UnionWize July-Aug 2015

UFCW LOCAL 1059

JULY / AUGUST 2015

Vol. 37 No. 4

from the president’s desk­­…

Kroger Members Ratify New 5-Year Contract President Randy Quickel

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As we do with most of our contracts, we sent a contract survey to Kroger members earlier this year to get feedback on what our membership felt was important to address in bargaining. The survey asked about wages, health care and other issue and demographic questions to better understand the problems and priorities among the membership.

We then combined this data with a review of grievances during the previous contract and input from our Union Representatives. These sources helped influence the items in the union’s bargaining proposal.

Wages and health care were the top concerns in members’ surveys.

With regard to wages, members did not want bonuses in lieu of raises.

Our members understood that a wage increase is far more valuable than a lump sum bonus. Wage increases form a new base wage every member can benefit from when they reached that pay level.

Our membership was also acutely aware of the most endangered component of their health care: spousal

n August 24, the UFCW Local 1059 Kroger membership ratified a 5-year contract that was the culmination of months—and decades, in one case—of very hard work to secure a good agreement that will serve our members into the future. I would like to use the opportunity of this contract vote to illustrate how different factors work together to affect negotiations, whether that bargaining is with Kroger or any other employer. All contracts are shaped by a number of factors, and the story of this Kroger agreement can help shed light on the complicated negotiation process. ance plan offered in their contract. coverage. Recent Kroger negotiations During those 2012 negotiations, we throughout the country saw the company go after the elimination of spousal made it clear to Kroger that this was coverage in members’ health care plans. just the start and we would be back in 2015 to further expand the options.

We have chronicled these changes Regarding feedback from Union on the “Employer & Negotiation Representatives and members, there Updates” page of past UnionWize iswas significant concern for how the sues. In the “Right to Work” states of health care plans’ Wellness Program Indiana and Georgia, contracts were operated. By going to a doctor or ratified which completely eliminated the ability of full-time workers to cover Kroger pharmacy to record biometrics numbers and taking a Health Risk their spouses on their health insurQuestionnaire online or over the ance. The Local Union representing Cincinnati, Dayton and Toledo Kroger phone, members would qualify for “first-dollar” money toward health workers was able to preserve coverage expenses and preserve their full menu for spouses without access to insurance of plan choices. But there was signifithrough their employer but spouses cant negative feedback concerning the who were offered coverage through uncomfortable nature of discussing their employer and all future members your health with a stranger. would not have spousal coverage.

Members were learning more The Local 1059 membership clearabout their health and, in some cases, ly wanted the preservation of spousal lives may have been saved. Participacoverage into the future. tion was high. However, the logistics Prior to the 2012 Kroger contract, of the program needed a tweak or fuel center employees did not have two. access to health care coverage. In that Another issue looming in negocontract, we were able to crack the tiations was the potential merger of door by getting full-time fuel center our two contracts into a single conworkers access to the lowest cost insur-

continued on page 3…

officers

table of contents

officers’ reports Randy Quickel, President............................................3 “Kroger Members Ratify New 5-Year Contract”

Randy Quickel President/Editor

Mark Fluharty, Secretary-Treasurer..............................4 “How are the Wealthiest 1% Different from the Rest of Us?”

Mark Fluharty Secretary-Treasurer

Mark Hertenstein, Service Director.............................6 “Cell Phones & Work: Calling Your Attention to Policy”

Sue Lilly Recorder

Paul Smithberger, Collective Bargaining Director........7 “How to Prevent Out-of-Network Charges”

Tina Morgan, Organizing Director............................10 “Don’t Panic. Workers Are Rising Up, Part 1”

Mark Hertenstein Service Director

Paul Smithberger Collective Bargaining Director

Jason Kaseman, Political Director..............................11 “The Overtimes, They are A-Changin’”

Tina Morgan Organizing Director

Jason Kaseman Political Director

Rick Gregory, Education Director.............................13 “Real Friends”

Rick Gregory Education Director

features Members Help Build Homes with Habitat...................5 Discounted Movie Theater Tickets...............................7 UFCW Local 1059 Golf Outing..................................8 Rally to Defend the American Dream........................11 Ray Collier Memorial Scholarship Winner................12 Employer & Negotiation Updates..............................12 UFCW Local 1059 Softball Tournament...................14

UFCW Local 1059 UnionWize (USPS 567- 310) is published bi-monthly by UFCW Local 1059 at 4150 E. Main Street, Columbus OH 43213-2962. Periodicals Postage Paid at Columbus, OH.

