Fred Meyer Eagle River #668 Meat and Seafood Department voted UNION YES
unanimously on June 2, 2022! They join the Meat and Seafood employees at the Abbott, Dimond, Northern Lights, Wasilla, Fairbanks West and East stores, as well as the Fairbanks West grocery department. CONGRATULATIONS! If you would like to know more about how to unionize your workplace, and the many benefits of being in the union, please contact the UFCW Local 1496 @ 907-258-1496 and ask to speak to an organizer, or click the "organizing" tab in the main menu. 2nd QUARTER GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
DATE DAY PLACE TIME 5/5/22 THUR Anchorage/Eagle River @ UFCW Office (501 W. Northern Lights Blvd) 9:00 AM 5/5/22 THUR Anchorage/Eagle River @ UFCW Office (501 W. Northern Lights Blvd) 5:00 PM 5/5/22 THUR Eagle River @ Parks & Rec (12001 Business Blvd) 4:00 PM 5/9/22 MON Homer @ Bidarka Inn (Downstairs Conference Room) 6:00 PM 5/10/22 TUES Kenai/Soldotna @ Aspen Hotel Soldotna 4:00 PM 5/11/22 WED Kenai/Soldotna @ Aspen Hotel Soldotna 9:00 AM 5/11/22 WED Fairbanks @ UFCW Office (2120 S. Cushman Suite 201) 10:00 AM 5/11/22 WED Fairbanks @ UFCW Office (2120 S. Cushman Suite 201) 5:00 PM 5/11/22 WED North Pole @ North Pole Wendys 3:00 PM 5/11/22 WED Seward @ Seward Community Library & Museum (239 6th Avenue) 4:00 PM 5/23/22 MON Palmer/Wasilla @ Menard Sports Center 6:00 PM 5/23/22 MON Ketchikan @ Best Western Landing 9:00 AM 5/23/22 MON Ketchikan @ Best Western Landing 5:00 PM 5/24/22 TUES Petersburg @ Scandia House 7:30 PM 5/25/22 WED Juneau @ Travelodge (Glacier Hwy) 7:15 PM **Union member who attend General Membership meetings receive 50% refund of that month's dues. CONTRACT UPDATES Congratulations to the Safeway Ketchikan store as they ratified a new 3 year contract on March 31st, and also to the Palmer/Wasilla Safeway members who ratified their new 3 year contract on April 6th. Both settlements included improvements to wages for all job classes, as well as improvements to the health and welfare package with vision coverage being available sooner. Next up for Safeway is Juneau, followed by Ironworkers Local #751 and Sheet Metal Workers Local #23. "STAMP OUT HUNGER" FOOD DRIVE - MAY 14TH We know better than anyone how hard UFCW members work to put food on the table for American Families and our Union family also believes that no hardworking man or woman should struggle alone. Which is why we work hard for those in need, supporting our brothers and sisters at the National Association of Letter Carriers in their "Stamp Out Hunger" food drive. This year is the 30th anniversary of the food drive, and we want to make this a year for the history books. Together, we know we can do it, one bag at a time. Here's how: 1. FILL A BAG with non-perishable food items. 2. PUT OUT YOUR BAG on May 14th before your letter carrier's normal pick-up time. 3. WHAT TO PUT IN YOUR BAG? Cereal, pasta, spaghetti sauce, rice, canned fruits and veggies, canned soup, chili, peanut butter, macaroni and cheese, canned protein (chicken, tuna, etc), beans, oatmeal. Note: DO NOT put in frozen food, homemade food, expired food or home canned items, or anything in glass containers. May not be applicable in all areas in the state. That's it! It's so easy, so please help us Stamp Out Hunger and put food on shelves in our local food banks. RECEIVE FREE UNION DUES FOR ONE YEAR When workers decide they want to join together to improve their working conditions and jobs, they contact a union that will help guide their efforts to organize. Once a majority of the bargaining unit shows interest by signing a union authorization card, the union will approach the employer to see if the worker's wishes to organize will be recognized. If the employer fails to honor this request, then a petition for election will be filed on your behalf with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). When the workers win their union vote, they then begin to negotiate for a union contract. Remember the law protects workers joining a Union! You are protected under federal law, which supports freedom of association. Employers are not allowed to discriminate or show any reprisal against workers for choosing to join a union. If you are aware of any group of workers that you believe may be interested in being represented by UFCW Local 1496 for the purpose of collective bargaining, please contact our offices at 258-1496 or 1-800-478-1496 (Fairbanks Office 456-6571), and ask to speak to an organizer. You must provide the name, address and phone number of at least one of the employees who has already agreed to be contacted by UFCW Local 1496. If the contact results in a viable campaign and goes to a card check or NLRB election, UFCW Local 1496 will waive your Union dues for the 12 month period following the card check or NLRB election. WITHDRAWAL CARD If at any time you have terminated your employment or are going to be off the schedule for 30 days or more for any reason, be sure to call the Union office to request a withdrawal card. The withdrawal card is honored through-out the United States and Canada. The withdrawal card does not affect your insurance eligibility, which is based on the hours reported by your Employer. You will get credit for dues while you are withdrawn. Upon returning to work you are required to notify the Union within 30 days. ATTN: ANCHORAGE/EAGLE RIVER CARRS-SAFEWAY UFCW LOCAL 1496 MEMBERS
