Unionwize Nov-Dec 2014

UNIONWIZE UFCW LOCAL 1059

NOVEMber / DECEMber 2014

Vol. 36 No. 6

from the president’s desk­­…

Enjoying the Season and Looking to the Year Ahead President Randy Quickel

W

inter has it downsides, sure. There’s the cold, the snow and the ice. But that’s never what comes to mind when I consider this season. I think about how this time of year straddles the old and the new, a time for remembering the year that was and looking forward the time ahead. Around the holidays, we join with family and friends in celebration of one another. More than anything, this joy and thanksgiving reminds us of how lucky we are.

I am incredibly thankful for the thousands of UFCW Local 1059 members in this union. We are an informed and active membership that has used our power to bring fairness to the workplace. As 2014 closes, we have now ratified contracts for most of our employers over the last few years. We have achieved great things together that bring respect to our work and security to our families.

We will begin a new cycle of contract negotiations in 2015. Next year’s bargaining will include Meijer Toledo, Meijer Sandusky, Rich Products, 7-Up Bottling, Clintonville Community Market as well as our largest employer, the Kroger Company. Each negotiations will have its own challenges, but I am confident that our union will stand strong and find a successful conclusion that moves workers ahead.

Happy Holidays!

Also coming in 2015 are a number of exciting new programs we are offering to the Local 1059 membership. On page 6 of this issue, you’ll find information for a Retirement & Financial Planning Consultation offered to members every Wednesday in March 2015. If members would like to meet with professionals to discuss their financial plans, registration for appointments begins January 12.

In the summer of 2015, we will also begin a paid internship program for members who would like to learn more about the labor movement and become more active. This two month program will help us build the next generation of leaders in our communities. Further information is on page 5.

There are so many exciting things to look forward to in 2015, but let’s not forget to enjoy our time now. Be thankful for the time we have this season to spend with loved ones. From our union family to yours, have a safe holiday and a happy New Year.

table of contents

officers’ reports

Randy Quickel, President............................................1 “Enjoying the Season and Looking to the Year Ahead”

officers Randy Quickel President/Editor

Mark Fluharty, Secretary-Treasurer..............................4 “Unions Build an Economy that Benefits Everyone”

Mark Fluharty Secretary-Treasurer

Mark Hertenstein, Service Director.............................6 “Early Planning Can Help with Vacation Requests”

Sue Lilly Recorder

Paul Smithberger, Collective Bargaining Director........7 “How Contract Surveys Shape the Union Proposal”

Tina Morgan, Organizing Director............................10 “Walmart Sees Bold Holiday Protests in Ohio”

Mark Hertenstein Service Director

Paul Smithberger Collective Bargaining Director

Jason Kaseman, Political Director..............................11 “The Lasting Effects of Low Turnout”

Tina Morgan Organizing Director

Jason Kaseman Political Director

Rick Gregory, Education Director.............................13 “Three People Who Helped Shaped My Life”

Rick Gregory Education Director

features

New Stewards Training................................................3 New York City Trip......................................................3 UFCW Local 1059 Summer Internship.......................5 Retirement & Financial Planning Consultation...........6 Christmas with Santa Photos.......................................8 Discounted Movie Theater Tickets.............................10 Donny Kille wins $1,000 in ABC Drawing................11 Employer & Negotiation Updates..............................12 Christmas with Santa Coloring Contest Winners......12 UFCW International Scholarships.............................13 UFCW Local 1059 Retirees Club...............................14 UnionPlus.org Scholarships.......................................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 Juanita Smith Kim Smith Union Representatives Allison Appel Sylvester Carothers Mark Dersom Neil Hertenstein Travis Long Brian Perkins Nikki Rigano Carlos Stiffler

John Angeloff Louis Cruse Durell Ellis Josh Greenlee Mark Hertenstein Cynthia Hughes Mike Nichols Dave Renneckar Barb Smith John Smith Keith Smith Carlos Stiffler Anthony Bridges Ajah Collier Tom Gartner John King Mike Nichols Mack Quesenberry John Smith

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 Ajah Collier..........................................243 Mark Derson........................................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 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

New Stewards Training

T

wice each year, UFCW Local 1059 offers a New Stewards Training for recently appointed stewards. The day-long training covers various topics of importance to fulfilling the role of Shop Steward.

