April, 2009

Uncategorized

>Workers’ Memorial Day

Apr 28, 2009

>Today, April 28th, is recognized around the world as Workers’ Memorial Day.
Each year, 6,000 workers loose their lives on the job. Today, the National Labor College is breaking ground for a memorial to these everyday heroes in recognition for the sacrifice they have made.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Workers’ Memorial will be attended by the new Secretary of Labor, Hilda Solis, America’s new Secretary of Labor who is committed to putting the needs of working people at the heart of her Department.

UFCW members, young and old, work around dangerous equipment and in hazardous conditions. Like many workers, we work under immense pressure to get the job done and may not always have enough help. As a result, injuries occur. Sometimes these injuries are minor, but all too often they may result in death or traumatic injuries, such as amputations. Learn more about how you can Stay Safe at work.

According to the International Labor Organization:

-Each year, more than two million women and men die as a result of work-related accidents and diseases
-Workers suffer approximately 270 million occupational accidents each year, and fall victim to some 160 million incidents of work-related illnesses
-Hazardous substances kill 440,000 workers annually – asbestos claims 100,000 lives
-One worker dies every 15 seconds worldwide. 6,000 workers die every day. Work kills more people than wars.

According to the AFL-CIO blog, two congressional hearings today will focus on strengthening the nation’s workplace safety and health protections. The House Education and Labor Committee’s hearing is “Are OSHA’s Penalties Adequate to Deter Health and Safety Violations?” and the Senate Subcommittee on Employment and Worker Safety’s hearing is “Introducing Meaningful Incentives for Safe Workplaces and Meaningful Roles for Victims and Their Families.” This is a significant change from the Bush administration. A report released April 1 revealed the Bush administration’s OSHA systematically failed to perform follow-up inspections for employers who put workers in serious danger. At 45 work sites where OSHA oversight was deficient, 58 workers subsequently were killed by job hazards. Click here to read the report. [pdf]

Collective Bargaining, Corporate Responsibility, Economic Justice, Press Releases, UFCW Values

Food and Commercial Workers Applaud Decision to Hold Bruno

Apr 28, 2009
BIRMINGHAM, AL – Today’s decision by US Bankruptcy Judge Benjamin Cohen to uphold the contract between Bruno’s Inc. and more than 2,000 workers represented by United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local Union 1657 opened the door to a fresh start for the Bruno’s name. Lone Star Funds, a private-equity firm based in New York that purchased Bruno’s in the late 1990s, had asked Judge Cohen to void the contract, which would have enabled a new owner to take over the stores without honoring the commitments made to thousands of hourly employees.
“We are delighted with Judge Cohen’s decision, which will help keep thousands of good jobs in Alabama and Florida,” said Elaise Fox, president of UFCW Local 1657. “By requiring Bruno’s to honor its promises, the court ensured that Bruno’s workers will be essential players in the revitalization of this celebrated company.”
Bruno’s assets are scheduled to be sold at auction on April 29th. Last week, members of UFCW Local 1657 took steps to authorize a strike in the event that Judge Cohen voided the contract. Today, the union announced that, while many members supported the authorization, no strike would be called.
Fox continued: “The company’s attempts to evade accountability made perfectly clear that Bruno’s workers needed to look after themselves. Bruno’s workers were prepared to do exactly that, with many of them supporting a strike if the contract was voided. Fortunately, such serious measures weren’t necessary, and UFCW members will stay on the job serving Bruno’s customers.”
UFCW Local 1657, based in Birmingham, represents more than 3,500 grocery and health care workers in Alabama and Florida.

Collective Bargaining

Smithfield/John Morrell Workers Approve Contract

Apr 27, 2009

Agreement Raises Living and Working Standards for UFCW Members

A new contract covering 2,400 Smithfield/John Morrell workers in Sioux Falls, S.D. raises living standards for meatpacking workers and their families. The contract negotiated by union members of UFCW Local 304A provides solid wage increases, keeps health care affordable and maintains retirement security.

The new four-year contract:

  • Provides wage increases of $1.45 over four years, immediately increasing base-wage rates to $13.30 an hour;
  • Improves funeral/bereavement pay;
  • Improves the progression for new hires. New hires’ pay will increase in increments every three months—meaning that new hires will make more money faster;
  • Increases the pay grade of several jobs to higher, better paid grades;
  • Keeps health care coverage affordable with low weekly contributions, but increased coverage on certain prescription drugs.

The Sioux Falls contract is the latest of several major collective bargaining wins for UFCW packing and food processing members. Workers in Sioux Falls took part in a unity bargaining effort with more than 10,000 other workers at 12 other UFCW local unions that are bargaining or have recently settled new contracts with Smithfield. Workers took coordinated and unified worksite actions over the last year to send a strong message to Smithfield that UFCW members are willing to stick together for contracts that raise working conditions and living standards for meatpacking workers across the industry.

This unity bargaining has produced the best contracts in the pork industry and is changing the lives of workers.