May/June 2006 - UFCW Local 789

JOIN AMERICA’S CAMPAIGN TO CHANGE WAL-MART !
WakeUpWalMart.com
UFCW Local 789
and
WakeUpWalMart
expose the true
cost for Minnesota
taxpayers and
enlist legislators in
the battle for
Fair Share Health
Care.
Read more on
page 7.
Mark Your Calendars!
Dues and Budget Meeting
Tues. May 9 6:00 PM
Political Committee Meeting
Tues. May 16 6:00 PM
Women’s Network Daylily Event
Tues. May 16 Noon-7:00 PM
7th Annual Car Show
Sunday May 21 9AM - 3PM
Women’s Network Garden Party
Tues. May 30 Noon-6:00 PM
Kaposia Days Parade
Friday June 23 6PM - 9PM
President’s Report
Don Seaquist
Building Your Political Voice
At the recently concluded
Union Steward training, Local
789 unveiled its Political Action
Program called Active Ballot
Club (ABC). ABC is the
UFCW’s way of funding political contributions to advance
the agenda of pro-worker political candidates. Other
UFCW Locals across the country already participate in
ABC and we are now ready to join our Union brothers
and sisters in building a more powerful political voice.
We are touched daily by politics so this is our way of
achieving additional power in the process.
In order to make this initial ABC rollout a success we
are having a contest! Every member who provides a
voluntary donation will be entered into a contest for
a 26-inch flat screen television. This contest will end
on May 15, 2006, so please return your form and voluntary contribution to your Steward or the Union
office prior to that date. Members in Retail Meat &
Grocery and at the Stockyards plant can sign an authorization form with 3 options for this voluntary deduction. A
$1.00 per week, $.50 per week or $.25 per week (pictured below). Employees in other locations can contribute by purchasing a “Silver Card” with a one-time voluntary contribution($5.00 Minimum) to this fund (pictured
Dos Pasos Adelante Uno Por Atrás
Recientemente nuestros miembros perdieron su trabajo
cuando cerraron sus impresas. Pero su unión les apoyó.
Lake City Health Care Center se vendió de Mayo a Ebenezer
Society. Negociamos con la nueva gerencia, pero perdimos
mucho de los beneficios que teníamos. Por lo menos sigue la
unión.
El nuevo contrato que ganamos de Minnesota Beef duró
nada más 5 meses. El dueño esta buscando inversiones para
abrir su matanza otra vez. Según el dueño es difícil encontrar
vacas por condiciones mercantiles, como el cerramiento de la
frontera de Canada por miedo de la enfermedad de vaca loca.
La comunidad y la unión se juntaron para alivianar el sufrimiento de los trabajadores que perdieron todo. Usamos las
right).
In addition, Union Stewards will
also be having a contest.
Whichever Union Steward returns
the greatest number or member
percentage of signed cards will
also win a prize. I’m sure your
Union Steward will be contacting
you.
The money collected for ABC
may not be used for any other purpose other than for political purposes. As you know, we are active
politically, and this will provide
financial resources for your Union.
Federal law requires that this
money only be used for this purpose so Local 789 is forming a
political committee made-up of
Union members. This committee
(yet to be named) will have the responsibility of dispersing the funds.
As an activist and participatory Union, we want to provide you with every opportunity for involvement. Those
of you interested in politics and wishing to be part of this
committee should contact our Political Director, Bernie
Hesse.
In closing, this new ABC Program will enable us to
continue to grow our power as a force for positive change for working men and women. I am
looking forward to this new tool and the involvement of our membership. If you have any questions regarding the ABC Program, you may call
Bernie Hesse (Political Director), Jennifer
Christensen (Secretary/Treasurer), or me during
normal business hours (8:00AM – 5:00PM).
donaciones de la jornada de boliche y otros fondos que tenemos con fondos de iglesias locales. Pero con todo lo que hicimos la mayoría de los trabajadores tienen que ir en busco de
trabajo.
Borders Books, una librería que organizamos hace un año y
medio, perdió el permiso de rentar su tienda. El dueño se
vendió el espacio para hacer departamentos. Fue uno de las
campañas más activas que levantamos. Abrimos negociaciones para asegurar beneficios para nuestros miembros de
Borders Books.
A lo mejor Usted esta leyendo ese articulo pensando que
esta seguro en su trabajo, pero como trabajadores siempre
tenemos que estar atentos a defender nuestros derechos. Las
leyes que protegen nuestro derecho de organizar sindicatos
son débiles, tenemos que enfocar nuestra fuerza a cambiar
estas leyes ara protegernos.
Workers’ Choices
Members Choose to Support
Politicians Who Support Our Issues.
Be a Member of ABC - Join the Active Ballot Club!
What is ABC?
Active Ballot Club is the UFCW’s funding mechanism for advancing our pro-worker political
agenda. It is funded entirely by voluntary member contributions.
When does it start/end?
This initial program begins today and concludes on May 15th. However, ABC will become and
stay a vital part of our union’s vision.
How do we do this?
Retail Grocery/Meat and Stockyards members will receive a cover letter along with an authorization form. Members are asked to fill out the form and give it to their Union Steward or payroll
person. The member may keep the pink copy, the Union Steward gives the yellow and the white
copy back to the Union (members can also mail the form directly to the Union if they choose).