Vice Presidents Steve Allen Allison Appel Mark Dersom Frank German Tracy Henneke Cheryl Hoffman Tina Morgan Brian Perkins Jim Ryder Gene Smith Keith Smith Carlos Stiffler Union Representatives Allison Appel Sylvester Carothers Mark Dersom Neil Hertenstein Travis Long Brian Perkins Mack Quesenberry John Smith

John Angeloff Louis Cruse Durell Ellis Josh Greenlee Mark Hertenstein Cynthia Hughes Mike Nichols Dave Renneckar Barb Smith John Smith Kim Smith

Anthony Bridges Tom Denton Tom Gartner John King Mike Nichols Ajah Potts Nikki Rigano Carlos Stiffler

Postmaster: Send address change to UFCW Local 1059, 4150 E. Main Street, Columbus 43213-2962.

Contact UFCW Local 1059 by calling 614.237.7671 or 800.282.6488 and entering your party’s extension: Allison Appel........................................216 Anthony Bridges..................................242 Sylvester Carothers...............................236 Tom Denton........................................239 Mark Dersom.......................................238 Tom Gartner........................................237 Mark Hertenstein.................................205 Neil Hertenstein...................................217

Jason Kaseman.....................................240 John King.............................................204 Travis Long..........................................212 Tina Morgan........................................235 Mike Nichols.......................................214 Brian Perkins........................................244 Ajah Potts.............................................243 Mack Quesenberry...............................209

Nikki Rigano........................................208 John Smith...........................................203 Paul Smithberger..................................250 Carlos Stiffler.......................................218 Administrative Office...........................223 Dues Office..........................................229 Organizing Director.............................235 Service Director....................................205

from the president’s desk­­… …continued from page 1

tract. Kroger’s regional labor relations representative contacted me in April about the desire to explore a merger in negotiations. It is important to realize that meat department workers had their own contract as did Kroger workers outside the meat department (ie, a Meat contract and a Food contract).

The origin of these separate contracts dates back to a time before the UFCW existed and there were separate Retail Clerks and Amalgamated Meat Cutters unions. Those two unions merged to form the basis of the UFCW, but the Kroger contracts had remained separate here at Local 1059.

In order to determine whether Meat members were interested in the proposed merger, we created a Meat Merger Committee before formal negotiations began. That committee of Meat contract members from various classifications met with representatives from the company to talk about the proposal. At the end of discussions, the committee recommended the main negotiating committee further pursue the proposal but only if they could protect several important differences in the Meat contract, which the committee felt were vital to preserve.

At this point, I’ve discussed factors that had shaped negotiations over the course of months (survey results, Meat Committee recommendations) and years (strategic bargaining from the

previous contract, national bargaining trends), but the next topic I’ll discuss was literally decades in the making.

There are two Kroger stores in Local 1059’s jurisdiction that had previously been under an entirely separate contract from the Food and Meat contracts discussed already. When stores opened in Bucyrus and Mt. Gilead decades ago, they did not fall under the jurisdiction language of the Kroger contracts at that time. They were thus negotiated under a separate Kroger contract, termed the “Non-Metro” stores. Since that first contract, efforts were made to integrate those stores into the larger Kroger contracts.

Over time, we were able to align expiration dates so all stores would bargain at the same time. Eventually, we were even able to incorporate the Non-Metro stores into the Food contract as an appendix. Still, wages and benefits for the Non-Metro stores remained lower than those for other Kroger stores. The process of incorporating Bucyrus and Mt. Gilead was a long-term push with incremental advances contract-by-contract. The 2012 contract saw more improvements, but wages continued to lag other stores.

During negotiations, the company pushed back against these and other proposals by the union’s committee.

After many long nights and a contract extension, both sides were able to come

Kroger Negotiating Committee & Vote Count Team: (back) Frank Veazey (575), Jeremy Clark (350)*, Tom Skinner (808)*, David Lumbard (844)*, Ron Gramlich (522), Chuck Trott (871)*, Collective Bargaining Director Paul Smithberger, Robert Toda (839)*, Cara McKnight (542)*, Political Director Jason Kaseman, Randy Middleton (621) (front) Secretary-Treasurer Mark Fluharty, Service Director Mark Hertenstein, Sylvia Norris (543)*, Kevin Behnke (926), Lloyd Garner (836)*, Sherry Malone (590)*, Tina Koenig-Johnson (966)*, Viola Sams (315)*, Bev Hasson (522)*, President Randy Quickel, Durell Ellis (842), Jim Ryder (901)*

to a tentative agreement that included: • Wages. All top-rated employees received annual raises through 2020.

