October - UFCW Local 653

Transcription

October - UFCW Local 653
Local 653
Fact Finder
Minneapolis, MN
http://ufcw653.org
Vol.53, No.10, October 2015
Picket line down at Glen Lake’s Market as store is sold
By Steve Share, Minneapolis Labor Review, September 21, 2015
MINNETONKA--United Food and Commercial Workers Local
653 took down a picket line Monday at Glen Lake’s Market
following the announcement that the business will be sold to
union grocer Lunds & Byerlys.
picketing prompted
the sale of Glen
Lake’s Market to
Lunds & Byerlys.
Glen Lake’s Market announced the store would close Sept. 30,
while Lunds & Byerlys said it would reopen the grocery in early
November.
“The support of
the community
was fantastic,”
Utecht said. When
people learned
the facts of the
situation, he said,
they understood
that Wartman’s
obligation to the
workers and pension fund was a simple question of “right and
wrong.”
The UFCW picket line went up in June 2015 when Glen Lake’s
Market opened at 14400 Excelsior Blvd. at the site of a former
Fresh Seasons Market. At the same time, UFCW picketing also
began at newly-opened Victoria’s Market at 7999 Victoria
Drive, also at the site of another former Fresh Seasons store.
Fresh Seasons owner Tom Wartman closed the two locations
abruptly in May 2014, leaving $150,000 in unpaid vacation
pay and unpaid holiday pay owed to UFCW members working
there and also leaving $1.4 million in unfunded pension
liability to the union’s pension fund.
Wartman remained as the owner of the two properties,
however, when the non-union Glen Lake’s Market and
Victoria’s Market opened earlier this year.
UFCW Local 653 launched picket lines at the two sites, arguing
that Wartman needed to first fulfill his obligations to the
workers and the pension fund before profiting from the two
new grocery stores.
The picketing continued seven days a week, with former Fresh
Seasons employees, UFCW members from other stores, and
UFCW staff walking the picket lines.
The picketing kept customers away from the two new stores.
Local 653 regularly posted photos on Facebook showing empty
parking lots at Glen
Lake’s Market and
Victoria’s Market,
even on holiday
weekends.
For UFCW Local
653 president Matt
Utecht, “there’s
no question in my
mind” that the
When the new Lunds & Byerlys opens at the Glen Lake’s
Market site, Utecht said, the workers at the new store will be
represented by UFCW Local 653, which has a long-standing
relationship with Lunds & Byerlys.
“Taking a bad guy out and replacing it with union jobs —
that’s the ultimate,” Utecht said. “The phone has been
ringing off the hook all day” with congratulations to the union
for standing strong on the picket lines, he added.
Utecht emphasized, “It’s the members, it’s the people
walking the line that made this thing go… A union is about its
members and it’s about all its members pitching in. It’s about
strength in numbers and that has proven to be true in this
case.”
UFCW Local 653 isn’t finished with Tom Wartman, however.
Former Fresh Seasons workers still are owed $150,000 in
unpaid vacation pay and unpaid holiday pay and the $1.4
million unfunded pension liability also remains. “We will
continue picketing at Victoria’s Market,” Utecht said. “We will
continue legal action… This is good news but it doesn’t make
any of the rest of it go away.”
Lunds & Byerlys spokesperson Aaron Sorenson told the
Minneapolis Labor Review that the company had no plans
to purchase Victoria’s Market “at this time.” The Victoria’s
“Picket line down” (continued on Page 2)
Pension Fund Status Upgraded to
“Green”
By Matt Utecht, President
In 2008 when the stock market
crashed, the Minneapolis Retail Meat
Cutters and Food Handlers Pension
Fund investments were diverse and
conservatively invested. Even with
that conservative mode, the Plan
suffered a 22% loss which equated
to roughly $65 million. But many
other multi-employer pension plans
that were not as conservatively
invested had losses of 30-40%.
In 2008 the Pension Protection Act
(PPA) established three categories (or
zones) of plans:
1. “Green Zone” for healthy,
2. “Yellow Zone” for endangered,
and
3. “Red Zone” for critical.
These categories are based upon the
funding ratio of plan assets to plan
liabilities. In general, Green Zone
plans have a funding ratio greater
than 80%. Yellow Zone plans have a
funding ratio between 65 and 79%.
And Red Zone plans are less than
65% funded.
As a result of the 2008 stock market
crash, the MRMC&FH pension
plan fell from what today would
be Green Zone (healthy) to Yellow
Zone for endangered. As a result
of being classified Yellow Zone, the
MRMC&FH pension plan by law
had to implement a rehabilitation
program.
