JOIN AMERICA`S CAMPAIGN TO CHANGE WAL
Transcripción
JOIN AMERICA`S CAMPAIGN TO CHANGE WAL
JOIN AMERICA’S CAMPAIGN TO CHANGE WAL-MART ! WakeUpWalMart.com President’s Report Don Seaquist Change to Win Since its inception, our union has been a member of the national AFL-CIO. This summer we formally pulled out in order to build a new and more effective national labor organization. Change to Win is now the official name of this new labor federation. I have just returned from the founding convention, held in St. Louis, and want to update you on some of the details of this new organization. I have previously written about the reasons for us leaving the AFL-CIO so I won’t repeat myself as to why the change, but take a look forward into the future with Change to Win. Many international unions have recognized that as employers have grown in size from the mom and pop independent businesses to national and international corporations, unions must respond to this change. Our partners in CTW ( Change to Win) share the same philosophy that organizing is the lifeblood of organized labor. As employers grow and become more national in scope, then employees of these corporations must be empowered with their own national organizations. The UFCW is a perfect example of why this is necessary. When 70,000 members went on strike in southern California, it still wasn’t enough to have an economic impact on employers who operated across the country. Our members, along with the community who supported them, could not affect the revenue stream of employers with thousands of stores in other states. This is why we now must look at new methods of action to support our members and future members. The new federation partners will develop organizing strategies that are larger in scope than before. We will work together to identify and target the employers that now employ the vast majority of workers in this country. The sole purpose of this new federation will be to organize! We at 789 are familiar with the difficulty of organizing. Just this last year we won the organizing award for our region. We organized more new members then any other local union in UFCW Region 6 (MN, WI, SD, ND, IA, NE, IL, IN, CO) but even with these victories, our membership has remained relatively flat. We have had multiple employers close their doors in the last few years. A number of nursing homes, including Whitehouse, Lexington, and Summit Manor closed due to changes in state funding. Pabst Meats, a McDonalds suppler, ceased operations due to the importation of beef from Australia and moving production to the south. Our members have provided the financial resources and our union certainly lives in a culture of organizing. In meetings with our new partners in CTW, we expressed the opinion that a new bureaucracy is not an option and are pleased to say that our views are shared by our local friends and also at the national level. No leader of the new federation will receive a salary from their participation in CTW. That alone is a significant change at the national level and one we support. Our commitment to workers in our community and around the country is to inform and teach them about how they can empower themselves by being part of an organization whose sole purpose is to improve their economic situation and provide a louder voice on social issues. Cambio al Triunfo Desde su inicio nuestra unión ha sido un miembro del AFL-CIO, la confederación nacional de los sindicatos. Este verano salimos formalmente para construir una nueva organización del trabajo nacional. Cambio al Triunfo es el nombre oficial de esta nueva federación de trabajo. Acabo de regresar de la convención de fundación sostenido por St.Louis y quiero compartir con Ustedes algunos de los detalles de esta nueva organización. Escribí anteriormente sobre las razones para nosotros que dejaban al AFL-CIO así que no me repetiré en cuanto a porqué el cambio, pero tome una mirada adelante en el futuro con el Cambio al Triunfo. Muchos sindicatos internacionales reconocen que los patrones ya han crecido y que los sindicatos han debilitado. Tanto que los impresas mas chicos los sindicatos tienen que responder a este cambio. Nuestras camaradas del Cambio al Triunfo comparten la misma visión. Por los trabajadores los sindicatos tienen que seguir adelante organizando más impresas para fortalecer el poder del obrero sindicalizado. Las compañías están creciendo nacionalmente y mundialmente la unión tiene que crecer también para confortarlos por cualquier frontera. Setenta mil, 70.000, obreros salieron de huelga de un supermercado por California pero fue suficiente para vencer a la compañía. La compañía es nacional y suportaba la huelga con sus ganancias de sus otras impresas. Esta es la razón por la cual ahora debemos ver a nuevos métodos de acción para apoyar a nuestros miembros del futuro. Nuestras camaradas de la nueva federación están desarrollando estrategias más amplias que antes. Vamos a trabajar juntos para identificar y confrontar a las compañías más grandes del país. La justificación principal del Cambio al Triunfo es organizar para dar poder y dignidad al trabajador. Como la unión 789 sabemos organizar y las dificultadas que