This document is the member’s authorization and contest participation.
All other members will use the “Silver Cards”. “Silver Cards” are in the form of tickets (similar to
a raffle ticket) for the member to fill out, documenting their donation. Donations must be a minimum of $5 to be eligible for the contest. When the form and money are returned to the office we,
will have the necessary documentation for the contest.
There’s a Contest?
YES! From now until May 15th, every member who makes a contribution to ABC, either
through automatic dues deduction or the “Silver Cards” will be entered into a drawing for a flat
screen television.
Stewards who collect the highest participation by percentage and those who sign up the greatest number of their members will also be eligible for prizes. Stewards need to sign up members at
their own workplace. If a Steward signs up members and provides their own authorization/money,
they are eligible for both contests.
What do members get?
You get to support candidates that support them at their workplace. You get to do this at the
street level and show that big money shouldn’t control the political process.
How does the money get spent?
Local 789 is forming a political committee. Every member is eligible to be a member of this
committee. If you or any of your members are interested, inform our Political Director, Bernie
Hesse. This committee will make the decisions on how this money will be distributed. This
money may only be used for political purposes and not mixed in with any other Union funds.
The first meeting of the UFCW 789 Political Committee will be Tuesday May 16th at 6:00 PM.
Secretary/Treasurer’s Report
Jennifer Christensen
RESTORING
THE AMERICAN
DREAM
Change to Win.
We Have Changed!
as a Labor Movement We are Going to Win!
for All of American Workers
March 20, 2006 in Las Vegas, NV, the seven-union Change
to Win federation unveiled its new campaign to unite millions of
workers across the country in an effort to raise living standards
and improve the quality of life for American workers. With 2,000
organizers meeting in Las Vegas for the federation’s first organizing convention, Change to Win leaders announced that the
Make Work Pay! campaign will launch on the week of April 24
with actions targeting major industries in more than 35 cities.
I was fortunate enough to be there along with President
Seaquist as we joined in the planning of Labor’s future.
The Make Work Pay! campaign is about restoring the
American Dream. “It is about ensuring that millions of taxpayers who are working harder and longer with less to show for it
are able to be part of the American middle class,” said Anna
Burger, Chair of Change to Win.” She added “We are fighting
so that individuals who work hard can earn paychecks that
actually support families; receive affordable health care, have
the chance to give their children a better life and count on a
secure retirement.
The campaign’s launch week will activate Union members
and community allies across the country to support efforts by
workers to unite. The seven union affiliates that make up
Change to Win are forming local cross-union campaign teams
that will work together as single entities to unite workers in their
cities in an effort to make work pay.
The Make Work Pay! campaign is a unified effort that encompasses the individual campaigns of the Change to Win affiliates. But instead of each of these campaigns existing as the
effort of just one union, the campaigns will receive the support
and action of the other Change to Win unions at all levels.
Doug Mork to Lead Organizing Department
Change to Win (CTW) Minnesota support each of their fellow
partners for events each day during the Week of Action.
Monday, April 24 at the Carpenters Union Hall, CTW held a
reception to kick off the Change to Win Week of Action with
CtW Federation President Anna Burger, IBT Executive Vice
President Tom Keegel, local leaders, newly organized workers,
and elected officials.
Tuesday, April 25 in front of Regions Hospital in St. Paul, the
UFCW and Wake Up Wal-Mart, along with our CTW partners
and community supporters rallied to “Help Cure the Wal-Mart
Health Care Crisis” and draw attention to the fact that Wal-Mart
does not provide adequate health care coverage to its employees.
Wednesday, April 26, we joined together with the Laborers, the
Carpenters, and the community for “Where’s DOLI” Day at the
Hill. It was a morning to lobby Legislators to pressure the
Department of Labor and Industry to enforce existing laws and
protect workers.
Thursday, April 27, in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, we
supported our Teamster brothers and sisters in a rally to highlight the negative business practices of BFI waste haulers as
they bid for a contract with the Minneapolis City Council.
Friday, April 28, in front of the Holiday Inn Select, Bloomington
we gathered with UNITEHERE! for a wake up call to the right of
workers to unite without intimidation from their employer.
Saturday, April 29, took us to the front steps of the Capitol, St.
Paul for a rally with parents, school bus workers, SEIU and
elected officials to drive up standards in the pupil transportation
industry and improve service, employment and safety.
In Minnesota CtW represents over 140,000 workers in the following unions: the International Brotherhood of the Teamsters,
Laborers’ International Union of North America, UNITE HERE,
Service Employees International Union, United Food and
Commercial Workers International Union, and United
Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America.
After almost ten years of relationship with Local 789 as a
founding member of the Twin Cities Religion and Labor Network and a West Side pastor,
I am delighted to join the staff of this strong advocate for working people in Minnesota.
After the mentorship and encouragement of Paul Wellstone during my college years, I
headed straight to the Deep South to organize garment and textile workers for ACTWU,
one of the predecessor unions to UNITE-HERE. After six years as an organizer, organizing director and business rep I returned to Minnesota to attend seminary. For the past 9
years I have been working as a pastor in St. Paul and Burnsville while continuing to
work on a variety of labor struggles around the metro. I come to Local 789 with a great
passion for organizing. As Organizing Director my focus will be on organizing the unorganized, building successful campaigns in our core industries and building the power of
our members in the metro, Western Wisconsin and in strategic locations throughout
Minnesota. I look forward to working with you and perhaps even recruiting you to be part
of one of our campaigns to bring justice and dignity to workers at an employer near you!