Part of the rehab plan included
changes that came as a result of the
2010 Minneapolis Retail contract
negotiations. Those changes
included:
• The normal retirement benefit
crediting rate decreased from
$65.00 per year of credited
service to $35.00 per year of
credited service for credited
service earned on and after May
2, 2010.
• The unreduced “30 and out”
benefit was eliminated for
employees hired on or after May
2, 2010.
• The minimum number of hours
required to earn a partial year of
credited service was increased
from 850 hours to 1,000 hours
effective May 2, 2010.
• Member/employees also gave
back one week of vacation each
year for two years (2010 and
2011) with that money being
applied to the pension fund by
the employers.
As painful as these changes were, the
MRMC&FH Pension Fund was still in
a position many funds weren’t. And
that was a position to remain solvent
and work our way back to health.
2008 resulted in the collapse/failure
of many pension plans.
As a result of the many difficult
decisions being made by the Trustees
of this Fund and the considerable
sacrifice of the participants, I’m
very pleased to announce that as of
June 2015 the MRMC&FH Pension
Plan has moved from “Yellow”
(endangered) status back to “Green”
(healthy) status. Today the fund is
at 80.3% funded and is projected by
Fund actuaries to continue “Green”
on a slow ride to a projected 100%
funding status in 2028. In order
to accomplish this slow ride we
need to continue to have positive
market returns and stable industry
employment. A downturn in either of
these items will put the plan back in
the Yellow Zone.
What does this look like in dollars?
In March of 2009 the market value of
the Fund was $284 million; in March
of 2015 the market value of the Fund
was $508 million.
I would like to conclude this article
by saying this: Great strides have
been made to get this Fund from
Yellow Zone (endangered) to Green
Zone (healthy), and the Trustees
must remain vigilant to be sure
the Fund stays on a path that leads
to 100% funding. We are not in a
position to move the crediting rate
up from the current $35.00 level at
this time, and we will not move it
up from the $35.00 level until such
time that an increase can be safely
attained. To move up the crediting
rate prematurely as a “feel good”
thing could send our plan back to
“endangered” or “critical” status. We
will not make that mistake.
“Picket line down” (continued from Page 1)
Market location is about 13 miles from the Glen Lake’s Market
location.
Sorenson also told the Labor Review that Lunds & Byerlys
purchased only the Glen Lake’s Market grocery business, not
the property, which is owned by Tom Wartman as Glen Lakes
Mall, LLC. “We’ve signed a long-term lease agreement for the
October 2015 - Fact Finder - Page 2
site,” Sorenson said.
In a news release, Lunds & Byerlys announced that the
approximately 50 people working at Glen Lake’s Market “will
have the opportunity to interview with Lunds & Byerlys with
the goal of retaining as many of the store’s current employees
as possible.”
Critical Times—Experienced Leadership
By Paul Crandall, Secretary-Treasurer
T
o say a great deal has happened in the industry
and the local union over the past three years would
definitely be a huge understatement.
Under President Matt
Utecht’s strong leadership,
the union was able
to negotiate with the
employers who purchased
the Rainbow Food stores
and secure transition
agreements with the new
employers, preserving over
90% of the jobs. For those
members who stayed in the
six stores that were closing,
President Matt Utecht with UFCW a severance agreement
Region 6 Director Tish Ramirez
was negotiated on their
behalf. After the sale was completed, the local union filed
a grievance against Roundy’s on behalf of the members
for health, welfare and pension contributions as well as
vacation and severance package payouts -- Local 653 was
successful in securing a settlement of $875,618.20. This
money would not have been paid to our members’ accounts
without the union’s contract language that required the
contributions, and the contract language that provides us
with a grievance procedure. The union also reached out to
the State of Minnesota to set up sessions at the union hall
with the Dislocated Workers Program, helping members
who were displaced receive training and skills for new
jobs. President Utecht also reached out to employers who
sent representatives to the union hall for job fairs. Several
members were hired as a result of that connection.
In September of 2014, Jerry’s announced they were closing
the Lake Street Rainbow which they had purchased in July.
