r/UFCW

Did you know you have rights? Your Union Constitution says you do!

If you're a Union Safeway worker in: Santa Clara, San Mateo, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Solano, Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito, Humboldt County or Crescent City - AND you have been a dues-paying member of the Union for at least 1 year (since before last August)

Then Congratulations: you are eligible to stand as a candidate in our Union's Officer elections this September-November!

These Officer positions collectively make up the Union Executive Board (AKA the E-Board) which governs the Local Union and approves or rejects the spending of the Union. They all also have the right to propose changes to the Union's Bylaws (Constitution) and make motions for policy generally.

The 31 members of the Executive Board are the:

President -No.1, Full-time job, Veto Power, Power of the Purse, Commander-in-Chief

Secretary-Treasurer -No.2, Full-time job, Does some of the Presidents jobs, typically manages the finances

Recorder - No.3, A backup, Records transcripts of all official meetings, Has a main rep/staff job already

The Big 3 positions require a petition with about 460 supporters names to even qualify, and the incumbents will fight like hell, so unless you're Union Moses you're better off skipping these. The Recorder isn't paid extra for their duties, but with the President and Secretary-Treasurer you are putting them out of a job if you win, so they'll spend a lot of money to beat you, and the staff will help them, it's like running for Mayor.

(28) Vice Presidents (Made up of 50% Union Reps and Staff / 50% Union Workers)

Vice Presidents (AKA VPs) all have equal voting power, but are numbered #1 through #28 for election purposes to represent a given geographic area (see attached image for the list). They require no election petition and no signature petition to qualify. Confusingly, they are the equivalent of a congress position, they do not have anything in common with the Vice Presidents in the US government.

In order to run for a VP seat you only need to show up to one of these upcoming meetings (listed in the attached image) and nominate yourself, or be nominated by another member, for a SPECIFIC numbered VP post that corresponds to the Region you work in. You then have to sign a form accepting the nomination, and then you are confirmed as a candidate.

Example: "I Nominate John Pork for VP spot #17" (John Pork Works at Safeway in Santa Clara County)

Now to be clear, these VP positions are split 50/50 Staff and Workers not because they want to make sure workers have an equal voice, but because it would be a violation of our Union's Constitution and they would get in legal trouble. There's no rule against it being majority or entirely worker run. Staff don't lose their real jobs if they lose a Recorder or VP election, they just lose their voting seat on the Board.

Why do I care?

I am making this announcement on behalf of us Union Safeway Workers, because I believe through poor communication of our democratic right to run in and vote for our Union leadership, and by instead having staff hand-pick workers to fulfill their minimum quota of 50% - our union has very effectively prevented dissenting voices from ever getting to the Board. What should be a respected leadership position that is filled by a member that is in touch with and is supported by fellow workers has become a privilege doled out to those closest and most privy to staff. They have, intentionally or not, turned what should be a worker's organization into a clubhouse. And I believe the only way to fix this it to organize, force an election, and demand better for all of us! We have a significant portion of Safeway workers with Southern California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado. We're all in the same union, why aren't we acting like it?

I don't have anything personal against most people currently sitting on the Board - but they have had their chance to open bargaining, to allow for meetings that aren't just a rushed zoom call, to encourage participation, and not just to act as a rubber stamp for ideas from the top-down, and I've seen the real world consequences of their slow response to the crisis level of exploitation and poverty that exists on the shop floor. It's costing them dearly by disillusioning and confusing this next new generation of workers and creating anti-union sentiment amongst their own members, its like a form of brain drain. When our members aren't encouraged to participate in their own grievance procedures, contract bargaining, and leadership the Union Staff can't act surprised when workers 3rd party the union and distance themselves from it.

So if you're not satisfied with the lack of transparency about our contract negotiation, if you want this Union to be a WORKER'S organization and not an HR firm, if you want to hold Safeway accountable for those mile long lines, if you want a Fighting Union that puts corporate in their place- I urge you, go to that nomination meeting and stand in that election, even if it's only in protest!

Remind the leadership- WE ARE THE UNION!

Any Interested Safeway Candidates email: youfcw@gmail to unite our efforts!

https://preview.redd.it/sx60klq5v2eh1.png?width=652&format=png&auto=webp&s=1ee624123ab4d138430bd5bdd6de46760e86dba3

Nomination Meetings for VPs will occur at 9 AM sharp and 7PM sharp at the addresses listed below for all except Scott's Valley and the Central Valley Meetings.
If you are late, you will probably miss the meeting. It consists of a short roll call formality and then an open floor for nominations, then the meeting may be adjourned if no one is present. Plan ahead and arrive early. You can be nominated at ANY of these meetings regardless of where they occur so long as you are nominated for a valid VP# from the region you're employed in.

This was pulled from the UFCW 5 Newsletter available on the UFCW5 website.
All members should have received a physical copy of the newsletter, if you didn't you might want to call the union office and change your address to make sure it's correct -or you will not receive your ballot in September when the Election begins in earnest.

Unions and labor in Michigan have been like many other states experiencing similar problems, support and solidarity. In Michigan many workers face privatization to corporate out of state companies. Low membership involvement. Wage compression or low wages. Anti union tactics from forming a union in work places. And much more.

Im local 1166 President For Afscme, we’re a little over 100 members and non members who we represent. We’re in the middle of negotiations facing mediation to reach an agreement.

I’m writing to SEIU and other Unions for a Michigan grassroots movement or a dream bigger country wide labor alliance with all unions. I’m looking for others who are willing to get involved and help.

Our unions need to come together and help one another. I’m Afscme, and your …? And I don’t care. What I care about is your a brother, a sister, a person who works an hourly job for you and your family.