In addition to the wage increases each year, those workers at toprate at the time of ratification also received a signing bonus.

• Spousal Coverage. There were no changes to eligibility for spousal coverage for any member hired before ratification. This was attainable in part due to the ingenuity of the negotiating committee, which suggested hired-after employees also have access to spousal coverage but gain it after 6 years of service.

• Fuel Center Eligibility. Fuel center clerks now have access to the three open insurance plans (Basic, Standard and Deluxe) with eligibility determined by hire date.

• Wellness Program. Starting in plan year 2017, members only need an annual physical with their doctor to get incentive money, which was also increased. No more check-up calls from strangers.

• Meat Merger. The contracts were merged together, protecting important language unique to the meat department. Under the merged contract, seniority will not be lost if there would be a need to move from the meat department to any other area in the store or from those other departments into the meat department.

• Non-Metro. Bucyrus and Mt. Gilead members will reach wage parity with other stores by the end of the contract through additional raises.

With 59% of Food members and 55% of Meat members voting “Yes,” the merged Kroger contract was passed.

Thanks to all our members who came out to vote. The committee’s hard work produced significant accomplishments with this new contract.

* Kroger members on Negotiating Committee

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How are the Wealthiest 1% Different from the Rest of Us?

by Mark Fluharty, Secretary-Treasurer

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t’s nothing particularly remarkable when a rich man decides to enter politics. There are things that make Donald Trump’s candidacy unique, but his wealth is probably the most mundane thing about him.

Recent high profile politicians include men from families owing their wealth to oil, entertainment, publishing, law, ketchup, beer and, increasingly, finance. The makeup of the top 1% in our country has changed in interesting and concerning ways over the past four decades. If these rich individuals continue to run for and win public office, we should take a long hard look at the new American rich.

Before we jump into who these people are and what they think, we should be clear about what it takes to be in America’s top 1%. Technically, individuals making more than $385,195 are part of the wealthiest 1%. But that’s not a good barometer for how incredibly rich these people tend to be. The average income among those onepercenters is over $1.3 million. That’s a

pretty huge difference, caused by a large number of millionaires and billionaires skewing the average.

Just in everyday terms, these people do not have the same concerns as average Americans. They don’t have to worry about missing a house payment, the cost of getting sick or the everyday expenses of raising a family. When you own private jets, you don’t know what it’s like to scrape together emergency money when your car needs repairs.

But in the last four decades, new wealth comes less and less from actual work. Among the top 1%, half of their income is derived from money making more money. They get their wealth from interest, dividends and capital gains. That’s why they care so much about these issues, which speaks to the disconnect between what rich people worry about and what everyday workers worry about.

When presidential candidate Marco Rubio—whose net worth is around $500,000—talks about his desire to eliminate the capital gains tax, he says it would have benefited average workers like his father, who was a bartender. I think it’s safe to say that your average

bartender is a lot more worried about how much his insurance will cost or how he’ll put his child through college or virtually anything else besides the capital gains tax.

In recent polling, the rich register much more concern for the federal deficit than for unemployment. The bottom 99% have the exact opposite concerns. That speaks to the gulf between what Main Street cares about and what Wall Street cares about.

Now, I don’t believe we should make broad generalizations about people based solely on their income.

I wouldn’t say that people on public assistance are all a certain way and neither would I say that all rich people are a certain way. What I worry about is the fact that, more and more, our leaders come from a world that is far different from our own.

Until we improve our elections, we’ll continue to see wealthier and wealthier candidates for office because they’re the only ones who can afford to run. It’s our duty as voters to demand their attention. Workers control the political agenda when they exert their power at the ballot box.

DiSCOUNTeD TiCKeTS aVa iL aBLe NOW!

ADULT TICKETS: $16.00 (reg. $19.00) YOUTH TICKETS: $12.00 (reg. $14.00)

Purchase tickets at our office, by phone at 614.237.7671 or online in the Members Area at www.ufcw1059.com 4

®

Members Help Build Homes with Habitat

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n August 5, members of the four Meijer stores in the Toledo metro area volunteered their time for a very worthy cause: Habitat for Humanity. Habitat is a nonprofit organization that specializes in the volunteer-driven creation of affordable housing. By building low-cost housing, the group offers the stability of home ownership to families seeking to break the cycle of poverty.