This was shocking news to the 63 hardworking members
who had just gone through the Rainbow sale. Immediately,
the union met with Jerry’s management and discussed
with them how to absorb these members into their existing
stores, which they
agreed to, and were
able to place 98% of the
employees who wanted
to work in another
Jerry’s location. After
the sale was complete,
the union discovered
that Jerry’s Foods had
hired “traditional” fulltime employees from
President Matt Utecht with member
Rainbow and changed
Mike Sherman of Lunds & Byerlys
their classification in the Wayzata
contract to “classified assistants.” The company kept these
members at their current rate of pay; however, by moving
them to “classified assistants” they made Sundays a part
of the workweek, and as a result, members would lose the
Sunday premium pay of time-and-a-half. President Utecht
was adamant and vigilant that this was not negotiated in
the transition agreement with Jerry’s and filed a grievance
on behalf of the members. This grievance was settled with
Jerry’s returning all the
full-time employees to
traditional full-time.
Sunday remained
outside of the work
week and premium pay
was restored.
Looking back over
the past two years,
President Matt Utecht with Lunds & Byerlys
union contracts have
President Tres Lund
successfully been
negotiated with pay increases for Minneapolis grocery
workers and the Brainerd Lakes area for the first wage
increase in four years.
Health & Welfare has undergone many challenges never
seen before. As Chairman of the Health & Welfare and
Pension Trust Funds, President Utecht has worked with
the Board of Trustees to save the Health & Welfare Fund.
Difficult decisions
needed to be made
to reshape the
health plan for a
sustainable future
for the participants.
The Pension Plan
has just been
certified in the
“green zone” (see
President Matt Utecht and Secretary-Treasurer President Utecht’s
Paul Crandall on informational picket line in
article).
Glen Lake
In May of this year the staff of Local 653 began an
informational picket line at Victoria’s and Glen Lake’s
Markets. Taking the fights to the streets, the union is
standing up to Tom Wartman who owes his former
employees vacation pay, health, welfare and pension
contributions. It was announced on September 21, 2015,
that the Glen Lake’s Market location has been purchased
by Lunds & Byerlys. The store closed on October 1 and will
reopen as a unionized grocery store in early November. This
will bring over 50 new union jobs to Local 653. However, the
Critical Times (continued on Page 4)
October 2015 - Fact Finder - Page 3
Critical Times (continued from Page 3)
fight still continues at Victoria’s Market. The Union and the Fund have filed lawsuits
against Wartman.
For the first time, President Utecht hired a Special Project Union Representative
(SPUR). Ondrea Shallbetter currently holds this position. She is working on organizing
projects with a new commitment and dedication to collaborating with the Region and
International unions. In addition to this, there has been a creation of a joint labor/
management committee. Their main objective is to give the members a better level of
communication and understanding on health, welfare and pension benefits. President
Utecht has also connected to the Minnesota AFL-CIO by serving on their executive
board to form a better relationship within the State Labor Federation for joint efforts
against nonunion competition like HyVee.
President Matt Utecht with UFCW United
Latinos President Pete Maturino
The union also participated in a first-ever joint picket campaign against Walmart in Andover with management and rank and
file members standing shoulder-to-shoulder on the picket line.
Looking back, the union has been faced with enormous issues; however, under the effective leadership of President
Utecht, the entire staff at Local 653 has been working hard to stand up to the challenges and make your voice heard in the
workplace. There will be many more challenges in the future. These challenges will be met with strong and experienced
leadership. Local Union 653 is proud of its past and has great faith in the future!
T
Local 653 Member Kate Penick is Recipient of
UFCW International Scholarship
he 2015 Scholarship Program Committee of the United
Food and Commercial Workers International Union
announced that Kate Penick is a winner of an $8,000
scholarship award, payable over a four-year period! She has
worked at the Lunds & Byerlys in Golden Valley for the past 2½
years. She started as a courtesy bagger and is now a cashier and
has learned a lot about customer service and team work. As a graduate from Robbinsdale Cooper High School, Kate
earned her IB (International Baccalaureate) diploma in addition
to her regular high school diploma. She is now attending Regis
University in Denver, Colorado, where she is majoring in Social
Justice and Peace Studies. Kate truly enjoys her job at Lunds & Byerlys in Golden Valley,
interacting with both her coworkers and customers. She plans to
work again over winter break when she is home for Christmas and again next summer. Kate is
grateful for the union scholarship!
Congratulations, Kate! We’re proud to call you one of Local 653’s own!
October 2015 - Fact Finder - Page 4
2016 Minneapolis Retail Meat and
Grocery Contract Negotiations:
Contract Proposals and Committee Members Wanted
I
By Matt Utecht, President
t seems like only yesterday when we
concluded our last Minneapolis Retail Meat &
Grocery contract negotiations. As most of you
are aware, I’ve been meeting with a group of
employers since last spring (Tres Lund of Lunds
& Byerlys, Bob Shadduck of Jerry’s, Mike Oase
of Kowalski’s, Mike Stigers of Corporate Cub),
and the conversations have been centered on
Health & Welfare and Pension.
