bargaining next summer. Recently, Safeway contracts were ratified by members in Southeast Alaska at Juneau and Ketchikan, where members voted overwhelmingly to accept new 3-year agreements. Also Plumbers Local 262 Business Office in Juneau ratified a new agreement too. Palmer/Wasilla Safeway voted and ratified a new 3-year contract in December. Next in line for voting is Safeway Kenai/Soldotna sometime in January. The Safeway in Homer Union, members are currently waiting for bargaining dates to meet and negotiate with the Employer.