Stewards learn the proper procedure for grievance writing, notetaking and investigation. Stewards are also presented with information about how the local union is active in our community, in politics and the importance of organizing to maintain the strength of our contracts.

New Stewards Trainings will be held again in May and October of 2015. If you are a steward who has not yet attended a New Stewards Training and are interested in learning more, please contact your Union Representative.

Thank you to the great new stewards who attended the December training!

Congratulations to our new stewards who attended the New Stewards Training in December

UFCW LOCAL 1059♼ NY April 27-30, 2015

Enjoy 3 days and 2 nights in New York City by joining Local 1059 for a chartered bus trip to the Big Apple! For $374 per person (based on double occupancy), you will enjoy: Chartered Bus Travel Leaving Monday, April 27 at 9:00 pm Tour of Manhattan 2 Night Hotel Stay in North Bergen, NJ National September 11 Memorial & Museum Tour of Ellis Island with a View of The Statue of Liberty Free Time to Explore Manhattan in the Evenings

Name: _________________________________________________ Home phone: ____________________ Guest (optional): _________________________________________ Cell phone: _____________________ Address: ________________________________________________ Employer: ______________________ City: _______________________________________________ State: _______ Zip: _________________ E-mail: _______________________________________________________________________________ Enclosed: $__________________ Send payment to:

Cash, money order, Visa, MasterCard, Discover accepted.

UFCW Local 1059 4150 East Main Street Columbus, OH 43213 Pay online in the Members Area of www.ufcw1059.com or contact Paul Smithberger at 614.237.7671 or 800.282.6488, ext. 250 3

Unions Build an Economy that Benefits Everyone

by Mark Fluharty, Secretary-Treasurer

D

ecember’s job numbers from the Department of Labor were encouraging. With 321,000 jobs added in November, this report marked the tenth consecutive month of job gains over 200,000—a good sign our economy is growing again. We are in the middle of the longest stretch of job creation in America since World War II. But I suspect many workers look at these numbers with skepticism. Even the surprisingly positive jobs report noted only a small 0.4 percent increase in hourly wages. Further, that increase in November follows a pitiful 0.1 percent tick up in October and no gains at all in September. Oddly, if some of us are feeling like we have more money in our pockets, it could be due to the stunning decline in gas prices. Of course, no one knows how long that’s going to last.

So, what’s happening in our economy that, despite impressive gains in jobs being created, the average worker still isn’t noticing any benefit to the econom-

ic expansion? Unfortunately, unemployment still sits at 5.8 percent. That means millions of workers are still looking for jobs, and employers are looking to these individuals to keep wages down.

To an unemployed worker, almost any work for any wage or any hours beats the crushing reality of having no income at all. When workers begin to feel under-appreciated at not receiving a raise, non-union employers simply tell the employee that there’s another person waiting to take their job at exactly the same rate of pay. Bosses don’t feel the need to increase wages because they aren’t struggling to find workers who will fill available jobs.

Historically, a 5.8 percent unemployment rate is slightly above average.

It’s approaching something economists might say is akin to “healthy” for a developed economy, but it’s still a bit high. So, if our economy is growing and unemployment is approaching a “normal” rate, why are employers acting so differently than past periods of economic growth?

This is the union difference. As

union membership declines, fewer and fewer workers have the guaranteed contract wages that union membership affords. Union jobs and union wages are protected by a legally binding contract, which prevents unscrupulous bosses from playing the unemployed against the employed in order to artificially depress wages.

In an economy where union membership is low, profits stay at the top and don’t help middle class and working Americans. Since 2009, as The New York Times reports, “the economy has grown by 12 percent, corporate profits by 46 percent and the broad stock market by 92 percent.” Over that same period, median household income has declined by 3 percent. Only the rich and powerful are enjoying any of the positive effects brought about by recent economic growth.

Unions have long fought for an economy that benefits everyone, not just the wealthy 1 percent. Unions can help workers a great deal during the bad times, but let’s not forget all the good unions do during the good times.

Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament MUST BE

21

48 PERSON LIMIT

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

ENTRY FEE

$30

INCLUDES $5.00 KNOCKOUT PRIZE

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 4

SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

June 8–August 1, 2015 Application Deadline: April 3, 2015

The UFCW Local 1059 Summer Internship Program is an eight-week paid educational internship open to UFCW Local 1059 members. A maximum of four interns will work in the areas of servicing, collective bargaining, organizing and politics. The internship will include long hours and require interpersonal and public speaking skills.

Requirements: • Must be a Local 1059 member in good standing

• Must have a valid driver’s license and their own vehicle Ideal candidates for the UFCW Local 1059 Summer Internship Program may have no experience volunteering with the union in the past, but they want to take a more active role. Participants must be people-oriented, energetic, flexible and willing to work long hours on a sometimes unpredictable schedule. If you have additional questions, please contact Jason Kaseman at 614.237.7671, extension 240.

________________________________________ First Name

_____________________________________________ Last Name

_____________________________________________ Street Address ___________________________________ Phone Number

_________________________________________ City, State and Zip Code

_________________________________________________ E-mail Address

__________________________________________ Worksite (Company & Store Number, if applicable) Essay:

Please submit a response of approximately 300 words on the following question: “Why are you interested in participating in the UFCW Local 1059 Summer Internship Program?”

Please print clearly and submit form and essay to:

UFCW Local 1059 Summer Internship Program 4150 E. Main Street Columbus, Ohio 43213

Application Deadline is Friday, April 3, 2015 The UFCW Local 1059 Summer Internship Program is an eight-week paid educational internship program; it is not a permanent job. Interns must be Local 1059 members in good standing and possess a valid driver’s license and their own vehicle.

Print this application online at www.ufcw1059.com/intern 5

Early Planning Can Help with Vacation Requests

by Mark Hertenstein, Service Director

T

his article is a refresher on a topic I covered in these pages not too long ago. All of our contracts spell out when you earn vacation, paid time off, paid days off, personal days—your union-negotiated benefit of compensation for time away from work.

Our contracts also stipulate the time frame in which you need to make your decisions regarding time off. These decisions usually respect the seniority of those making requests. If you miss this window for requesting time off, requests are often handled on a first come, first served basis.

You might be looking outside—seeing snow and ice—with vacation as the

last thing on your mind. However, now is actually the perfect time to plan for your time off in 2015.

Managing stress, particularly at this time of year, can be a tall order.

Your vacation or personal time is “your time.” Don’t put off your decisions about time off too long and create even more stress about whether it will be granted.

You can also put together a backup plan of variable weeks just in case your primary weeks have already been selected by those with more seniority.

Vacation is meant for relaxation and time spent with those most important to you. Everyone needs to recharge his or her batteries, and a thought-out vacation is something you’ve earned.

Make sure to put the thought and

Grievance report Oct.–Nov. 2014 Grievance Success Rate.......... 81% Grievances Settled.................. 145 Monetary Awards....... $17,875.22

planning into your family time together that such special opportunities rightly deserve. I want to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season.

Retirement & Financial Planning Consultation

Make an appointment starting Jan. 12-16 Every Wednesday in March 2015, UFCW members are offered a FREE one-on-one financial planning consultation at the UFCW Local 1059 Union Hall. Call 614.237.7671 ext. 233 to schedule appointments beginning January 12-16.

“When can I afford to retire?” “How can I save for college?” “How can I pay down my debt?”

“How can I financially protect my family?” Get the answers now to secure your future!

Participating organizations include:

6

How Contract Surveys Shape the Union Proposal

by Paul Smithberger, Collective Bargaining Director

K

roger, Meijer Toledo, Meijer Sandusky, Rich Products, 7-Up Bottling and Clintonville Community Market all have contracts expiring in 2015. That means contract surveys will be going out to these affected members. It is very important that members respond to these surveys because these surveys are key to helping us develop our union proposal.

Contract surveys ask for your opinion on various issues, including working conditions, relationships with supervisors or management, management’s adherence to the contract and demographics. We also ask for comments, which are very important, because comments tell us your specific issues and concerns.