Contract negotiations will officially kick off
the first part of January 2016. Between now
and then I will be asking you – our members
– to share your thoughts and ideas on the
changes you’d like to see in the next contract.
Those ideas are more commonly referred to as
“proposals.” Contract proposals can be made
by any member working in the Retail Meat and
Grocery industry.
Contract proposals can be submitted to the
Union in a number of ways:
• Share your proposal with your Union
Representative when you see him/her in
your store.
• Mail it to the Union office
UFCW Local 653
Attn. Matt Utecht
13000 63rd Avenue North
Maple Grove, MN 55369
• Email directly to me at mutecht@
ufcw653.org
• Or call the office (763-525-1500)
Please give careful consideration to this and
participate by sharing your ideas.
I’m also looking for members who would
like to participate directly in the negotiation
process by volunteering to become a contract
negotiating team member. I will select the
committee by mid-November at the latest.
A well-rounded negotiating committee will be
made up of part-time and full-time members
from a wide range of classifications throughout
the stores. Committee members must be open
minded, not afraid to think “outside the box,”
and be able to think about all the workers/
members they will represent, not just about
personal issues. I’m also looking for a wide
range of ages and experience.
If this sounds interesting to you, please send
me a written request to serve on the 2016
Negotiating Team.
• Give the letter to your Union
Representative in person
• Mail it to the Union office
UFCW Local 653
Attn. Matt Utecht
13000 63rd Avenue North
Maple Grove, MN 55369
• Or email me directly, mutecht@
ufcw653.org
I look forward to hearing from you.
Remember – this is a great opportunity to have
a voice in your contract. Rarely does anything
good come easy, so be prepared to work hard,
work long hours, and fight if necessary.
October 2015 - Fact Finder - Page 5
Lunds & Byerlys Bloomington Store Remodel
By Scott Larson, Union Representative
L
unds & Byerlys has completed remodeling at
their Bloomington store. This remodel included
new flooring, paint and signage throughout
the entire store. They did a complete remodel
of the bakery with new shelving, take and bake,
artisan case and fresh doughnut case. The deli
department’s renovation includes a new artisan
cheese case, hot food bar and new cases for lunch
meats. The meat department has an entire new
look with new cases and back wall.
While visiting the store you can see how delighted
the customers are with all the changes -- they are
clearly enjoying the new shopping experience.
Betty Byers, Ayisha Marshall, Joy Bittner
Cindy Anderson, Diann Deme, Melinda Pittorf
Mike Flood
Loryn Anderson, Ivy Duchein
October 2015 - Fact Finder - Page 6
Requesting Full-Time? A Well-Written Letter Can Help
A
lthough the current
Minneapolis Retail Grocery
union contract is in effect
through March 5, 2016, it’s not too
early for those classified as Group
2 (part-time employees) who are
interested in becoming classified
as Group 1 (full-time employees)
to start preparing their letter of
promotion for submission. All
current letters filed or submitted
under the current contract expire
after March 5, 2016. If you file or
submit a new letter of promotion
any time after March 5, 2016, that
new letter will be in effect for the
remainder of the lifetime of the
contract under which it is filed.
Language addressing this can be
found on page 34 (paragraph F) of
the current contract book and is
stated as follows:
(F) Except for Group 3 parttime employees, Group
2 employees within each
classification may request
transfer into Group 1 when
openings become available.
Such requests must be made,
in writing, to the Employer
and the Union, and to be
valid they must be re-filed
after the effective date of
each contract. Employees
in Group 2 who so notify
the Employer and the
Union of their desire to be
promoted to Group 1, prior
to the filing of the position
in Group 1, shall be selected
in accordance with their
seniority. Such employee’s
full-time rate of pay shall
be the starting rate of pay
for full-time employees in
the applicable classification
according to Appendix C.
However, the employer may
fill up to fifty percent (50%)
By Doug Rigert, Union Representative
of such openings in each
classification with persons
from outside the bargaining
unit which includes parttime employees inside the
bargaining unit irrespective
of seniority.
It is important that you provide a
copy of your promotion letter to
your company’s human resource
department as well as providing the
union a copy, and keep a copy for
yourself.
In regards to the subject of this
article as it relates to the contract,
it is also important to understand
that when the term “Group 1”
is used, it is referring only to the
full-time classification found in the
middle of page 49 of the contract
book listed as Full-Time Food
Handlers and Pharmacy Employees.