After Bargaining late last night and into the early morning hours of Wednesday, February 23rd, your negotiation committee reached a historic fully recommended settlement. Voting on this 3-year agreement will start immediately following the scheduled 1st Quarter General Membership Meeting for Anchorage-Eagle River at Dimond Hotel (700 E. Dimond Blvd, Anchorage, AK 99515) on Monday, February 28th at 5pm. In order to ensure that all members have the opportunity to review and vote on this settlement, voting will also take place at the following times and locations: Tuesday, March 1st UFCW Local 1496 Union Hall Conference Room 501 W. Northern Lights Blvd Anchorage, AK 99503 7am - 6pm Tuesday, March 1st Eagle River Carrs Store #1807 Conference Room 11431 Business Park Blvd Eagle River, AK 99577 7am - 9am and 2pm - 4pm It's your contract... take time to participate, get informed, and vote! UFCW Local 1496 and International staff along with the Employee Bargaining Committee are scheduled for another round of negotiations on February 22. The contract expired on May 31, 2021 but we have signed an extension with the Company that will keep your current contract in full effect until we reach a new agreement. The Union and Committee are working hard on your behalf to secure the best wages, benefits and working conditions that the Employer has to offer. Now is the time to be United. Be sure to wear your "Standing Together" Union buttons until you get an acceptable offer. Solidarity Works!
1st QUARTER GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS & BYLAWS CHANGE VOTE
DATE DAY PLACE TIME 2/28/22 MON Anchorage/Eagle River @ UFCW Office (501 W. Northern Lights Blvd) 9:00 AM 2/28/22 MON Anchorage/Eagle River @ Dimond Hotel 5:00 PM 3/2/22 WED Palmer/Wasilla @ Menard Sports Center 6:00 PM 3/3/22 THUR Eagle River @ Parks & Rec (12001 Business Blvd) 4:00 PM 3/3/22 THUR Fairbanks @ UFCW Office (2120 S. Cushman Suite 201) 10:00 AM & 5:00 PM 3/3/22 THUR North Pole @ North Pole Wendys 3:00 PM 3/7/22 MON Homer @ Birdaka Inn (Downstairs Conference Room) 6:00 PM 3/8/22 TUES Kenai/Soldotna @ Aspen Hotel Soldotna 4:00 PM 3/9/22 WED Kenai/Soldotna @ Aspen Hotel Soldotna 9:00 AM 3/9/22 WED Seward @ Harbor 360 6:00 PM 3/21/22 MON Ketchikan @ Best Western Landing 5:00 PM 3/22/22 TUES Ketchikan @ Best Western Landing 9:00 AM 3/23/22 WED Petersburg @ Scandia House 6:00 PM & 8:00 PM 3/24/22 THUR Juneau @ Travel Lodge (Glacier Hwy) 7:15 PM **Union member who attend General Membership meetings receive 50% refund of that month's dues. **Masks and Social Distancing protocols will be observed. YOUR STRIKE & DEFENSE FUND In June 1982, UFCW Local 1496 established a Strike & Defense Fund. The Strike & Defense Fund is your money and is here for your protection during negotiations. When the Union has a healthy strike fund, it puts us in a better bargaining position. The fund gives the Union strength through its ability to provide for its members in case a legal and authorized strike becomes necessary. This $25 fee is required of all members. Those who have not paid the fee are not eligible to receive a withdrawal card. GOODBYE DEB! Our Office Manager at the Anchorage Union Office, Deb Humphrey, has retired as of January 31st. She was hired at Carr-Gottstein in 1980 as a Front-End Clerk. She later moved from a Front-End Clerk to File Maintenance, and transferred to the Abbott Carrs #2628 in 2008. She joined our team in November 2010. She has been with our office in various positions for 12 years and will be greatly missed by the office staff as well as many of the members who call here for assistance. We wish her well as she plans to spend more time with her family, traveling and playing golf. Congratulations Deb! SHOP WHERE YOU WORK As the retail landscape becomes more competitive, it's become more important than ever for you to shop where you work. Dollars spent at the non-union competition directly affects the hours offered to employees at your store. It's fine to shop ads, and to shop smart, but it's also important to remember to shop your Union store....your paycheck depends on it! |
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