The demographic questions are needed because they often shape our understanding of responses. For example, younger people are not as worried about health care (because they are covered under their parents’ insurance), but are very concerned about guarantees of hours or how to get more hours.

Sometimes, members express concerns that the demographic questions reveal their identity. In general, we run the surveys through an optical mark scanner that tabulates responses, so most parts of a survey are not reviewed individually.

The exception to that is the comments section on surveys, each of which are read by President Randy Quickel, Secretary-Treasurer Mark Fluharty, Service Director Mark Hertenstein and myself. If we find something

in those comments that identifies a problem that can be fixed immediately, or if the information that the member has received is incorrect, we might try to identify the survey respondent in order to fix the problem or misinformation.

When we are at the bargaining table with your employer, we will be addressing issues our members identify in contract surveys. The company will often deflect a problem by claiming it is an isolated incident and not widespread. Sometimes that is true, but the more responses that we receive, the more accurate picture those survey responses portray.

If you have any questions about the negotiation process, please feel free to contact me at 614.237.7671 extension 250.

DiSCOUNTeD TiCKeTS aVa iL aBLe NOW!

ADULT TICKETS: $15.00 (reg. $17.95) YOUTH TICKETS: $11.00 (reg. $12.95) Purchase tickets at our office, by phone at 614.237.7671 or online in the Members Area at www.ufcw1059.com

®

7

UNIONWIZE

november / december 2014

Christmas w

Saturday, Dece

See more photos online in the Pictu

8

UFCW Local 1059 | 4150 East Main Street, Columbus, OH 43213 | www.ufcw1059.com

vol. 36 / no. 6

UNIONWIZE

with Santa

ember

13, 2014

ures section of www.ufcw1059.com

UFCW Local 1059 | 4150 East Main Street, Columbus, OH 43213 | www.ufcw1059.com

9

Walmart Sees Bold Holiday Protests in Ohio

by Tina Morgan, Organizing Director

T

his year was the biggest, boldest and most exciting Black Friday week ever! Our success includes: • Hundreds of Walmart workers went on strike • Workers staged the first sit-down strike in company history, the first of its kind in over 50 years • Over 1,600 actions occurred between November 20-28, 2014 • Over 500,000 visits to the site Blackfridayprotests.org, a huge increase from 150,000 visits in 2013 • #WalmartStrikers was a trending topic on Twitter and Facebook On November 20, organizers from Local 1059 assisted Local 75 in Walmsart actions in Dayton and Cincinnati.

Each action had over 20 striking workers and over 70 additional support-

ers from concerned citizens, religious supporters, political leaders and labor organizations.

I congratulate UFCW Local 75 and OUR Walmart members on their foresight to hold these strikes the Thursday prior to Thanksgiving. In an attempt to stop Black Friday events on November 28 as well as stifle workers, Walmart convinced a Cincinnati judge to block UFCW from demonstrating in Walmart stores throughout Ohio. On November 24, Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Robert Winkler granted a preliminary injunction forbidding UFCW organizers and supporters not employed by Walmart from “entering onto Walmart’s private property in the State of Ohio.”

The Ohio injunction against the union specifically forbade “picketing, patrolling, parading, demonstrations, chanting, ‘flash mobs,’ hand billing, solicitation, customer disruptions, man-

ager delegations or confrontations, or associate engagement for a non-shopping purpose.” UFCW and its allies are also forbidden from “interfering with, obstructing, or blocking” Walmart entrances, and from “engaging in any nuisance conduct off of Walmart’s private property which disrupts and/or interferes with Walmart customers or associates access to, or ability to move around on or exit” Walmart property.

This is just another Walmart attempt to silence workers’ voices, workers who already fear their employer will retaliate in response to their efforts for a better work life. This is the Walmart way of trying to prevent us from supporting, encouraging and lifting up their workers.

The injunction only managed to push supporters across the street. It did not stop us. It did not deter us. And, in the end, it was a monumental year for our protests!

discounted movie theater tickets Cinemark Theatres 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.

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.

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.

10

The Lasting Effects of Low Turnout

by Jason Kaseman, Political Director

V

oter turnout in Ohio this year was at record lows. Just under 40% of registered Ohio voters turned out to vote in 2014. Compare this to the previous low, 47% turnout in 1978, and you see just how low that number is comparatively.