This is commonly referred to as a
“Traditional Full-Time.”
Letters of promotion only apply
toward promotions to Group
1 classification and not toward
Classified Assistant or Retail
Specialist positions. Unlike the
Classified Assistant position
which can be filled by anyone the
employer chooses, the contract
states in Section 17.5B: “Retail
Specialist positions shall be filled
on the basis of store seniority from
Group 2 part-time employees who
respond to notice of such vacancy
to be posted within the store in
which the vacancy exists. However,
the employer may fill up to fifty
percent (50%) of such openings in
each classification with persons from
outside of the bargaining unit which
includes part-time employees inside
the bargaining unit irrespective of
seniority. Employees shall be given
a period of five (5) calendar days
within which to respond to any such
opening.”
If you want to be considered for
a Retail Specialist position posted
in your store, you must sign the
posting in order to do so. When
you compose a letter requesting
full-time employment, it should
include how long you have worked
for your employer, what position
you currently hold as well as any
experience, skills or previous
positions you have held with your
company or previous employers. It
is crucial to include what more you
have to offer your employer if you’re
promoted to a full-time position.
Always keep in mind that your letter
is likely to be read by someone who
may not know you. Your letter is one
way of selling yourself, so it should
be written in a way that it stands out
and so that whoever reads it is left
with a positive impression of you
as a potential full-time employee.
You might find it beneficial to have
your store director read it before
you officially submit it. They may
recommend or have suggestions to
make your letter even better.
Once you have submitted your letter,
you should contact your human
resource department to confirm
they have received it and also to
set up an appointment to formally
introduce yourself and discuss any
future possibilities for full-time
employment.
Although letters of promotion
only apply toward promotions to
Group 1 classifications, there is no
harm in expressing in your letter
that should there be any openings
for a Classified Assistant or Retail
Specialist position (both of which
are 40 hours per week positions
with benefits), you would like to be
considered for them as well.
October 2015 - Fact Finder - Page 7
Changes and More Changes
By Nancy Vaillancourt, Union Representative
T
he Lunds & Byerlys of Eden Prairie has seen many
exciting changes in the past year. They went from
a Rainbow to a Byerlys and now to this beautiful
Lunds & Byerlys store. It is so nice hearing all the
employees – most of whom worked there while it was a
Rainbow – saying how excited they are to come to work
every day.
The new store is amazing, featuring the pharmacy,
Caribou coffee shop, café and salad bar, and Bone
Marché Pet Market. They also have a delicious hot
food buffet and Hissho Sushi.
Stop in and check it out. You will be impressed with all
the remarkable changes.
Leah Stadt and Leslee
Bode
Doug Holtz and David Upscher
October 2015 - Fact Finder - Page 8
Jack Anderson, Mason Satterman, Kent Laurence,
Debra Hruska, Craig Carlson, Deb Fischer, Paulette
Simonette
Leelamatie Ally
John Warhol, Sean Shogren, Derek Host
The Scandinavian 653 Connection
By Rick Milbrath, Union Representative
I
ngebretsen’s is a family-owned institution that for over 90 years
has catered to the tastes of folks who came from Northern Europe
(Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland) and now from
everywhere. When you walk into the store, you walk through the
Scandinavian gift shop, which has a wide selection of wonderful
gifts such as Finnish crystal, Danish porcelain, Icelandic ceramics,
sterling silver jewelry from Norway, knickknacks and linens from
Sweden that women and men would love.
As you walk into the meat department, you know you’re walking
into a specialty shop when your nose smells the aroma of an old
fashioned meat market and your eyes see the Norwegian salted
herring, smoked whitefish, herring in wine sauce, sour cream
sauce, regular sauce, and then the smoked Norwegian salmon (it’s
the best!). The wall behind the counter is filled with all kinds of
treats and crackers with old fashioned butcher block countertops.
Next is the fresh meat section, with the regular selection of steaks,
chops, roasts and hamburger. Then you see the list of specialty
items—Rømmegrøt (cream porridge), Erlesuppe (pear soup),
Danish or Swedish Medister (sausage), Swedish meatball mix (over
seven tons made each season!) and homemade gravy. They also
make dozens of meat products that aren’t available anywhere
else in town, and the
list goes on and on.