Workers’ Issues
Speaking Out on Issues that Effect Workers.
I Work For Free!!
-- Shirley Muelken
What? No one works for free you say?
Well, first of all, I define working for free
as-volunteering- but the working for free
I’m writing about is the four dreaded
words: “working off the clock”.
The last several months I have been
involved with negotiating several nursing
home contracts. One of the very common problems in all of our nursing
homes in our Union is—too much work
and not enough time to get all the work
done. Even if there isn’t enough time to
“get it all done”, working off the clock is
NOT an option!!
There are many reasons not to work
off the clock, I will sight two of them here:
1. If you are not punched in (to work),
and you slip and hurt your back, or you
cut your finger off, how does workers
compensation work? Workers compensation MUST cover all medical expenses
and lost wages (after the first three days)
in any work related incident.
“I Get So Angry”
-- Jeanine Owusu
This is what I have heard from
employers and Union members. “I
get so angry when that person does
not listen to me.” I get so angry
when “I think someone is disrespecting me.” “I get so angry when someone looks at me sideways.”
This goes on and on. At some
point both parties need to take a step
back and find a different approach,
“anger” is like two bulls in a china
shop with no way out.
When you are angry no one is
going to get what they need or want
because no one is listening to what
is being said or what is not being
said.
Some of this information comes
The bigger question is when the
Occupation Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) comes in and
does an investigation, asking who? what
circumstances? where? when? did this
incident happen. Based on OSHA findings, your employer my incur huge fines
depending on what the investigation
reveals.
When your employer is fined (or even if
they don’t get fined) you could be disciplined for “working off the clock”. The
discipline could be anything from a write
up, up to and including termination,
depending on the circumstances. This
alone, should be reason enough NOT to
work off the clock.
2. My second reason NOT to work off
the clock is an economic one. All hours
you work “off the clock” are hours not
paid, which means you are working for
free during that time. Here is the simple
mathematics of that decision: Let’s
assume a person makes $10.00 per
hour. If a person works off the clock 1
hour per day (5 hours per week, that is
260 hours off the clock in one year) at
$10.00 per hour equals $2600.00 per
from our recent Steward Training
Class on communication:
1. Expression: “Of all the things
you wear, expression is the most
important.” What is your expression
when you meet with your employer,
employee?
2. Leave rudeness at the door
even if presented with it. Treat the
person with respect. If you feel the
person doesn’t deserve that, treat
them with tolerance.
3. Listen twice as much as you
talk (that’s the purpose of having two
ears and one mouth).
4. Keep your anger in check.
year. If you normally work 2080 hours
per year (which is full time) and divide
the $2600.00 by the 2080 hours you do
work, guess what? You have just given
yourself a $1.25 per hour pay cut by
working FREE (off the clock).
The numbers are real. If you make
more than $10.00 per hour the pay cut is
even greater.
Your employer does NOT want you to
work off the clock!! Not only because of
the reasons mentioned above, but working off the clock is a Wage and Hour violation of the law, with big Department of
Labor fines attached. The potential consequences are too high for any employer
to let that happen. The pay cut for any
person foolish enough to work for free is
also too much for anyone to even consider working off the clock.
It’s real simple. Your employer doesn’t
want it, and you can’t afford the pay cut.
Give your employer your best performance for the time you are there, punch
out and go home. That is all any good
employer really wants.
If all else fails, try these steps to
manage your anger:
• Count to 10. When something
angers you, take three or four deep
breaths. Ask your self, will this really
matter a year from now?
• Walk it off. Find a quiet place
where you can think out loud and
take a second look at how you’re
reacting to a situation.
• Distract yourself. At work, dive
into a task, listen to relaxing music.
• Keep a log. You will help sort out
the real causes of your anger.
• Ask for help. If managing
outbursts seem impossible, don’t be
afraid to try counseling, meditation,
lifestyle changes.
“It is not the years in your life
but the life in your years that counts”
– Adlai Stevenson
people from other countries on how to do
their jobs and then they are laid off from
-- Caroline Larsen
their job. We have colleges and universities that have the ability to provide us
I am just flabbergasted at the article I
with engineers, researchers, computer
read in the St. Paul paper dated
programmers etc. Just this week I read
February 28, 2006 titled “Pawlenty seeks
about a computer programmer that was
more H1-B visas” (H1-B visas are given
driving a bus part-time because he is
out to skilled workers). Sen. John
unable to find work in this field. He was
Cornyn, a Texas Republican who chairs
fifty years old, I believe. Workers are
the Judiciary Committee’s immigration,
getting frustrated. If there are so many
border security and citizenship subcomshortages in many of these areas as the
mittee, appeared at a news conference
article wants us to believe, why do we
with Pawlenty. He said and I quote, “he
have so many workers still unable to find
shared the Governor’s concern about
jobs in these areas?
businesses out-sourcing in response to a
Currently, there is a national limit of
lack of skilled workers.” Am I missing
65,000 H1-B visas given. The real shortsomething here?
age the U.S. is facing is a shortage of
Businesses are out-sourcing because
unskilled labor. The jobs no one
they are saving money. They can get
wants. Why would anyone desire
cheaper labor in other countries to pros that the high paying jobs be pror
vide their services. The workers in
ke vided to immigrants from other counor
this country have to train these
t W tries rather than for the workers who are
H1-B Visas Are A Good Deal?