The ramifications for Ohio workers are many. First, there is a clear concern that the same lawmakers who brought us Senate Bill 5­—the attack on the rights of public sector workers like firefighters and teachers—are now back in office. But there’s another, just as troubling aspect to this year’s low turnout that will loom over workers for

the next four years.

In Ohio, the number of petition signatures needed to propose a constitutional amendment is based on gubernatorial votes in the last election.

In 2010, over 3.8 million votes were cast for governor. This year, there were barely 3 million votes. That drop of about 22% means that is now easier than ever to achieve ballot placement for constitutional amendments, no matter how extreme they might be.

One of the worst possible constitutional amendments that would drive down wages and increase dangers at work is being circulated by petition right now. A TEA Party organization is now pushing petitions for a disastrous law called “Right to Work.”

“Right to Work,” or “Workplace Freedom” as it sometimes called, is a misnamed law that actually strips workers of their power in the workplace. It unilaterally shifts more control to businesses and has contributed to significantly lower pay, worse access to affordable health insurance and drastically higher workplace fatalities in the states that have passed the law.

Unfortunately, the bar is now so low to gain ballot placement that bad ideas like “Right to Work” have a much easier time getting traction. Workers must be vigilant and help educate one another about how “Right to Work” or “Workplace Freedom” are wrong for Ohio. And whenever we get a chance to vote, we have to seize our civic duty.

Donny Kille Wins $1,000 in November ABC Drawing

T

he Active Ballot Club (ABC) is a political fund UFCW uses to support workers’ issues.

Members can contribute to ABC through voluntary paycheck deductions.

Every November, UFCW Local 1059 holds a drawing on Election Night to reward one luck ABC contributor with $1,000. Every Local 1059 member giving to the ABC fund is entered into the drawing at one entry for every 25¢ per week of contribution. So, a member giving $1.00 per week to the ABC fund gets 4 entries into the drawing. Only members actively contributing at the beginning of November are eligible for entries.

This year, the $1,000 ABC winner was Donny Kille, a member at General Mills. This was Donny’s first

Secretary-Treasurer Mark Fluharty, Union Representative John Smith, ABC Drawing Winner Donny Kille (General Mills), President Randy Quickel fund earlier this year. Donny agreed year signed up for ABC. Gordon to sign up for $1.00 per week. If you Cardwell, Jr.—also a General Mills would like to sign up for ABC, conmember and out on union leave at tact your Union Representative for the time as a Member Political Ormore information. ganizer—talked to Donny about the 11

Employer & Negotiation Updates • NLRB Union Election Ruling.

On December 12, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a final ruling that called for speeding up the union election process, a landmark decision in favor of workers. The NLRB rule now prohibits most stall tactics used by businesses to prolong the time before workers vote to join a union. Companies often seek to delay elections to provide more time to run their antiunion campaigns, intimidate workers or allow for turnover among employees supporting unionization. Previously, regulations mandated a 25-day period between when an election was ordered and the election itself.

This forced 25-day period has now been eliminated.

• California. NLRB administrative law judge Geoffrey Carter ruled on December 10 that Walmart management at two California stores in Placerville and Richmond illegally intimidated workers who were protesting for higher wages. The store management had informed workers that any associate joining the strikes organized by the Organization United for Respect at Walmart (OUR Walmart) would be looking for a new job. One manager in particular cornered a Walmart associate who supported OUR Walmart and, referring to the rope around his waist used for pulling heavy loads, told the employee, “If it was up to me, I would put that rope around your neck.”

Another manager was found guilty of intimidating workers by saying, “If it were up to me,

I’d shoot the union.” Federal law prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who support unions or from making intimidating remarks meant to discourage union support.

Walmart plans to appeal the ruling.

• Minimum Wage. On the CBS morning show This Morning, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon revisited remarks made in October to raise starting wages at Walmart above the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. For the first time, he provided a vague timeline for the change, saying the wage increase would happen in “early 2015.”