The Local 1059 members chose a beautiful and clear day to volunteer. At the end of their work, a new house was cleaned and ready for the next round of preparation. Eventually the location would be fully realized and ready for the next family to move in.

Unions have a long history of commitment to the communities in which their members live. Habitat for Humanity proved a wonderful opportunity for UFCW Local 1059 to get more involved in service to Northwest Ohio.

Those interested in participating in future service activities can talk with their Union Representative as new Special thanks to David Becker (Meijer 117) , dates are scheduled.

Jean Hutchen (Meijer 118), Bob Gaddis (Meijer 116), Karin Wetmore (Meijer 116), Kathleen Hollister (Meijer 115), Union Representative John Smith and Kim Smith (Meijer 115)

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23 McFERSON COMMONS STARTING AT 6:00 PM

JOIN THE UFCW LOCAL 1059 TEAM AND RAISE MONEY FOR A CURE! WWW.UFCW1059.COM/LIGHTTHENIGHT 5

Cell Phones & Work: Calling Your Attention to Policy

by Mark Hertenstein, Service Director

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or many of us, our cell phones are an extension of our bodies.

Everywhere you go, people young and old seem obsessed with talking, tweeting or texting. While it is good to keep in touch with your family and friends, most employers under contract with Local 1059 have policies that limit the use of cell phones while you are on the clock.

Our plants generally have the strictest, for good reason. You may be asking yourself, how can a cell phone contaminate anything? All it would take is accidently dropping the phone into a mixture of macaroni & cheese, pizza roll filling or donut batter. Then, all production stops and the company would have to find out what happened and who is responsible.

But there’s also the concern among some employers that cell phones could leak “trade secrets” each company has for their products. In order to maintain a competitive advantage, every company

has a specialized way they produce their products. To ensure that no other company tries to copy their trademark products, it is a high priority that no phones, cameras or video equipment jeopardize these secrets.

Retail employers often have policies limiting cell phone use to breaks or lunches. The most obvious reason is lack of productivity. If you are checking your phone ever few minutes, it negatively impacts your job performance.

Another reason, though, is safety.

Imagine how dangerous it would be for employees to walk through the backroom texting. Someone could come around the corner with a power jack and a pallet of meat, produce or groceries toward the oblivious texter. Both parties could be injured in the resulting collision, even if the driver swerves away from the texter but into something else.

The consequences for a courtesy clerk or utility clerk buried in their phone

while working the parking lot could be just as dangerous.

It’s not worth risking injury or losing your job over something so avoidable. Sure, we all may get an emergency phone call at some point. The easiest and safest way for emergency contact would be to give your workplace phone number to your loved ones attempting to contact you.

No phone call, tweet or text is worth losing your job. Avoid the temptation. Leave your phone in the car or your locker and be sure you only check it when you are off the clock.

Grievance report June-July 2015 Grievance Success Rate.......... 94% Grievances Settled.................... 90 Monetary Awards....... $16,456.09

Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament

MUST BE

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TO PARTICIPATE

Thursday, October 22, 2015 at 7:00 pm UFCW Local 1059 Union Hall 4150 East Main Street Columbus, OH 43213

ENTRY FEE

$25

48 PERSON LIMIT

Name (print) ___________________________________________ Phone _________________ Guest (print) ___________________________________________ Enclosed $______________ Date of Birth ___________________________________________ Employer _______________ Guest Date of Birth ______________________________________ Send payment to the address above. For more information, contact Paul Smithberger at 614.237.7671, ext. 250 6

How to Prevent Out-of-Network Charges

by Paul Smithberger, Collective Bargaining Director

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ne of the benefits of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is that wellness measures are 100% covered by insurance plans. Some medical procedures like physicals, mammograms and colonoscopies should be completely free to the patient. Too often, though, a patient may end up with a bill for blood work done as part of their physical. What happened?

Usually, that bill for blood work was generated because the blood was sent to an out-of-network testing facility. Your blood work is 100% covered under wellness care when it is tested at an in-network facility under your insurance plan. Let’s say those innetwork facilities negotiated a standard $50 billing for blood work and your

insurance pays the full $50 charged.