Believe me—I’ve heard
it’s all great! They also
Meat cutter Steve Dahl displays some of the
tasty cuts available at Ingebretsen’s
smoke their own hams,
dried beef, fish, bacon, and beef jerky. On Fridays only there’s
a well-known secret – they smoke what I call blue ribbon
baby back ribs that sell out in one day. (You need to order the
amount you need ahead of time.) You and your guest won’t
be disappointed. Want a beef ribeye, sirloin, tenderloin or
pork chops cut to order? No
problem. There is always
someone behind the counter
ready to serve you or answer
any question you might have. There is also a cheese case with a large
selection of cheeses from all over Scandinavia, which they will cut to
order.
If you happen to be down on Lake Street and want to step back in
time, and want some homemade sausage or some great Scandinavian
products, visit Ingebretsen’s at 1601 East Lake Street and look around.
Say hi to the Local 653 meat cutters who work there and try some of
the great products that these guys make. By the way – did I mention
that Ingebresten’s is the oldest continuous running union shop in Local
653 history?
October 2015 - Fact Finder - Page 9
Thank you for the two Minnesota State Fair tickets-what a surprise! My sister
and I went the first day. We
stayed about 8 hours!
--Mary
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Service Pins Sent Out
August - September 2015
10 Years
Marlena Leavy (Jerry’s Cub - Knollwood)
Randall Lietzau (King’s County Market - St. Francis)
Danielle Schultz (King’s County Market - St. Francis)
30 Years
Deborah Ellison (Cub - Burnsville South)
Catherine Thieschafer (Cub - Plymouth)
Deborah Woodruff (Knowlan’s Festival Foods - Andover)
15 Years
Carol J. Anderson (Cub - Vicksburg)
40 Years
Susan A. Olson (Knowlan’s Festival Foods - Andover)
20 Years
David Grussendorf (Jerry’s Cub - Chaska)
45 Years
Roger Olson (Almsted’s Fresh Market - Crystal)
25 Years
Mohammad Haider (Jerry’s Rainbow - Richfield)
Joel Logeais (Kowalski’s - Lyndale)
Helen Wold (Cub - Quarry)
October 2015 - Fact Finder - Page 10
Biggest Loser
Contest
By Nancy Vaillancourt, Union
Representative
T
is proud to partner with
he final weigh-in is
approaching fast! I hope you
all have been successful in
meeting your weight loss goals
these past few months!
Final weigh-ins will be on Thursday
and Friday, October 29 and 30,
2015, at our Maple Grove office
between the hours of 8:00 a.m.
– 4:00 p.m. All weights must be
recorded by Friday at 4:00 p.m. No
exceptions!
The winners will be announced at
our monthly membership meeting
on November 2, 2015.
First prize $750.00
Second prize $500.00
Third prize $250.00
All prizes are for gift cards to a Local
653 grocery store of your choice. If
you have any questions, please contact me at 612-965-4309.
The Hall at Local 653 can hold up to 300 guests for a formal
plated dinner service with classic decor, decorative lighting,
raised ceilings and a beautiful room design. We would love to
host an event you are planning – whether it is a casual meeting or
an elegant affair.
Partnering with Lunds & Byerlys Catering takes the stress out of
entertaining. Their event planners will work with you one-on-one
to make your vision a reality. They can help you arrange food,
wine and spirits, linens, floral arrangements, entertainment and
full-service staffing!
Arrange a visit or consultation today!
Please contact Jessica B. or Paulette T. at
952-897-9800
FOR ANY OCCASION
• Wedding
• Graduation
• Social Gatherings
• Family Reunion
• Corporate Events
• Formal Dinner
Visit us online at Hall653.org or Catering.lundsandbyerlys.com
October 2015 - Fact Finder - Page 11
UFCW Local 653
13000 63rd Avenue North
Maple Grove, MN 55369
www.ufcw653.org
763-525-1500 or 1-800-292-4105
Matthew P. Utecht, President
Paul Crandall, Secretary-Treasurer
JERRY’S FOODS: Jerry’s Sausage
Brainerd / Baxter Cub Foods - Baxter Super One - Crosby
Super One - Pequot Lakes Supervalu - Byerly’s St. Cloud
CUB FOODS: Crystal, St. Louis Park
Union Representatives
Steve Milner
CORPORATE CUB FOODS: Apple Valley, Bloomington, Burnsville HOTC, Burnsville South, Chanhassen,
Eagan West, Eagan East, Eagan North, Lakeville North,
Lakeville South, Lakeville West, Rosemount, Savage,
Shorewood
Golden Living (Bloomington and Chateau),
Healthcare Services (Bloomington and Chateau)
Organizer: Jim Schommer
Lunds & Byerlys Empoyee Retires
After 42+ Years!