No specific starting wage was discussed. This news comes after nationwide strikes around Black Friday as Walmart associates demanded the successful company institute a $15 an hour wage for Walmart workers.

Christmas with Santa Coloring Contest Winners The winning submission from 5 year old Gage, grandchild of Kroger 543 member Bryan McCarty

12

The winning submission from 10 year old Barry, grandchild of Kroger 897 member Christine Griffin

Three People Who Helped Shape My Life

by Rick Gregory, Education Director

O

nce again, we find ourselves at a special time of year—the stretch of time from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day. It’s a time to be thankful for those we love and those who love us.

We remember to be kinder to others and spend time with family and friends.

It is also a time to look backwards in remembrance of people to whom we owe a debt and those who helped shape the people we became.

I want to celebrate three of those people from my life.

The first is my mother. In the fall of 1958, when I was 8 years old, my family lived on a farm where my father was a sharecropper. During that year, my mother bought a set of World Book Encyclopedias. She bought them on credit and had to pay $1.25/week for them. Those five quarters a week were hard for her to come by, but she

never failed to make a payment. My mother did this because she believed knowledge and education were the steppingstones out of poverty for her 7 children. Those books opened up the world for me and helped me see that the world was larger than a tobacco farm in Robertson County, Tennessee.

Thank you, Momma.

One day in 1961, my fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Whitmore, took me aside during class and told me I was special.

I could do anything with my life that I wanted because I was special. Over the next few years, I eventually learned that she told every student she had for 35 years the very same thing. Even so, the fact that she said those words to hundreds of students did not diminish the impact those words had on me. Thank you, Mrs. Whitmore.

In 1966, when I was 16 years old and in my second year working in a union grocery store, I found myself working in produce with Carolyn

“Brownie” Brown. Brownie had been in the store for decades and was also my first Union Steward. On this particular day, I was whining about something my union was doing, and I finished my rant by saying, “What I really don’t like about the Union is that about 14 or 15 people make the decisions for all of us.” After a few moments of silence, Brownie replied, “You’re right. And if you don’t like it, make it 16.” And I did. I started becoming more involved in my union and have been for the nearly 50 years since that day. Thank you, Brownie.

I know that for many of us the holidays are a time of extra work and stress. Even so, take the time to remember important people who have shaped the person and the union member that you have become. And when the opportunity arises, pay those folks back by passing on your story about positive effects unions have had for millions of American workers.

Scholarships up to $8,000 are available to UFCW members or their unmarried dependents.

Visit www.ufcw.org/scholarship for application 13

UFCW Local 1059 Retirees Club

T

he UFCW Local 1059 Retirees Club is a social club, which enables Local 1059 retirees to continue friendships made while working but also provides an opportunity to meet other retired UFCW Local 1059 brothers and sisters.

After finishing your working years, the Local 1059 Retirees Club is a great way to get together with former coworkers and enjoy the retirement years together.

All UFCW Local 1059 retirees and any member over 55 years old is eligible

to become a member of the Retirees Club. Eligible members can attend meetings and join Retiree Club activities at no cost.

The purpose of the UFCW Local 1059 Retirees Club to establish a means through which retirees are able to join together to make more useful contributions to their communities and their country. The organization also provides retirees an opportunity for social and recreational activities with their peers.

The Local 1059 Retirees Club seeks to keep retired and senior members more

Secretary-Treasurer Mark Fluharty with 2015 Retiree Club officers Dick Gilbert, Rich Cagney, Janet Wilcox and Patti Burns

Scholarships

Application Deadline is January 31, 2015 at Noon

UnionPlus.org offers numerous, one-time cash scholarship awards ranging from $500 to $4,000 every year.

Union members with at least one year of continuous membership by May 31, 2015 are eligible. Members’ spouses and their dependent children may also apply.

Application available at:

www.UnionPlus.org/scholarships

14

informed about the economic, social and political issues affecting their lives.

