source: www.wina.com

At UFCW, we believe that no one should be discriminated against in the workplace, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual preference, or political affiliation.  Our union, along with many others, works hard to ensure we can all enjoy a working environment free from harassment or discrimination, and that treats everyone fairly and equally.  That is why we celebrated more than a year ago when the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy was overturned.  The former policy, which required that military members not disclose or ask about sexual preference, alienated many individuals, and created a stigma surrounding homosexuality in the military.

At the time of the reversal, Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta also vowed to look into “reviewing benefits that had not previously been available to same-sex partners based on existing law and policy.” We couldn’t agree more with Panetta’s statement that “it is a matter of fundamental equity that [the military] provide similar benefits to all of those men and women in uniform who serve their country.”

This past week, Panetta announced even more good news:

“I am pleased to announce that after a thorough and deliberate review, the department will extend additional benefits to same-sex partners of service members. Taking care of our service members and honoring the sacrifices of all military families are two core values of this nation.  Extending these benefits is an appropriate next step under current law to ensure that all service members receive equal support for what they do to protect this nation.”

It is wonderful to see that the military has taken these steps on the path to equality.  However, as Panetta notes in his statement, the military cannot grant full benefits to same sex-partners because of the Defense of Marriage Act, the federal law which defines marriage as a union only between man and woman, therefore denying same sex-partners the same benefits that heterosexual unions receive.

We applaud Secretary Panetta and other leaders for their dedication to ensuring fair and just treatment of the many brave members of our United States Military.  More work has to be done now to ensure that equality is fully realized and implemented.

Although the military is not unionized, being a union member has helped ensure that countless government workers, and of course workers in other leading industries such as UFCW members in retail, retail food, and meatpacking and processing, are able to work in jobs that don’t discriminate and that offer equal treatment to all of their workers.  Standing union-strong is the best way to get to a place where workers enjoy equality and good jobs that will help them follow their dreams.

For Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta’s full statement on the extension of benefits to same-sex partnerships in the military, click here.