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“WE ARE WORKERS
NOT CRIMINALS!”
Among a sea of people, passionate about the rights of working
men and women, UFCW Local 789 Representatives, Organizers,
Officers and Members stood side by side with more than 30,000
others supporters as we marched to the State Capitol, demanding
dignity and justice for immigrant workers. We are all workers. We
are all human beings. We have a right to demand laws that treat
all workers with dignity and respect. The companies that exploit
immigrant workers are the criminals, not the workers.
already available and trainable who live
right here?
Our children want to go to college and
be able to find work in these fields when
they graduate. If the thought process is
that we will not have to pay for the education of these immigrants and thus save
all the money and cost of their education,
how smart is that? We expect our workers to provide for their families without
government assistance. Yet we want to
give the opportunities to work highly
paid, skilled jobs to someone from another country. Is everyone here too stupid
to do these jobs or what? I thought this
country had some of the best talents,
especially in the computer fields.
The Governor wants to remove the
visa cap completely and allow an unlimited number of skilled immigrants to move
here. They could potentially displace
current employees. Sounds good to me.
Ya, right!
Workers’ Rights
Fighting for the Right to have affordable Health Care Coverage.
BOB ADAMS, UNION MEMBER: We are
here to talk today about Wal-Mart and how
they treat their employees – whether or not
they pay a livable wage (which they don’t)
whether or not they provide healthcare (which
they don’t).
SENATOR BECKY LOUREY: “Minnesotans
are losing their health care coverage, an
increase of uninsured Minnesotans of 24% this is unconscionable. We are gathered here
today because we want everyone to pay their
fair share. I am the author in the senate of the
fair share bill and the disclosure bill. I am also
chair of the heath care committee. I say over
and over and over again, we are all in this
together. It is in the best interest of all of us,
for all Minnesotans, that those employers who
can afford to pay, pay. What we need in
Minnesota is affordable, accessable, quality
health care for every single Minnesotan. This
is urgent. It is urgent for the welfare and the
health of every single Minnesotan.”
H1-B Visas: ¿Buena Idea?
--Caroline Larsen
No puedo creer el articulo del 28 de febrero
2006, “Pawlenty en Busca de mas H1-B
Visas,” (los H1-B visas aplican solo a profesionales, académicos y ingenieros). Senador
republicano tejano, John Cornyn, el capaz de
la Mesa Nacional de Inmigración vino a una
conferencia de prensa con el gobernador
Pawlenty. El dijo <<comparto la opinión del
gobernador acerca de compañías exportando
trabajo técnicos a países con más sabios.
would want to live in with the mold and stuff
growing there – I have one son on (medication) and one taking weekly allergy shots
because of the mold in the place. If it wasn’t
for Minnesota care, God bless them, my one
son could not get his weekly shots, my other
son could not get his medication…If it wasn’t
for social security, we would be homeless. I
make $11.29 and hour. Based on a thirty-two
hour week, you add it all up and see if I could
raise my children. The CEO, how much
money do you need to live on – 23 Million a
year?”
REPRESENTATIVE TIM MAHONEY: “You
see on this sign 300 Million dollars of our tax
dollars going to pay large corporations that
should be paying their fair share. This is
unconscionable – this race to the bottom. This
race to the bottom has got to stop. Our working men and women and their families
deserve to have healthcare if they’re working
all day long. I don’t care if you are a sales
clerk, or a corporate exec., if you work hard, if
you work your eight hours, you should be able
to take your family to the doctor. When the
senator gets the bill passed in the senate, we
in the DFL are going to work tirelessly to get
these bills hearings because they have not
been given hearings. They have not been
even given a hearing in the House, because I
am sure there are at least a couple of reasonable republicans that would vote for these bills.
We should know. We should know who we
are paying all this money to.”
DANA, WAL-MART WORKER (pictured
cover): “I am a widow with three children; my
husband has died three years ago. Life is difficult. We live in a place – I don’t think anyone
¿Hay algo que no veo?
Compañías están exportando trabajos técnicos para ahorrar dinero porque pueden pagar
técnicos de otros países menos. Los profesionales de esta país tienen que entrenarles
como hacer el trabajo el luego regalarlo a
ellos. Tenemos predatorios y universidades
reconocidos donde estudian miles de ingenieros, científicos, maestros, computistas,
expertos en sus profesiones. La semana
pasado leí un artículo sobre un computista de
cincuenta años que esta cambiando de taxista.
¿Si nuestra país falta sabios porque hay tantos
buscando jale?
BOB ADAMS: “It is important to point out that
Dana’s story isn’t Unique. Wal-Mart is the
largest private employer in this country and
this story is repeated all over the place, thousands of times in the state of Minnesota alone.
This is about more than a little press conference. This is an issue for every consumer
and every Minnesota to look at. You can go to
the website: WakeUpWalMart.com and you
can get more information – you can sign on
and get all kinds of facts about Wal-Mart,
because it is a much bigger issue than this.”
