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Corporate Responsibility, Economic Justice, Retail Food, Safeway, UFCW Industries

UFCW Locals 21, 367 and the Teamsters Stand Together for Fair Grocery Contract

Jul 24, 2013
Members from UFCW Locals 21 and 367 join the Teamsters and fight for good contracts for grocery workers in the Pacific Northwest.

Members from UFCW Locals 21 and 367 join the Teamsters and fight for good contracts for grocery workers in the Pacific Northwest.

Thirty thousand  members of UFCW Locals 21 and 367 and International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 38 in Washington state are covered by contracts at grocers Albertsons, Safeway, Fred Meyer and Quality Food Centers and many other local independent stores that are up for bargaining this year. As the companies have proposed elimination of healthcare, cuts to pay, and denied paid sick days, UFCW and Teamsters members have responded with more solidarity than ever.

In the month of July, hundreds of members of the three union locals were joined by hundreds of community supporters at informational pickets in front of stores in more than ten communities to seek the support of customers as they try to reach a fair deal. The next week, they leafleted thousands of fans at “Union Solidarity Night” at the Seattle Mariners’ Safeco Field.

“All we’re asking for is fair pay and benefits for our hard work,” said Barbara Rhodes, a UFCW Local 21 QFC deli worker and member of the bargaining team.

“That lets us focus on caring for our families and taking care of the customers that depend on us.”

By mobilizing the customers they serve every day and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with their union brothers and sisters and community supporters, members of the locals are hopeful they will be able to build a better future for all grocery workers in the Pacific Northwest.

Corporate Responsibility, Retail, UFCW Industries, UFCW Values, Walmart

Walmart Escalates String of Illegal Acts of Retaliation Against Workers

Jul 23, 2013

Reposted from Making Change at Walmart

Americans believe in speaking up when something is wrong and working together to improve our lives. Freedom of speech and freedom of association are core American values and basic rights enshrined by our nation’s Constitution. Yet while our basic rights as Americans are protected under the law, Walmart doesn’t think these laws apply to them.

In recent weeks, Walmart has escalated its illegal campaign of punishing workers who exercise their right to come together and speak out for change. In attempting to silence those workers who speak out, the company has fired or disciplined over 60 workers.

226651_465088080252221_1451530990_nThe recent string of firing comes on the heels of last month’s protest in front of Walmart’s headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas. In late May, members of OUR Walmart held a nationwide strike and “Ride for Respect” caravan protesting Walmart’s unfair labor practices (ULP), which took them on a bus ride from Southern California to Walmart’s headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas, leading up to Walmart’s June annual shareholder meeting. While in Bentonville, Walmart workers protested outside of the company’s headquarters calling for an end to its attempt to silence workers.

Barbara Collins was among the hundreds of striking Walmart workers that came together to protest in front of Walmart’s headquarters last month. She traveled from California to Arkansas in hopes of meeting with Walmart’s management and sharing her concerns of lack of respect and the need for improvement in working conditions at her store. But instead of listening to Barbara and the many other Walmart workers from throughout the nation that joined the Ride for Respect caravan, when Barbara returned to work, Walmart fired her.

After 8 years as a Walmart employee, Barbara is left without a job. Many of her coworkers have also been fired, for exercising their rights and trying to make a better future for their families. That’s just plain wrong.

But Barbara has not given up. She will continue to stand up and speak out for change at Walmart. Barbara and Walmart workers throughout the nation, together with the Making Change at Walmart coalition, are calling on Walmart to reinstate Barbara Collins and the many others who were illegally fired as well as to respect their freedom of speech and their right to stand together.

To join their calls on Walmart to reinstate Barbara and the recently fired workers, please sign the petition online at: http://action.changewalmart.org/endyoursilence

Community Partnerships, Corporate Responsibility, Economic Justice, Retail, UFCW Industries, UFCW Values, Walmart

RWDSU Local 338 Protest Walmart Neighborhood Market’s Grand Opening in Long Island, N.Y.

Jul 18, 2013
RWDSU Local 338 members and community supporters protest the opening of a Walmart Neighborhood Market to protect the local economy, small businesses, and jobs.

RWDSU Local 338 members and community supporters protest the opening of a Walmart Neighborhood Market to protect the local economy, small businesses, and jobs.

On June 12, RWDSU Local 338 joined dozens of Long Island community and labor organizations to protest the grand opening of a Walmart Neighborhood Market in Levittown, the first of its kind in the Long Island region. Protestors claimed that another Walmart opening on Long Island would hurt the local economy and small businesses, and said that the store’s opening on the same site of a previously unionized Waldbaum’s supermarket added insult to injury.

“This store was proudly represented by RWDSU Local 338 and it saddens me that what used to be a great supermarket that took care of its workers with good wages and strong benefits, as Waldbaum’s did, is now hosting a Walmart Neighborhood Market.  The residents and workers of this community deserve better than the bottom barrel wages and unaffordable benefits that Walmart jobs bring. A Neighborhood Market sends the wrong message here on Long Island,” said John R. Durso, President, RWDSU Local 338.

Over 100 RWDSU Local 338 members, community activists, and labor allies called on Walmart to change their business and labor practices and held signs that read “Shame on you Walmart, Workers Deserve Better Wages.” Protests at the store will continue until Walmart practices change and workers are provided with fair wages and affordable benefits.