C
By Nancy Vaillancourt, Union Representative
ongratulations to Kathleen Jacobs as she retires
from an outstanding 42½ years of service with
Local 653. I don’t think there are too many
members who are fortunate enough to say they had
that many years of service at one company and one
location.
Kathleen started her career at Lunds & Byerlys in Edina
as a full-time cashier in March of 1973. The only change
she ever had to make was when Edina opened a new
store that replaced the original store last fall. Recent
staffing changes helped her in her decision to retire.
CORPORATE CUB FOODS: Blaine North, Blaine South,
Brooklyn Park North, Brooklyn Park South, Coon Rapids
South, Champlin, Fridley, Lagoon, Maple Grove, Silver
Lake Road, Rockford Road, New Brighton, Vicksburg,
Monticello
KOWALSKI’S MARKETS: Lyndale, Eagan, Hennepin,
Chicago (Parkview), Eden Prairie
Homestead at Anoka, Gold Cross, Oaklawn Healthcare
Kathleen is
looking forward
to spending time
with her two
granddaughters
and finishing
some outdoor
projects.
Scott Larson
LUNDS & BYERLYS: Bloomington, Central, Edina, Hennepin, Lake Street, Minnetonka, Navarre, Plymouth, Prior
Lake, Richfield, Wayzata, Lunds & Byerly’s Kitchen, Lunds
Manufacturing
Villa at Bryn Mawr, New Horizon (Bryn Mawr), Healthcare Services (Bryn Mawr)
Best wishes for a
happy and healthy
retirement,
Kathleen. Enjoy!
Doug Rigert
JERRY’S CUB FOODS: Bloomington, Brookdale, Chaska,
Eden Prairie, Knollwood, Lake Street, Nicollet, Quarry,
Richfield, Rogers, Southdale, West Broadway
JERRY’S FOODS: Edina, Eden Prairie, Jerry’s Enterprises
Innsbruck Healthcare, A’viands
Rick Milbrath
Ingebretsen’s - Nelson’s Meats - Swanson Meats Cooper’s Foods - Almsted’s Fresh Market - Jubilee
Foods - Cub Foods Shakopee - Driskill’s Foods - Oxendale’s Market - Bergan’s SuperValu - Hirshfield’s - Brede
KNOWLAN’S FESTIVAL FOODS: Andover, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park
KING’S COUNTY MARKET: Andover, St. Francis
Nancy Vaillancourt
LUNDS & BYERLYS: Burnsville, Chanhassen, Eagan,
Eden Prairie, Edina, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, Ridgedale, St. Louis Park, Plymouth Rainbow
BONE MARCHE’: St. Louis Park
HAUG’S - Cub Coon Rapids (Williston), Cub Minnetonka
(Haug), Cub Waterford
JERRY’S CUB: Elk River
Everett’s Foods
Park Health & Rehab, Healthcare Services @ Park H&R
October 2015 - Fact Finder - Page 12
Executive Board Members
Matthew P. Utecht, President
Nick Stute, Vice President 6
Paul Crandall, Secretary-Treasurer
Paul Merchlewitz, Vice President 7
Colleen Ryan, Recording Secretary
Melissa Charles, Vice President 8
David Maas, Vice President 1
Judi Johnson, Vice President 9
Tom Potvin, Vice President 2
Michael Gaulrapp, Vice President 10
Doug Dehmer, Vice President 3
John Pignato, Vice President 11
Theresa Kick, Vice President 4
Michael Sperbeck, Vice President 12
Lorrie Wayman, Vice President 5
SANTA CLAUS IS COMING
TO TOWN...AGAIN!
By Matt Utecht, President
Isn’t it amazing how fast time
flies? Before you know it we will
have snow on the ground and
Christmas will be upon us. On
Saturday, December 5, 2015,
UFCW Local 653 will be hosting
the SIXTH ANNUAL BREAKFAST
WITH SANTA CLAUS here at Hall
653!!
The fun will begin at 9.00 a.m.
with a great breakfast served by
Santa’s elves. Following breakfast,
with a call of “Now Dasher!
Now Dancer! Now Prancer and
Vixen, On Comet! On Cupid!
On Donner and Blitzen!” and a
round of “Santa Claus is Coming
to Town,” Santa will arrive to read
some Christmas stories to the
children and their parents. Then
Santa Claus and his elves will
pass out gift bags to the children.
Santa will then be available to all
the children so that they can sit
on his lap and tell him what they
would like for Christmas and give
Mom and Dad the opportunity
to take pictures with the children
sitting on Santa’s lap.