Now, let’s say the blood work is done at an out-of-network facility without a billing agreement with your insurance company, and they end up charging $125 for the same blood work. In that out-of-network situation, the patient would be responsible for the $75 difference.

This situation would arise whenever your doctor orders blood work tested at an out-of-network facility.

So, what can you do? Next time you go to the doctor, be sure to ask: “Is my test being sent to an in-network lab?”

• If your doctor is collecting your lab sample in the office, ask the doctor to use an in-network lab.

Doctors contracting with Blue Cross Blue Shield are required

by contract to comply with this request.

• If your doctor is sending you to a lab for the testing, ask your doctor to direct you to an innetwork lab.

• Or, you can contact Blue Cross Blue Shield at the toll-free number listed on your member ID card – Provider Locator. They can help you locate an in-network lab in your area.

In-network costs are greatly reduced and worth the effort. Don’t miss an opportunity to save money.

When it comes to any doctor’s office visit, remember the importance of asking questions and understanding your health care.

discounted movie theater tickets MARCUS

AMC Theatres

Locations include: - Dublin Village 18 - Easton Town Center 30 - Grove City 14 - Lennox Town Center 24 www.amctheatres.com Tickets may be used towards admission to any movie without restriction. All tickets through Local 1059 are $7.50 (reg. $7.50–$9.50).

3D movies require additional charges paid at the theater.

THEATRES

Marcus Theatres

Locations include: - Columbus - Pickerington www.marcustheatres.com Tickets may be used towards admission to any movie without restriction. All tickets through Local 1059 are $7.50 (reg. $7.50–$10.50). Tickets void for any feature listed as Special Engagement (∆), including Sony Pictures new releases and VIP/reserved seating. 3D movies require additional charges paid at the theater.

Cinemark Theatres

Locations include: - Polaris 18, Columbus - Stoneridge Plaza 16, Gahanna - Fallen Timbers 14, Maumee - 14 Mansfield Town Cntr, Ontario - Levis Commons 12, Perrysburg - Cinemark Stadium, Sandusky - Tiffin Mall 8, Tiffin - Franklin Park 16, Toledo - Colony Square Mall, Zanesville www.cinemark.com

Tri City Theatre

972 East Main Street, Jackson, OH www.tricitytheatre.com All tickets through Local 1059 are $5.00 (reg. $7.00). 3D tickets will cost an additional $2.00 at the ticket booth when accompanied by the UFCW $5.00 ticket.

Tickets may be used towards admission to any movie without restriction. All tickets through Local 1059 are $7.50 (reg. $7.50–$10).

3D movies require additional charges paid at the theater. Rave Cinemas listed above accept Cinemark Theatres discounted tickets.

MasterCard, Visa and Discover are accepted for online purchases in the Members Area of www.ufcw1059.com and for phone orders called in to 614.237.7671 or 800.282.6488. Cash or credit card purchases can also be made at the UFCW Local 1059 office between 8:30 am and 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday.

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UFCW Local 10 Tuesday, Jun

See more photos online in the Pictu

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059 Golf Outing ne 23, 2015

ures section of www.ufcw1059.com

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Don’t Panic.

Workers are Rising Up, Part 1

by Tina Morgan, Organizing Director

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recently read a piece from the book American Labor at a Crossroads, which inspired this series of articles.

The remarkable thing about this book concerning unions was that it’s message was fairly unremarkable had it been published 50 years ago.

You see, most writing on the topic of organized labor spends its pages lamenting the fall of unionized workers.

Writers will quote statistics like “union density” (the proportion of the workforce that belongs to a union). Union density peaked in the 1950s when 1 in 3 workers were union members. These days, union density is down to about 1 in 10.

But these numbers gloss over important differences between regions of the United States. That statistic includes New York (with a density of 1 in 4) as well as South Carolina (with a density of 1 in 50). It includes states with anti-worker “Right to Work” laws as well as states protecting workers’ Tickets Only

$59

(vs. New York)

strength, like Ohio. In regions like the Northeast, Midwest and West Coast, union density is significantly higher.

Using the nation’s average gives only part of the truth.

Moreover, the union density calculation is set up to put unions at a disadvantage. The law does not allow all workers to join unions. For instance, those classified as “management” at your worksite are unable to become union members. When you throw out managers, farmworkers, the selfemployed, independent contractors, public employees in states prohibiting their unionization, temp agency workers and full-time professors (the Supreme Court ruled them as “management” in the 1980s)—when you look simply at those workers who could potentially join a union—then union density climbs to around 20%.