If you or you know someone who is interested in uniting Michigan or anywhere please reach out. My first thought is how do we elevate member involvement? Become more transparent for our members with union information.

During a survey a year ago I received a message from an Afscme member. In the survey I asked, “ how can Afscme become better?”

Their answer was ,” it’s your union figure it out…”

That stuck with me.

I became president because we needed one. I was a member for one month before this position. So I started to go to other local meetings to see how they worked and all the training sessions I could attend. I seen very low attendance, low involvement and people who cared but faced similar problems.

We have a chance to unite “not under Afscme of SEIU or any other group but as many groups. Under the word “Union”

Unions today are not left or right. Blue or Red, but a diverse group of individuals and workers with many different views, beliefs and values.
I have felt many Democrats have abandoned us, many republicans haven’t really cared.
I believe we need to find political leaders who are Labor Supporting and not just for a vote, but real labor supporters.

Example is I’ve written every democratic leader in Michigan and the responses were disappointing.
“Thank you for contacting…, please contact your district’s representative.”

I hope this message is received well, and I find a few union members who are looking to make a change.

Thank You

members aren't aware of the vote or the reasons to do so. make it clear.

The current leadership in 555 is trash. Dan Clay has been there 18 years and the contracts each time get worse and worse. There is an opportunity to turn things around, so I'd encourage any members or friends and family of members to check the slate running against the current piss poor leadership and support this slate:

https://www.fighttowin555.org/#slate

If you don't get union mail call your local UFCW office and ask them to update your address on file to ensure you get the ballot mailed to you so you can vote! YOU ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOUR ADDRESS IS UPDATED WITH YOUR CURRENT EMPLOYER AS THEY SEND AN UPDATE ONCE A MONTH TO THE UNION HALL. BOTH PLACES NEED TO HAVE THE SAME / UPDATED ADDRESS ON FILE. UFCW Local 555 Main Office​. (800) 452-8329. Please check to make sure they both have your current mailing address.

I was harassed and bullied, and retaliated against by a third-party coworker and management. The coworker followed me after our shift to my second job, wanting to fight me. I reported this to my district manager, and then my GM retaliated with a weaponized HR complaint. I requested a transfer before all this, but was transferred to a completely different store afterward. HR did not investigate this incident at all. They didn't report this to the third-party company and kept him at the store. They disciplined me for calling this guy profane comments while we were arguing in the parking lot outside the store, as I was leaving for my second job.

This ordeal caused my GM at my second store to freak out and lash out at me for coming in early and doing online training while I waited for him to come into the office and give me a till (he said, "No wonder he was having problems at the other store"). I was transferred again to a third store after this incident.

While I was at this third store, two customers complained about me. The first one was looking for a specific item that we didn't have in stock, so I looked it up in the SIM and told him that several stores nearby still have it. He took it the wrong way and thought I was telling him to shop at another store. The second customer said that I don't look friendly or personable. A position became available at the store I initially wanted to transfer to. I emailed my district manager and asked her again to transfer me to that store. She came to my store to give me paperwork from HR, which was discipline charges for the first customer complaint. She also told me that she wasn't going to transfer me again. I got mad and left work a few minutes early. My manager told me the next day to fill out the time card as usual and that he had already made adjustments for the few-minute discrepancy. This was around the same time as the second customer complaint, and I got in trouble again for that, along with leaving early without permission and falsifying records.

What was My Local UFCW's involvement in all of this? My union rep exhausted the appeal process, and the legal team said no to arbitration. It was never explained to me why my employer could discipline me for things I said to the guy while outside the store and off the clock, but literally do nothing about this coworker. I also went through 3 different union reps throughout all of this. After discussing all of this in detail with my third union rep and her lead, the lead rep explained to me that there isn't anything they can do about the transfer issue. There's nothing in the contract that covers lateral store transfers.

I had a year and a half of good employment before all of this nonsense. Across three stores, I got along well with everyone, except the third-party coworker and two GMs. I have a good, friendly work relationship with my current GM. My union rep mentioned how other people's statements regarding all of these incidents were in my favor. Most of this could have been avoided had my district manager transferred me to the store I had asked to go to. My district manager and the rest of upper management don't see it that way, and now I have a target on my head. Both of these GMs have had countless complaints brought against them throughout their careers and are still having trouble getting along with their current staff. The first store, in particular, is not performing well. I was one of six transfers out of that store, and turnover is still extremely high because most people quit rather than transfer out.

Among other things, my employer is removing union-represented positions and cutting our hours, blaming declining sales and profits, while replacing these positions with non-union-represented management positions. I have also brought this to my union rep's attention and pointed out that it doesn't make sense, especially if sales and profits are declining.

I voluntarily dropped to 20ish hours per week a year ago due to the stress that all of this was causing me while I focused on finishing my degree. I literally paid the same amount in union dues. The one time I needed the UFCW's help, they did nothing. I did everything I could to improve this situation, but nothing worked. I wasted 3 years of my life at this lousy job and wasted over $3,000 on union dues. I have a new job lined up. It's only a small pay cut, but between the opportunity to work full-time and the fact that I won't be wasting a ridiculous amount of money on UFCW membership, it will pay out.

Edit: I just checked my employee portal. I paid more in dues last year than the previous year working less hours.

I'm considering moving to PA to buy my first house and travel to NJ 6 days a week to keep my union status in local 464a meat cutters union. My question is how are the locals that represent acme meat cutters? Can anyone answer some questions I have as far as pay rate, union dues cost, raises, healthcare and pensions etc...