viene con ella. El año pasado ganamos el premio de organización por nuestra región, la región seis (MN, WI, SD, ND, IA, NE, IL, IN, CO). Pero con tantas victorias nuestro membresía ha sido más o menos igual. Varios dueños donde teníamos contrato ya cerraron. El estado quitó beneficios de los ancianos y algunos asilos cerraron. Una empacadora cerró porque sus clientes empezaban a comprar res de australia. Pero agradecemos a Ustedes, los miembros, para los fondos para manejar un departamento de organización. Nuestros camaradas con Cambio al Triunfo estamos de acuerdo que no queremos crear una nueva burocracia. Los líderes no van a ganar un salario para trabajar por la federación. Es un cambio importante del nivel nacional sindical. ¡Estamos comprometidos a los obreros del mundo para despertarles al poder que tienen y llevarles al triunfo! Workers’ Choices Members Negotiate and Vote on their Union Contracts Yikes! 260 Employer Contract Proposals --Shirley Muelken Part of the duties of representing our Nursing Home members, is correct “typos” and other language that had evolved over time that was negotiating Union Contracts. Most of our members don’t either obsolete, or needed changing in some way. However, a know how that process works (unless you good portion was substantive contract changes. have been on a negotiation commitThe good news is that the company is tee), so please allow me to represented by a very knowledgeable explain the process. attorney, which really makes such Prior to a Nursing a daunting task as slogging Home Union Contract through 260 contract proexpiring, (or a retail posals a little more palatcontract for that able. The other good matter), the news is that Don Union Seaquist (Union Representative President) is doing the meets with the negotiating for the members of that Union, (I am assisting) bargaining unit to and Don does a wondiscuss derful job of taking one needed/wanted proposal at a time, dischanges to their existcussing it, and moves on. ing contract. If there are “gray” areas of the contract I would be remiss if I didn’t salute that need to be clarified or the negotiating committee at Sauer changed, a proposal meeting is the Memorial. We have three Service and venue for membership suggestions or contract Maintenance members and two LPN members on our “proposals.” Other ideas for proposals come from members who want a committee (pictured on this page). They have been very engaged in the wage increase, more vacawhole negotiations process, tion, additional sick days or and have kept the best Seated across the table from President Don Seaquist are the negotiating in someway want to modify interest of their coworkers committee members from Sauer Memorial Nursing Home. Pictured from or change language in their in mind when considering left to right Sheril (Frame) Speltz, Nursing Assistant; Chris Springer, Rick contract. The proposal the 260 employer proposCornwell, Dietary Aide; Mary Gilbertson, LPN; and Lisa Kostuck, LPN meeting is where the Union als. Rep and the members forMy hope is that by the mulate the contract proposals they want to present to management at time this edition of Insight goes to press, we will have moved along in negotiations. the process, and we will be nearing the end of negotiations; or with any I held a contract proposal meeting with our members at Sauer luck will have voted the employer’s offer. Memorial Nursing Home in Winona, on June 30th, 2005. We formulatI share this experience with you to help you understand a small portion ed our proposals for the Service and Maintenance (S&M) contract, as of what a Union Representative really does with their time. In this case, well as the contract for the LPN’s at the facility. The S&M contract had traveling to Winona takes time; not to mention committing to our memseven proposals. The seven proposals were things like, a wage bers at Sauer Memorial that we will stick with the negotiating process to increase, and some minor suggestions to “fine tune” their contract. The the end, regardless of time, and get them the best contract we can. LPN’s had three (3) contract proposals, which were primarily economic issues having to do with wages and Health Insurance. We met with the employer for the first time near the end of July 2005. Belonging to a Union means having a voice, both We gave them our short list of proposals. Imagine the look on the negoindividually, and collectively. This is a right that nontiation committee’s face (and mine) when the employer gave us their contract proposals. Remember, combined the S&M and the LPN’s had Union workplaces do not enjoy. Be part of the voice about 10. The employer had 140 proposals for the S&M contract and a in your workplace, and make a difference…… mere 120 proposals for the LPN contract……..260 proposals in total. even if there are 260 contract proposals!! In the employer’s defense, a high percentage of their proposals, were to Secretary/Treasurer’s Report Jennifer Christensen Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price Brave New Films, a new production company dedicated to making cutting edge films about the most relevant subjects of our time, announced that it will theatrically release