Retirees club meetings 2015 1:30 pm at the UFCW Local 1059 Union Hall Wednesday, January 7, 2015 Wednesday, February 4, 2015 Wednesday, March 4, 2015 Wednesday, April 1, 2015 Wednesday, May 6, 2015 Wednesday, June 3, 2015 Wednesday, July 1, 2015 Wednesday, August 5, 2015 Wednesday, September 2, 2015 Wednesday, October 7, 2015 Wednesday, November 4, 2015 Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Quarterly union meetings

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

Central Area—Tuesday, February 3, 2015 UFCW Local 1059 Union Hall, Columbus 4150 E. Main Street Eastern Area—Wednesday, February 4, 2015 Cherry Valley Lodge, Newark 2299 Cherry Valley Road Southern Area—Thursday, February 5, 2015 Meeting times: 10:00 am & 7:00 pm Comfort Inn, Piketon 7525 U.S. Route 23 Southeastern Area—Tuesday, February 10, 2015 The Olde Dutch Restaurant, Logan 12791 State Route 664 S. Central Area—Wednesday, February 11, 2015 Meeting time: 10:00 am UFCW Local 1059 Union Hall, Columbus 4150 E. Main Street Northern Area—Wednesday, February 11, 2015 Tri-Rivers Career Center, Marion 2222 Marion-Mt. Gilead Road Northwestern Area—Thursday, February 12, 2015 Holiday Inn Express, Bowling Green 2150 E. Wooster Street.

Union Security Message

As employees working under UFCW contracts containing union security clauses you are required, as a condition of employment, to pay dues or fees to the union. This is the only obligation under such union security clauses.

Individuals who are members pay dues while individuals who are nonmembers pay an equivalent fee. This fee, which is authorized by law, is your fair share of sustaining your union’s broad range of programs in support of you and your coworkers, but nonmembers may file objections to funding expenditures that are non-germane to the collective bargaining process and thereby only be obligated to pay fees representing expenditures germane to the collective bargaining process. Individuals who choose to file such objections should advise their local union or other collective bargaining representative in writing at its business address and request a description of the procedures which must be followed and to obtain further information as to how these fees are calculated.

In considering these matters, though, you should be aware that choosing to be a nonmember fee payer means you would not have the right to vote on the terms of your contract; the right to participate in the development of contract proposals; the right to nominate and vote for officers of the local union; the right to attend the International Convention as a delegate; the right to participate in strike votes; and the right to numerous other benefits and discounts available to members only.

The most important job right you can have is the right to collective bargaining. Because all employees negotiate together through the union, those represented by the union Upcoming events receive higher wages and better benefits than those in nonRetirement & Financial Planning Registration—January 12-16, 2015 union facilities doing similar jobs. Strength in numbers makes this possible. The stronger your union, the better Texas Hold ‘Em—Thursday, January 22, 2015 your contract.

UnionPlus.org Scholarship Deadline—Saturday, January 31, 2015 Retirement & Financial Planning Consultations—March 2015 Do not take yourself out of the most important process and UFCW Int’l Scholarship Deadline—Sunday, March 15, 2015 weaken your union.

UFCW Local 1059 Internship Deadline—Friday, April 3, 2015 New York City Trip—April 27-30, 2015 Individuals who nevertheless elect to be nonmember fee UFCW Local 1059 Internship—June 8–August 1, 2015 payers may object to funding expenditures non-germane to the collective bargaining process. Examples of expenditures germane to the collective bargaining process are those Contact information made for the negotiation, enforcement and administration Local 1059 Office of collective bargaining agreements; meetings with 614.237.7671 or toll-free 800.282.6488 employer and union representatives; proceedings on behalf of workers under the grievance procedure, including Health & Welfare Office arbitration; servicing; organizing in competitive markets; 614.237.7618 or toll-free 800.282.6483 internal union administration; and other matters related to the above activities. Examples of expenditures nonPension Office germane to the collective bargaining process are those 614.237.7423 or toll-free 800.282.6483 made for political purposes; for general community service; for organizing in non-competitive markets; for lobbying activities; for members only benefits; and for certain affiliation costs.

15

periodical postage paid at Columbus, OH

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

UFCW LOCAL 1059♼ NY April 27-30, 2015

SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Retirement & Financial Planning Consultation

Make an appointment starting Jan. 12-16

Page 14

Page 13

Page 6

Page 5

Page 3

Inside this issue...

Scholarships

Application Deadline: January 31, 2015 at Noon