August, 2013

Minority Coalition, Press Releases, UFCW Values

Statement by the UFCW Regarding the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington

Aug 16, 2013

UFCWnewsWashington, D.C. – The following is a statement issued by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union regarding the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington:

“The UFCW is proud to stand with our brothers and sisters from across the country to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.  Fifty years ago on August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King delivered his inspirational “I Have a Dream” speech to over 250,000 civil rights supporters from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Organized largely by A. Philip Randolph and black labor to promote freedom, economic equality and jobs, the March on Washington was a defining moment for the civil rights movement—spurring the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

“In spite of the advances we have made since the March on Washington 50 years ago—including the election of our first African American president—the dream of freedom, economic equality and jobs has not been realized. The Great Recession has widened the gap between the rich and poor, and African American and Latino communities, in particular, have been hit the hardest by the economic downturn.  These and other communities have also been the targets of voter suppression, and the recent Supreme Court decision to strike down key parts of the Voting Rights Act will undermine voting rights in future elections.

“The need to mobilize for freedom, jobs and equality has never been stronger, and the UFCW is honored to continue the work of the 1963 activists by fighting for social and economic justice in the workplace and in our communities.”

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Below, please find details of the Anniversary Commemoration Event:

The Fight for Social and Economic Justice Continues

Fifty years ago on August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech to over 250,000 civil rights supporters from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.  The March on Washington was a defining moment for the civil rights movement and on Saturday, August 24, UFCW members and other progressive groups will commemorate the 50th anniversary of that groundbreaking event.

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, August 24, 2013

Time: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. We will meet at the Lincoln Memorial at 8 a.m. The program begins at 9 a.m. and the march will take place from 12:30 to 2 p.m.

Location: The Lincoln Memorial and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, Washington, D.C.

 

For additional information about various events commemorating the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, please visit http://www.thekingcenter.org/

 

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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

UFCW Industries, UFCW Values

UFCW Convention Adjourns, ActivistsThanked for “Making the Dream Accessible”

Aug 16, 2013

Adapted from UFCW Canada

 

9504869044_9cc04323e9_zThe UFCW 7th Regular convention convened yesterday in Chicago, wrapping up a historic gathering for North America’s most progressive and leading force for workers and their families.

In an emotional speech to more than 2,500 UFCW activists, award-winning actress and social justice activist Ashley Judd thanked the union movement today for “making the dream accessible.”

Delivering the closing keynote address to the convention, Judd focused on family, and the essential role that UFCW activists play in protecting communities from the spread of poverty, and in protecting the dream and hope that fairness and economic justice can be built upon from one generation to the next.

Praising the efforts of union activists, Judd echoed the importance of union solidarity and combined action by saying “the greatest progress for the greatest number depends on unity.”

In addition to Ashley Judd, conventioneers also heard from civil rights and social justice trailblazers like Lilly Ledbetter, who addressed delegates earlier in the week.

On Tuesday delegates re-elected the Hansen Team to lead the union’s Unity Agenda as the UFCW Executive Committee, which includes International President Joe Hansen, Secretary-Treasurer Marc Perrone, and Executive Vice Presidents Wayne Hanley, Bill McDonough and Pat O’Neill.

Throughout the convention, the groundbreaking efforts of UFCW members were featured in a number of videos and images that combined to create the most-cutting edge and multi-media international convention in the union’s history.

To see photos of all the action during convention, click here.

Corporate Responsibility, Economic Justice, In the News, Retail, UFCW Industries, UFCW Values, Walmart

Walmart Worker Reacts to Weak Q2 Earnings Report

Aug 16, 2013

Reposted from Making Change at Walmart

 

9511041369_8a4f189592_zWalmart’s second quarter sales report shows the continuation of negative same store sales. In response, OUR Walmart member Larry Born, who has worked at Walmart in Crestwood, IL for over three years, issued the following statement:

“Today’s numbers make it clear that Walmart’s labor practices aren’t just hurting workers like me—they’re also hurting business. Instead of listening to employees who raise concerns about working conditions and their impact on sales and the company’s reputation, Walmart has tried to suppress our fundamental right to speak out for better jobs by firing and disciplining many of us who simply want what’s best for our families and for the company.

“Now major investors are divesting from the company as a direct result of its labor practices, and Walmart’s urban expansion efforts are facing resistance from cities like Washington, DC that don’t want to bring Walmart values into their communities. Until Walmart shows a real commitment to creating good jobs that can support a family and strengthen local economies, the company will continue to face roadblocks in this key part of its business strategy.

“Similarly, while associates struggle to support their families as a result of erratic and inadequate hours, Walmart is receiving the lowest customer satisfaction scores compared to other supermarkets,thanks to the empty shelves and long checkout lines caused by understaffing. At the international level, costs related to Walmart’s violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act are sky-high, and the company’s reputation with the public and with investors has been seriously damaged by its refusal to join other retailers in committing to improve safety at supplier factories in Bangladesh, where Walmart was found to have procured clothing as recently as 2012 in the factory collapse that killed over 1000 garment workers.

“If Walmart wants to reverse these trends, the company should start by listening to its associates. With $16 billion in profits every year, Walmart can easily afford to increase pay and access to full-time hours so that we can make our stores great places to shop and so that every Walmart worker can support their family—without relying on public assistance. These commonsense changes will help repair the company’s image, lift its bottom-line, and strengthen our entire economy.”

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LEGAL DISCLAIMER: UFCW and OUR Walmart have the purpose of helping Wal-Mart employees as individuals or groups in their dealings with Wal-Mart over labor rights and standards and their efforts to have Wal-Mart publicly commit to adhering to labor rights and standards. UFCW and OUR Walmart have no intent to have Walmart recognize or bargain with UFCW or OUR Walmart as the representative of Walmart employees.