Hay un limite nacional de 65.000 H1-B visas
por año. Lo que faltamos son obreros, para
hacer los trabajos que nadie quiere. Nadie
quiere regalar profesiones bien pagadas a
inmigrantes. Nuestros hijos quieren estudiar y
ganar posiciones buenas. Tiene que ser loco
para regalar estas posiciones a extranjeros
cuando tenemos las mejores universidades
del mundo que entrenan los meros expertos,
especialmente de computación.
Entonces sería una loquera para regalar
visas de H1-B a todo el mundo y dejar nuestros hijos sin trabajo.
BEAUTIFICATION DAYS AT UFCW Local 789
DAYLILY BEAUTIFICATION DAY
Please come out and help. Join us as we plant day lilies
around the UFCW Local 789 Kokaisel Union Hall.
Date:
Time:
Place:
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
12:00 noon to 7:00pm (stop in anytime
we will be gardening all afternoon)
UFCW Local 789 Hall
Pizza and refreshments will be provided.
(For all of you that don’t want to plant, you can help President
Don remove the rocks from the side of the building. Members
will be able to take the rocks home for their own gardens).
“Name the Garden” Party Contest
Local Women Plan Events
to “Plant the Seeds” of Solidarity
Among Union Sisters and Make Plans
to “Grow” the Union
There are all sorts of opportunities to get involved with
your Union. Try one of these fun filled events.
They are easy, fun and will allow you to leave a lasting
mark of beauty on your Union Hall.
The UFCW Women’s Network plants the UFCW Local 789
logo in the rock garden located in front of the UFCW Hall every
year. We do not have a name for the garden, if you can name
the garden, you could be the winner of a great UFCW Local
789 polo shirt.
Please email your entry to: Jeanine@ufcw789.org or mail to
Jeanine at UFCW Local 789, 266 Hardman Ave N, S St Paul
MN 55075. The winner will be announced on May 30, 2006 at
the Gardening Party.
If you would like to help plant this garden you are cordially invited to come-on out and get your hands dirty.
We will be planting on:
Date:
Time:
Place:
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
12:00 noon to 6:00 pm
UFCW Local 789 Hall.
Please bring your expertise and your gardening tools. If you
would like to contribute your own flowers or bulbs, bring them
down too! It is a Party, so Refreshments will be provided.
Sponsored by the UFCW Local 789 Women’s Network.
THEY SAID, “IT COULDN’T BE DONE”
-- Howard Kern
How many of us have had occasions where we had a goal we really
wanted to accomplish only to be told
it was impossible to even try to do it?
Many times, we were given reasons
why it wouldn’t work – it’s stupid, you
don’t have a chance or, why don’t
you quit while you’re ahead? This is
exactly what happened when Local
789 and our members at the Festival
stores joined forces with community
and neighborhood groups in Vadnais
Heights. This community was facing
a special use request by Wal-Mart to
build a super store in their area.
Everyone told them that when WalMart wants something, you can’t stop
them. They’re too big and powerful.
They have all the resources they
need to fight any battle and win:
- They have high-powered attorneys
and lobbyists who know all the
angles and they are ready to use
them.
- They have money to burn.
- They have a reputation of getting
their way.
- And, if all else fails, they are not
above making “shady deals”.
Our members at Festival wouldn’t
let these overwhelming odds deter
them. They decided to fight anyway.
They went into the neighborhoods
and talked to the citizens; they went
to City Hall in droves to attend
Planning Commission meetings; they
filled the chambers when the City
Council met. When Wal-Mart tried
their tactic of postponement, they
would just attend the next meeting.
They refused to be deterred. When
the City Council finally met regarding
Wal-Mart’s application for expansion,
Local 789 had done their homework.
The Union hired professional traffic
analysts who were able to refute
Wal-Mart’s flawed traffic reports. In
addition, the Union hired an attorney
to present the community’s objections to Wal-Mart.
These actions resulted in a favorable outcome in both the Planning
Commission and the City Council.
Wal-Mart was STOPPED! Granted,
the war isn’t over, but the combined
efforts of UFCW Local 789 and
members of Festival Foods as well
as community and neighborhood
groups won this battle. Even though
the odds are overwhelming, when we
join together and unite, we have
power, and, in this case, victory was
ours!
Workers’ Report
Minutes from the Local 789 Executive Board.
Reports from Member Organizations.
Executive Board Meeting
April 4, 2006
President Seaquist called the meeting
to order at 6:15PM and a quorum was
declared. Roll call showed all members
present except the following: Absent
was: Ruth Zeman. Excused were:
Howard Kern and Rafael Espinosa.
CORRESPONDENCE & APPEALS
We received a request for endorsement of the actions of the people gathering at a town meeting on May 13,
2006 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm in concern
of global warming; Ruth Andre made a
motion to approve the endorsement;
Bob Adams seconded; motion passed.
We received a request of payment of
the 2006 Minnesota Fair Trade Coalition
dues of $300.00; Paul Finkenhoefer
made a motion to approve payment;
Jeff Swant seconded; motion passed.
We received a request for $100.00 for
food for an AFL-CIO Fundraiser event
on April 29, 2006; Bob Adams made a
motion to donate $100.00 in gift certificates; Loren Murphy seconded; motion
passed.