To paraphrase the famous Mark Twain quote, the reports of the death of Labor have been greatly exaggerated.

However, just because workers are still an important force in the American economy doesn’t mean there aren’t

a number of new challenges we must overcome. The days of lifelong careers and investment in one particular employer look quaint to today’s workforce. The labor market is more fluid, legal protections for workers are being attacked and unions need to address those changes to remain relevant.

Which is exactly what organized labor has done. In the face of challenge, workers continue to win big on occassion. In Tar Heel, North Carolina, Smithfield Foods workers at the world’s largest pork factory joined the UFCW recently after more than a decade-long organizing drive. The company took extreme action to prevent their workers from joining the union. The state slashed worker rights, which hobbled many organizing efforts. But when civil rights groups, faith leaders, neighbors and workers joined forces, the 5,000 Smithfield workers in Tar Heel gained a voice at their plant.

As a movement, we don’t gain supporters by championing a lost cause.

We build membership by winning.

And we are winning. Every day.

hockey night

vs. New York Rangers Friday, October 9, 2015

in Columbus Seating is located in Section 210

Tickets Only

$59

(vs. Pittsburgh)

vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

Friday, November 27, 2015

Send payment to: UFCW Local 1059, 4150 E. Main St., Columbus, OH 43213 Name (print) _______________________________________ Phone ___________________________ Address __________________________________________ Enclosed $ _______________________ City ________________________ State _______ Zip _______ Employer _________________________ Contact Julie Klein at 614.237.7671, ext. 233 for more information or purchase tickets online in the Members Area at www.ufcw1059.com

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The Overtimes, They are A-Changin’

by Jason Kaseman, Political Director

I

t’s not rocket science, right? If you work more than 40 hours in a given workweek, you earn overtime pay on the time over 40 hours. That’s the law. Our union contracts often provide even better compensation, including overtime after 8 hours/day or overtime after 5 days/week. But when it comes to weekly overtime, that’s a bedrock principle of U.S. employment law.

Well, it is…except when it isn’t. In fact, you probably work with people who do not receive overtime pay for their work over 40 hours/week. In the United States, salaried employees can make as little as $23,660/year without the ability to get overtime pay at timeand-one-half.

Let’s look at the math for a realistic worker promoted to a salaried middle management position. That worker brings home $25,000/year and works an average of 50 hours each week. In effect, that worker is making about $9.62/hour. That worker doesn’t re-

ceive extra pay for extra hours worked.

That member of “management,” then, only makes $1.50/hour more than Ohio’s current minimum wage.

Originally, the salaried exemption to the overtime law was created for high-paid white collar workers. As time has passed without any change to the salary level, this exemption has come to serve as a way for employers to push workers into longer hours for less pay.

That is why President Obama and the Labor Department are pursuing a rule change that would affect nearly 5 million workers. The proposal would increase the exempted salary threshold to $50,400. The rule change is likely to be enacted in 2016.

Obviously, a threshold increase of 213% sounds huge. That’s because it is huge. But put into perspective, The New York Times found that $50,400 puts the exemption at roughly the same purchasing power as it held in 1975.

Had the exemption kept pace with inflation, there would be no need for such a large increase.

As it stands, the low exemption

limit means that while many workers would like to pick up extra hours for overtime pay, some employers are able to push that work onto poorly paid salaried employees. If companies are forced to truly evaluate the value of the work done, they will either choose to boost those salaries or make the lowpaid workers hourly.

The result is a win-win. Either workers are paid fairly or they start being worked fairly. And if any newly hourly workers would like the overtime benefits of a union contract, they deserve that right as well.

I urge our members to join this push for fair pay and fair work. Whether it leads to increased hiring or a fair shot at overtime, workers win. Join the call for Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez to reform this rule by signing the petition at: www.ufcw1059.com/overtime It’s time we bring our labor laws into the 21st century. And it’s past time for a fair overtime law.

RALLY TO DEFEND the American Dream

UFCW Local 1059 and over 3,000 union supporters gathered at the anti-worker “Americans for Prosperity” summit on August 21 to protest the group’s extremist agenda

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Ray Collier Memorial Scholarship Winner

A

Aleese Butler (Kroger 522)

leese is the daughter of Joni Butler. She is very active in her church, where she has been an usher, in the Youth Choir and a Candy Striper.