This event will give our union
members the opportunity to have
their children or grandchildren
eat breakfast with Santa and not
have to fight the crowds at the
shopping malls, and I know that
you will not find a better deal
anywhere. The cost of Breakfast
with Santa Claus is $8.00 per
person.
If you are interested in attending
this year’s Breakfast with Santa,
please fill out the form below
and send it--along with $8.00 per
person (checks payable to UFCW
Local 653)--to:
UFCW Local 653
Attn: Breakfast with Santa
13000 63rd Ave N
Maple Grove, MN 55369
Payment must accompany your
registration. The deadline for
registration is Friday, November
27. We will confirm your
reservations via email when
we receive your form and
payment. If you do not have
an email address, we will mail a
confirmation letter to the address
that the union office has on file. I
suggest that you sign up early, as
the breakfast will fill up fast!
Toys for Tots
For the sixth consecutive year,
Local 653 is joining with the
United States Marine Corp’s Toys
for Tots program to collect toys
for children who might otherwise
not have something special to
open this Christmas. We will
begin accepting new, unwrapped
toys for the 2015 Toys for Tots
campaign on November 2 at
our office at 13000 63rd Avenue
North in Maple Grove. You can
also bring your donation to this
year’s Breakfast with Santa on
Saturday, December 5.
Please consider making a
donation of a toy this holiday
season. We know that money
may be tight, but please consider
the children who are less
fortunate than we are. Let’s try
again to bring a smile to the face
of a young child this Christmas
who may not have a lot to smile
about without your help.
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU HERE!!!
Breakfast with Santa Claus Registration Form
Member Name:
Employer:
Email address for confirmation:
Adults: ______ X $8.00 = $
Children: ______ X $8.00 = $
Total: $
# of High Chairs Needed:
# of Booster Seats Needed:
October 2015 - Fact Finder - Page 13
John Lego Memoria
By Steve Milner, Un
Our 6th annual John Lego Memorial Golf Tournament
was held on Wednesday, August 26, at Brookview
Golf Course in Golden Valley. It was a beautiful 70
degrees at tee time. The sun was shining and the sky
was clear.
Ninety-one players were on hand for the shotgun
start at 8:00 a.m. It was a great day of golf and
talking with old friends. There were many foursomes
who broke par, with the winners at eleven under par
and the second place team at ten under par. At the
end of the tournament, lunch was served and prizes
were distributed.
October 2015 - Fact Finder - Page 14
I want to thank Matt Utecht and Paul Crandall for
all their help. I also want to thank Rick Milbrath
and Jim Schommer for their help with scoring, a
big thank you to Doug Dehmer and Chris Erickson
for their excellent culinary skills at the grill, and
to the support staff at the office for assisting with
organizing this event.
The great Polish sausages we had for lunch came
from Everett’s Foods on 38th and Cedar in South
Minneapolis.
Until next year…
al Golf Tournament
nion Representative
October 2015 - Fact Finder - Page 15
UFCW Local 653
Members:
Retiree’s Club Meeting Notice
Knights of Columbus Marian Hall
1114 American Blvd. W.
Bloomington, MN 55420
Thursday, October 15, 2015
10:00 a.m Cards
12:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. Speaker
United Food & Commercial
Workers Union, Local 653
13000 63rd Avenue N.
Maple Grove, MN 55369
763-525-1500 or 1-800-292-4105
Change Service Requested
For more information:
Thea Gullekson:
952-831-3143
Char Hanson:
612-869-9035
or Marlen Wahl:
952-888-3220
NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
Permit No. 2899
Twin Cities, MN
See page 13
for details
on this
year’s
Breakfast
with
Santa!
LLS and Local 653
Need YOU!
Please join Team “UFCW Local 653” as we
raise funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma
Society. LLS works to find cures and ensure
access to treatments for blood cancer
patients. We’re assembling a team to walk
in the annual “Light the Night Walk” on
October 25, 2015, at the Mall of America.
If you can join us for the walk, that would
be great! But you can support us even if
you can’t walk with us—you can make a
contribution to our team!
It’s easy. Simply go to lightthenight.org. If
you want to walk with us, click on “Register
October 2015 - Fact Finder - Page 16
to Walk” and follow the prompts to find
Team UFCW Local 653 under the Minnesota
Mall of America event. Join our team and
start raising funds.
If you want to contribute financially, go to
lightthenight.org and click on “Donate.”
Search for Team “UFCW Local 653” and
follow the prompts to donate.
We’ve set a big goal of raising $20,000 this
year, and we’d love to have your help in this
fight against blood cancers. Together we
can make a difference!

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