We received a request for a donation
from the Institute for Local Self
Reliance; Bernie Hesse made a motion
to donate $500.00; Bill Bauer seconded; motion passed.
We received a request to advertise in
a booklet given at the Annual Social
Justice Dinner on April 15, 2006; Paul
Finkenhoefer made a motion to purchase a 1/8 page ad for $50.00; Bob
Klingner seconded; motion passed.
ACTIONS NEEDED
The minutes of the March 7, 2006
Executive Board Meeting were distributed; Ruth Andre made a motion to
approve as printed and concur with the
recommendations of the Executive
Board; Loren Murphy seconded; motion
passed.
Jeff Swant made a motion to approve
the expenditures of the most recent
report of income/expenditures and
check register as printed; Bill Young
seconded; motion passed.
We received a bill from Jensen, Bell,
Converse and Erickson for $3,927.80
for services rendered; Jeff Swant made
a motion to pay; Duane Geske seconded; motion passed.
Paul Finkenhoefer made a motion to
approve payment of a retainer of
$2,000.00 to Tom Casey regarding the
Midway Target; Bob Klingner seconded;
motion passed.
Paul Finkenhoefer made a motion to
file a request for monies for a bill to be
submitted by Bill Smith for the traffic
study for the Midway Target; Ruth
Andre seconded; motion passed.
Bob Klingner made a request to pay
up to 10 memberships to the Women’s
Network at $25.00 each member; Paul
Finkenhoefer seconded; motion passed.
Local 789 received a check for
$948.00 from a previous member for
the back dues he owed from crossing
the picket line back in 1990. Bob
Klingner made a motion to send the
$948.00 plus additional monies to send
a total of $2,000.00 to our members at
Buffalo Lake’s Minnesota Beef; Ruth
Andre seconded; motion passed.
We hired Doug Mork on staff as a
lead organizer. Doug and the Executive
Board introduced themselves.
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
The Oversight Committee will be
meeting immediately after the Executive
Board Meeting today.
Local 789 staff followed up with the
members at Dakota Premium regarding
the members’ concerns that were raised
at the March General Membership
Meeting.
Secretary/Treasurer, Jennifer
Christensen discussed the Jennie-O
Class Action suit.
The Long Prairie Packing members
will be voting on their contract tomorrow.
There being no further business, the
meeting was adjourned at 6:56PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Caroline Larsen
Recording Secretary
Sauer Memorial Nursing Home—the Rest of the Story
Shirley Muelken
In the last issue of Insight, I wrote an extensive article about the concessionary contract we
were forced to negotiate at Sauer Memorial Nursing home in Winona.
Because our Union members at Sauer are so committed to “their” residents and keeping the
nursing home open, the concessionary contract was ratified in early February. Hopefully, due to
some drastic changes in their Union Contract, (read: benefit reductions), next year at this time I
will be able to report that Sauer Memorial nursing home has made a miraculous recovery and
their doors are still open. Stay tuned.
To my fellow YOUNG members:
I use the word young to refer to the new
members to our local. I’m writing to you as
Local 789’s newest intern. I have worked at
Rainbow Foods for five years and I even
consider myself to be a young member.
First of all, I would like to say welcome and
it’s an honor to be your fellow member.
Starting off in a new place can be frustrating
with learning new skills, adapting to different
schedules, meeting new people, and overall
having the stress of a different environment.
Many people don’t realize that they are a
part of a Union even if they start on the bottom of the totem pole. Throughout the
years, I have heard many newcomers say
that the Union is only there for the employees who have been there a long time. The
clarification is that everyone is a part of this
group. This Union has fought hard over the
years for both full-time and part-time
employees.
We, as your Local, see the young members as an untapped and insightful resource
that, with your input, will lead us into the
future and strengthen our backbone. I, and
the people that represent you, want and
need your suggestions. Feel free to call the
Union office at any time and talk to your
Representatives or Organizers. They want
you to share your perspectives with them
because sometimes the young members
have unique ideas.
Once you’re apart of the Union, you are
entitled to the simplest basic rights of being
a worker. Many young members are not
aware to what extent those rights extend. I
recommend that young members find your
contract and read through it right away.
Take a look and see what rights are given
to you. An important thing to remember is
that in a Union, management doesn’t
always have the final word. The Union
requires “due process” for all employees.
When facing any kind of punishment, stop
and ask for your right to “Union
Representation” and let them speak on your
behalf.
Next time you see your Union Steward at
your work place, talk to them. Ask them
questions about their experiences, Union
history, or the rights that you – as an
employee – have in your work place. I
encourage veteran members to take new
employees aside, start up a conversation
with them, take them under your wing, and
assure them that there is a Union that they
are a part of and that it will fight for their
working rights.
I would also encourage young members
to get involved. The Union throws great
get-togethers with other members. There
are ice fishing contests, car shows, bowling
and softball tournaments, monthly meetings, internships and more.
Long Prairie Packing Ratifies Contract
--Tom Oswald
After a long and very difficult contract negotiations, Long
Prairie Packing Union members ratified a new 5-year
Agreement. First of all, I want to thank the Negotiation
Committee for standing up for what they believe in. They
worked many hours on top of working a full day before we
even started negotiations. Never giving up on what they
thought was important for their co-workers in the plant. It is
never easy being involved in contract negotiations but they
all did a GREAT JOB!