She played volleyball for Gahanna Lincoln High School for 4 years. She was also a Link Crew (freshman orientation) leader for 2 years.

In her senior year at Gahanna Lincoln, Aleese was offered an athletic

scholarship to attend Urbana University starting fall 2014. As a Middle Block, Aleese and her team went on to rank 4th in their conference during her first year of play.

At Urbana, she majors in Exercise Science. She is working toward a career in Sports Psychology or Athletic Training. Aleese is currently on the Dean’s List with a 3.63 GPA.

Employer & Negotiation Updates Contract Ratifications • Memphis. UFCW Local 1529 represents approximately 9,000 Kroger workers in parts of Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas and Kentucky. Local 1529 members ratified a new 4-year contract in July. The new contract provides for health insurance premium increases

in the second and fourth years of the contract term, modifications to retiree health care and new Lead positions designated for Marketplace store locations.

Annual wage increases included 30¢/hour for Department Heads, 25¢/hour for top-rated full-time members, 20¢/hour for toprated part-time members as well as a one-time 20¢/hour increase shortly after ratification for courtesy clerks.

• National. UFCW Local 1059, along with 7 other unions, were able to reach a tentative agreement with the American Red Cross (ARC) through negotiations in Washington, DC. The agreement will be voted on

by Red Cross members in each of the Local Unions that are part of the coalition. Local 1059 ARC members will vote September 13.

WALMART WATCH • National. Despite the outcry from workers and community groups last year, Walmart has already taken action to defray the cost of increasing their associates’ minimum wage to $9.00/hour.

Members of the Organization United for Respect at Walmart (OUR Walmart) have reported from across the country that the retailer is drastically cutting hours in their stores. This has left workers struggling to pay their Rich Products Negotiating Committee: bills with too few hours for too (back) Secretary-Treasurer Mark Fluharty, Union Representative Mack Quesenlittle pay. The company continues berry, Mike Griffith, Mike Seech, Rod Wehr to post $16 billion in annual (front) Virginia Reeves, Sandy Jones, Chris Meech, Debbie Fisher, Shawn Parker, profit.

Union Representative Mark Dersom, George Stirpe 12

Real Friends

by Rick Gregory, Education Director

T

homas Jefferson and John Adams were friends for over 50 years.

Adams, along with Benjamin Franklin, talked Jefferson into writing the Declaration of Independence, and the three of them worked together to get the Continental Congress to adopt the Declaration as the foundation for our separation from Great Britain. They both eventually became presidents of the United States.

But that did not mean that they always got along. They were from different political parties and had different views on the role of government in our new nation. They had a falling out for several years, but, after they both retired from politics, they renewed their friendship and wrote hundreds

of letters to each other. Coincidentally, they both died on the same day: July 4, 1826. When each was close to death, he spoke of his happiness that the other was still alive.

Many of us develop very close Founding Fathers John Adams and relationships and friendships with Thomas Jefferson maintained a friendco-workers in our workplaces. This ship despite political differences makes sense. Many—maybe most of That did not mean that everyone us—spend more time with our work always got along during our 17 years. families than we do with our biological There were arguments and disagreefamilies. This was true for me. I spent ments, but we never let those things almost 17 years working on the night break the bonds of our friendship. crew at Kroger 875 in Springfield, Ronnie Morris was also our store’s TN. To you the reader, Ronnie MorUnion Steward and was always there to ris, Darrell Hutton, Bob Poole, Charlie protect our backs from management.

Wilkerson, Lewis Dowlen and Burton I believe that many of you feel the Cooksey are unfamiliar names. But, to me, these six men were my work family same way about many of the people on the night crew. We worked together, you work with every day. The workplace isn’t just a place you go for wages took our breaks together in the middle and benefits. It is also a place you go of the night, laughed together, shared to be with your work family and your stories and helped each other at work and outside of the store.

Union family.

Local 1059 prices: up to 5 tickets................................................................................................ $34 after 5 tickets................................................................................................ $37 children age 2 and under.............................................................................. free

Ticket prices include parking (reg. $15). Buy tickets in advance to take advantage of the free parking!

Discounted tickets will also be available at Group Sales from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm on the day of the event—look for the UFCW Local 1059 window. Purchase drink wristbands for $9.00 to receive free fountain drinks at most walkup food locations. The park will be open from 11:00 am to midnight.

