November, 2012

Politics

UFCW Urges Congress to End Tax Breaks for Millionaires and Billionaires and Protect Social Safety Net

Nov 07, 2012

Now that the election is over, Congress will meet for a lame duck session to deal with important unresolved issues. The Bush tax cuts—which have largely benefited millionaires and billionaires, are set to expire. The UFCW supports ending these tax breaks for the richest 2 percent. In addition, Congress must take action on $6 billion in spending cuts scheduled to take place on January 1, 2013. The UFCW opposes any benefit cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. We support deficit reduction, but it must be done responsibly by asking the wealthy to pay their fair share.

  • For a list of public events at Congressional Offices on Thursday, November 8, click here.
  • To contact your Member of Congress, call 888-659-9401.

2012 Presidential Election, Barack Obama, Elections, Politics, Press Releases

UFCW PRESIDENT HANSEN STATEMENT ON THE REELECTION OF PRESIDENT OBAMA

Nov 07, 2012

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Joe Hansen, International President of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), yesterday released the following statement regarding the reelection of President Obama.

“President Obama’s reelection is a victory for UFCW members and workers across the nation. The President stabilized a failing economy, put in place new rules to prevent another financial crisis, and made important investments in the middle class. He reformed health care, made college more affordable, and helped guarantee women equal pay for equal work.

“There is much more to be done in a second term. It is time for immediate and bold action to create good-paying jobs. It is time for a tax code that is fair and helps close the gap between the rich and the poor. It is time to strengthen our labor laws so workers can join a union freely and fairly. And it is time to reform our immigration system so those who work hard and play by the rules can become American citizens. Only then can we truly recognize the President’s vision of shared prosperity and shared sacrifice.

“Achieving these goals will require leadership by President Obama. But he also needs a partner in Congress. Tea-party legislators tried—and failed—to defeat the President at any cost, calling it their top priority. I hope they will now put as much effort into addressing the great challenges facing our nation.

“The American people have spoken. It is time to get to work on their behalf.”

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The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) represents more than 1.3 million workers, primarily in the retail and meatpacking, food processing and poultry industries. The UFCW protects the rights of workers and strengthens America’s middle class by fighting for health care reform, living wages, retirement security, safe working conditions and the right to unionize so that working men and women and their families can realize the American Dream. For more information about the UFCW’s effort to protect workers’ rights and strengthen America’s middle class, visit www.ufcw.org, or join our online community at www.facebook.com/UFCWinternational and www.twitter.com/ufcw.

Collective Bargaining, Corporate Responsibility, Economic Justice, Press Releases, Retail Food, Social Justice

UFCW ANNOUNCES UNION-WIDE SUPPORT FOR RALEY’S WORKERS

Nov 06, 2012

STATEMENT FROM JOSEPH T. HANSEN, INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT, UNITED FOOD & COMMERCIAL WORKERS UNION ANNOUNCING UNION-WIDE SUPPORT FOR RALEY’S WORKERS

(Washington, D.C.) — The following is a statement issued by United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) International Union President Joseph Hansen:

Raley’s employees went on strike Sunday morning, November 4, 2012.

Following months of intense negotiations, workers from UFCW 8-Golden State and UFCW Local 5 have been forced on strike against Raley’s supermarket chain.

Nearly one million union grocery workers and their families across the country count on grocery jobs that provide meaningful benefits and a paycheck that can support a family. We cannot allow Raley’s to lower standards for working people in Northern California. Our full union stands in solidarity with the UFCW members standing up to keep grocery jobs middle class jobs.

Workers are fighting back against the company’s unlawful implementation of contract proposals and lowered job standards that were put in place without the input or approval of union employees. Workers have also filed unfair labor practice charges against the company, citing violations of laws prohibiting harassment and intimidation of union members, circumventing the union’s authority as a bargaining agent, and “regressive bargaining” — submitting proposals that are worse than previous offers.

The strike affects more than 7,000 workers in Northern and Central California .

UFCW 8-Golden State and UFCW Local 5 have been negotiating with Raley’s (which owns Bel Air and Nob Hill stores), Safeway/Vons and Save Mart/Lucky for more than a year, seeking agreement on new contracts for grocery workers in Northern and Central California. While an agreement was ratified with Save Mart/Lucky and negotiations are continuing between Safeway/Vons, Raley’s management has been bargaining in bad faith since contract negotiations began 15 months ago.

For further updates please visit www.yourbreadandbutter.com and www.supportgroceryworkers.com/.

 

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The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) represents more than 1.3 million workers, primarily in the retail and meatpacking, food processing and poultry industries. The UFCW protects the rights of workers and strengthens America’s middle class by fighting for health care reform, living wages, retirement security, safe working conditions and the right to unionize so that working men and women and their families can realize the American Dream. For more information about the UFCW’s effort to protect workers’ rights and strengthen America’s middle class, http://www.ufcw.org/, or join our online community at http://www.facebook.com/ufcwinternational and https://twitter.com/UFCW.