UFCW Local 789 Members working in the plant received
the first proposed offer and it was voted down by a large percentage of the Membership. This sent the Negotiating
Committee and the Company back to the table to fight for
another offer.
It took some time to get another offer and on April 5th
2006, the members voted to except the new offer. This
Agreement did not give all we wanted, but it does keep Long
Prairie Packing Union Members at the top of the pay scale
across the country for another 5 years! Along with keeping
the tool allowance on the weekly paycheck. Not to forget the
$1000 bonus for the first year.
I am proud of all the members because they stood together and voiced their opinion. That is what being UNION is all
about! Having a voice in your workplace. Not just having a
company tell you what you will get for wages and working
conditions.
I thank all the members of UFCW Local 789 for their
patience, hard work and most of all for their involvement.
Without the members of this Union, there would be no
Union.
Remember, you have rights, guaranteed
under the contract, that the union has
fought hard for. Again, read through your
contract and try to become familiar with it. If
you have any questions, just ask other
members, Stewards, or call the Union and
ask for your Representative at 651-4516240. Keep in mind that this Local Union is
driven by its membership and we believe it
to be a very strong local. Only with the
combined contributions from all our members, can we bring solidarity to the highest
level it has ever been.
See you around,
Ryan Mortensen
Los Trabajadores del Long Prairie
Renovaron Su Contrato
--Tom Oswald
Después de negociaciones duros los trabajadores de
Long Pariré ratificaron un acuerdo de 5 años. Por
empezar quiero agradecerme al Comité de Negociación
para pelear sus posiciones. Ellos quedaron muchas
horas negociando después de su día del trabajo. Los
negociantes no dejaron de pelear para mejorar sus
condiciones del trabajo. No es fácil negociar un contrato pero ellos lo hicieron. ¡Bien Hecho!
Los miembros del UFCW 789 negaron la primera
oferta de la compañía, mandando el Comité de
Negociación y la compañía a la mesa otra vez.
Tardaron más de una mes para ganar otra oferta. El
día cinco de Abril del 2006 los trabajadores votaron
para aceptar la nueva oferta de la compañía. No
lograron a todo lo que quiso la gente pero mantenemos
los sueldos, unos de los más altos del país. También
quedamos con pago semanal por la herramienta y un
bono de $1000 dólares por la ratificación del contrato.
Soy orgulloso de los miembros que defendieron sus
derechos. Por eso existe la unión, para defender al trabajador, no para dejarle en las manos de la compañía.
Agradezco todos los miembros del UFCW 789 por su
apoyo y paciencia. Sin ustedes no hay unión.
Workers’ Time-Off
Fun Things for Local 789 Members Do.
7th annual
UFCW Local 789
Car show
KAPOSIA DAYS
PARADE
FRIDAY
JUNE 23, 2006
6:00PM – 9:00PM
Sunday, May 21, 2006
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
UFCW 789’s Union Hall
266
6 Hardman
n Avee N - South
h Stt Paull
D a s h
P l a q u e s
&
T r o p h i e s
PRE-REGISTRATION $3.50
Must Be Submitted No Later Than Thursday,, Mayy 18,, 2006
6
SAME DAY REGISTRATION $5.00
A T T E N T I O N
All Union members, friends and family of UFCW Local
789 are welcome to participate in this FUN SUMMER
EVENT.
A L L
C R A F T E R S
3rd ANNUAL
CRAFT SHOW
Everyone is welcome to join us in walking and/or
riding in this years’ parade.
WILLL BE
E HELD
D INSIDE
E THE
E UNION
N HALLL
Food
d and
d Fun
n Insidee Building
g
R A I N
This is a fantastic way to become involved in YOUR UNION!
O R
S H I N E
E V E N T
A BIG THANKS TO OUR SPONSERS
For More Information Contact
Tom Oswald at the Union Office
651-451-6240
ALL PROCEEDS FROM THIS EVENT DONATED TO:
TO/hd/Opeiu #12
ST. CROIX VALLEYCHRISTIANS IN ACTION CAR CARE MINISTRY
For More Information or a Pre-Registration Form Please Contact Marietta at: 651-452-8988)
TO/hd/Opeiu#12
Support Minnesota Beef Workers
-- Shane Bastien
Minnesota Beef closed their doors on February 21st only three months
after winning their hard fought union contract. According to the company, they closed their doors due to financial trouble aggravated by the
international market. In plain English that means 125 people out of
work.
For many workers, County programs are either insufficient or unavailable. We at 789 are coordinating the community effort to help the workers though this difficult time. In the past couple of months thousands of
dollars in food and rent assistance have been donated. The Mayor of
Buffalo Lake, the County, and local Churches have stepped up to assist
the workers in their time of need and you can too. Help our Union
Brothers and Sisters in their time of need.
Make a check out to:
The Minnesota Beef Dislocated Worker Fund
and mail it to the Union office:
266 Hardman Ave, South St. Paul, MN 55075
“Solidarity Forever”
Defensa Comunitaria por los Trabajadores de
Minnesota Beef
-- Shane Bastien
Minnesota Beef cerró el 21 de Febrero, tres mese después de ganar
su primer contrato. Según la compañía cerró por razones económicas
agraviados por el comercio internacional. En términos reales dejaron
125 personas sin trabajo.