13

UFCW Local 1059 Softball Tournament

Kroger 842/844

Kroger 251

Kroger 931

Local 1059+

Kroger 847

Meijer 144

Kroger 867

2015 Champions

Kroger 901

See more photos online in the Pictures section of www.ufcw1059.com 14

Quarterly union meetings

All Quarterly Union Meetings start at 7:00 pm unless otherwise noted.

Central Area—Tuesday, November 3, 2015 UFCW Local 1059, Columbus 4150 E. Main Street Eastern Area—Wednesday, November 4, 2015 Cherry Valley Lodge, Newark 2299 Cherry Valley Road Southern Area—Thursday, November 5, 2015 Meeting times: 10:00 am & 7:00 pm Comfort Inn, Piketon 7525 U.S. Route 23 Southeastern Area—Tuesday, November 10, 2015 The Olde Dutch Restaurant, Logan 12791 State Route 664 S. Central Area—Wednesday, November 11, 2015 Meeting time: 10:00 am UFCW Local 1059, Columbus 4150 E. Main Street

Membership Orientations All Membership Orientations start at 5:30 pm unless otherwise noted.

Columbus—Monday, September 28, 2015 Meeting times: 10:00 am & 5:30 pm UFCW Local 1059 Union Hall, Columbus 4150 E. Main Street Lima—Tuesday, September 29, 2015 Holiday Inn & Suites 803 S. Leonard Avenue Newark—Tuesday, September 29, 2015 Cherry Valley Lodge 2299 Cherry Valley Road Sandusky—Wednesday, September 30, 2015 Fairfield Inn & Suites 6220 Milan Road Athens—Wednesday, September 30, 2015 Holiday Inn Express 555 E. State Street

Northern Area—Wednesday, November 11, 2015 Tri Rivers Career Center, Marion 2222 Marion-Mt. Gilead Road

Marion—Thursday, October 1, 2015 Tri-Rivers Career Center 2222 Marion-Mt. Gilead Road

Northwestern Area—Thursday, November 12, 2015 Holiday Inn Express, Bowling Green 2150 E. Wooster Street

Piketon—Thursday, October 1, 2015 Comfort Inn 7525 U.S. Route 23

Upcoming events

Bass Tournament—Saturday, September 19, 2015 Blue Jackets vs. Rangers—Friday, October 9, 2015 Cedar Point Member Appreciation—Saturday, October 10, 2015 Texas Hold ‘Em—Thursday, October 22, 2015 Light the Night—Friday, October 23, 2015 Blue Jackets vs. Penguins—Friday, November 27, 2015

Contact information Local 1059 Office 614.237.7671 or toll-free 800.282.6488 Health & Welfare Office 614.237.7618 or toll-free 800.282.6483 Pension Office 614.237.7423 or toll-free 800.282.6483

Perrysburg—Monday, October 5, 2015 Holiday Inn Express 10621 Fremont Pike Defiance—Tuesday, October 6, 2015 Holiday Inn Express 1148 Hotel Drive Zanesville—Tuesday, October 6, 2015 Holiday Inn Express 1101 Spring Street Lancaster—Wednesday, October 7, 2015 Hampton Inn 2041 Schorrway Drive Mansfield—Wednesday, October 7, 2015 Quality Inn & Suites 500 N. Trimble Road Findlay—Thursday, October 8, 2015 Comfort Suites 3700 Speedway Drive Circleville—Thursday, October 8, 2015 Holiday Inn Express 23911 U.S. Route 23 S. 15

periodical postage paid at Columbus, OH

United Food & Commercial Workers International Union, AFL-CIO & CLC 4150 East Main Street, Columbus, OH 43213

LOCAL 1059 W C F U

BASS TOURNAMENT Saturday, September 19, 2015 7:00 am – 3:00 pm

Burr Oak State Park, Dock #4 5250 Beach Road Glouster, Ohio 45732

$25

per Team ) (max 3 ppl/team

Entry fee includes bag lunches and drinks for everyone on your team.

Visit www.ufcw1059.com/bass to print registration form.

Return form and entry payment to: UFCW Local 1059, 4150 E. Main Street, Columbus, OH 43213 Same-day registration is also available 5:30 am – 6:30 am Participating? Call Mack Quesenberry at 614.237.7671, ext. 209

so we can plan for enough participants