La unión 789 encabezó el movimiento comunitario para aliviar a los trabajadores. La comunidad y la unión distribuyeron miles de dólares de
apoyo a los trabajadores por comida y renta. La alcalde, las iglesias y
el condado defendieron los trabajadores y Usted se puede también.
Manda un cheque a:
The Minnesota Beef Dislocated Worker Fund
266 Hardman Ave, South St. Paul, MN 55075
<<Hasta la Victoria Siempre. >>
May/June 2006 Volume 18, No. 3
NONPROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
ST. PAUL, MN
PERMIT NO. 816
Jennifer Christensen
Shirley Muelken Caroline Larsen
Meat Pension Office
1.800.531.2385
ORGANIZING DEPT.
Bernie Hesse, Spec.Proj. -239
Doug Mork, Lead Org. - 241
Shane Bastien - 226
Jenny Shegos - 240
OFFICERS:
President: Don Seaquist
Sec/Treasurer:
Jennifer Christensen
Recorder: Caroline Larsen
Vice Presidents:
1st Paul Finkenhoefer
2nd Duane Geske
3rd Marjorie Schwartz
4th Ruth Andre
5th Garry Busse
6th Bernie Hesse
7th Lauri Anderson
8th Ruth Zeman
9th Jeffery Swant
10th Diane Winter
11th Robert Klingner
12th Bill Bauer
14th Loren Murphy
15th Bob Adams
16th Bill Young
Published by:
UNITED FOOD AND
COMMERCIAL
WORKERS UNION
LOCAL 789
266 Hardman Ave.
S. St. Paul, MN
55075.
Editor, Layout and Design:
Jennifer Christensen
Your Union Representatives
Don Seaquist-235
Jennifer Christensen-228
Caroline Larsen-233
Shirley Muelken-230
Howard Kern-229
Tom Oswald-224
Jeanine Owusu-231
Rafael Espinosa-232
Tom Oswald
To leave messages for your
Union Rep. on the weekend:
Dial 651.451.6240 then enter
“2” and their extension:
Jeanine Owusu
TEAM: 651.642-0182
Howard Kern
Groc/Meat HealthCare
Administrator : 952.854.0795
Your Union Organizers
Kokaisel Hall, 266 Hardman Ave. N, So. St. Paul
Union Meetings are held on the
1st Tuesday in January, March, May and September.
1st Monday in November (due to the Elections).
UFCW LOCAL 789
266 Hardman Avenue N
South St. Paul, MN 55075
Grocery Pension Office
1.800.445.8542
OFFICE STAFF
Hilarie Magnuson-222
Gail Freeman 220
Twill Grove-227
Hall Rentals-651.437.2195
UNION MEETINGS
INSiGHT
Web : www.ufcw789.org
www.youareworthmore.org
Rafael Espinosa
Don Seaquist, President
E-Mail:
ufcw789@ufcw789.org
Bernie Hesse
In Solidarity,
Union Office: 651.451.6240
Toll-free: 1.877.UFCW789
Fax: 651.451.8227
Shane Bastien
Our members have recently suffered setbacks as their employers have sold, lost their
lease, or ceased operations. In spite of these disappointments, members have taken
action to support each other in difficult times.
Lake City Health Care Center’s management contract was sold from the Mayo system
to Ebenezer Society. This employer had other facilities that were unionized and therefore
were not hesitant to begin negotiations with local 789. However, when there is a change
in employer the new one usually looks toward reducing their labor costs as a factor in paying for the purchase. We reached a settlement with Lake City but not without huge anxiety and some concessions from our members.
In Buffalo Lake our new union contract lasted all of 5 months as Minnesota Beef has
closed the doors. The owner is actively seeking investors but the supply market for the
type of animal used at the facility is extremely tight. This is due to poor trade policy of the
US, foreign pressure and the fear of mad cow disease.
Our members working at the plant have been supported by us along with many others
in their community. Our union members have collected hundreds of dollars in donations at
our last union meeting and the bowling tournament. These donations are being placed in
an account specifically for emergency financial assistance. Churches, the mayor, the
states dislocated worker program, and other service organizations recognize the value of
these workers and are doing what they can to offer financial support. But with little other
industry out in central Minnesota, these workers will have to move to where the work is
available.
The most recent news is that Borders Books in the uptown area of Minneapolis has lost
their lease. The landowner is making conversions to condos and other retail in the location that the bookstore held. Our members at the store have been so supportive of our
efforts to unionize other retail stores. The organizing campaign that resulted in them
becoming members was the most creative and positive we have ever done. We are just
now beginning negotiations over the impact on our members. We will negotiate many
issues, from severance pay to transfer rights.
You may be reading this and thinking this can’t happen to me. As working men and
women we can’t be complacent. We must continue to fight for the rights we have built
upon over these many years. Workers demand for representation is still there, but is
negated by federal laws that give them very little protection in any unionizing effort. Our
political actions are directly related to the fact that our hard fought victories can be changed
with the swipe of a pen.
Jenny Shegos
Two Steps Forward and One Step Back
Important
Phone Numbers
Doug Mork
Final Word