its first film, Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price, in select independently-owned theaters in New York and Los Angeles on Friday, November 4. Challenging the traditional release window, the limited theatrical release comes just a week before Premiere Week, when Wal-Mart will be shown at well over 3,000 screenings and house parties across the nation – by churches, small business owners, teachers, and others (including the Local 789 Union Hall). Due to an overwhelming response, trailers for the film originally released exclusively on the web will begin showing on dozens of screens across the country in early October. The trailers are parodies of Wal-Mart advertisements, starring among others James Cromwell and Frances Fisher. Robert Greenwald, filmmaker stated that “Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price is the story of one company using its power to destroy the fabric of American life, and it is impor- tant to us that as many people as possible see it. The theatrical release will only serve to increase the profile of WalMart.” Premiere Week, which takes place from November 13-19, will launch Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price utilizing the largest grassroots mobilization in film distribution history and we are joining in the movement. With over 3,000 screenings spread across all 50 states, people from all walks of life will have the opportunity to see firsthand the effect this corporate behemoth is having on the American family and local economies around the nation. More information on the movie can be found at: www.WalmartMovie.com. We will be showing the movie on the Big Screen TV down at the Hall (266 Hardman Ave. N., South St. Paul) on Friday November 18th at 7:00 PM. If you are unable to make the show but would like to see the movie, we will be happy to loan you a copy. All you have to do is host a viewing party with some of your friends and co-workers. Contact your Union Representative or Jenny Shegos in the Organizing Department for assistance with your event. Sign up ten people at your event and receive a free Wake-Up Wal-Mart T-shirt. It isn’t often that we ask you to become involved by watching television with your friends and family. Be an activist, be part of the grassroots movement to change WalMart and do it all without having to leave your living room! Coming soon to a Living Room near you!! Everyone has seen Wal-Mart's lavish television commercials, but have you ever wondered why Wal-Mart spends so much money trying to convince you it cares about your family, your community, and even its own employees? What is it hiding? WAL-MART: The High Cost of Low Price takes you behind the glitz and into the real lives of workers and their families, business owners and their communities, in an extraordinary journey that will challenge the way you think, feel... and shop. Sign up to Host a Movie Night at your House or Community Event! Sign up ten friends at your event and receive a Wake-Up Wal-Mart t-shirt! Contact Jenny at 651-451-6240 (toll-free 1-877-832-9789), or email: [email protected] Join us for the Movie and help us kick off our Holiday Campaign to Change Wal-Mart MOVIE SHOWING DATE & TIME: November 18, 7:00 PM LOCATION: At the Local 789 Union Hall 266 Hardman Ave. N., South St. Paul (651-451-6240) Workers’ Justice Supporting Workers Fighting for the Right to Earn a Living Wage UFCW HELPS MORE THAN 1,000 KATRINA-AFFECTED MEMBERS Relief Fund Exceeds $500,000 The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) members, constituency groups and local unions have opened their hearts over the past few weeks and generously contributed to the well-being of Hurricane Katrina victims. The UFCW Katrina Relief Fund has topped a halfmillion dollars, and representatives from UFCW Regions 3 and 5 have been using the funds to help more than 1,000 UFCW members affected by the storm. The UFCW has also been assisting members returning to their homes in New Orleans and other devastated areas in getting transition housing and jobs, as well as in cleaning up and rebuilding damaged homes. Additionally, several UFCW local unions have distributed food and have adopted members, and their families, who have been left homeless by Katrina. Shortly after the hurricane, the Local 789 Executive Board approved an initial donation to the general UFCW Katrina Relief Fund. Additionally, at the request of the Community Services Committee, the board authorized money to adopt a UFCW family affected by the storm. Local 789 has “adopted” a worker from the Louisiana Domino Sugar Factory. He is a single father with two small children. Our worker and his family have been relocated to Texas. Work is underway to repair and reopen the factory. With luck, the Domino plant should be operating in three months. UFCW Regions 3 and 5 continue their outreach efforts aiming at accounting for every UFCW member affected by the storm. Katrina-affected members can call 866-820-6141. While short-term efforts continue, UFCW members affected by the hurricane will be rebuilding their lives for some time, and the UFCW will continue sustaining members through this difficult time. Contributions can be mailed to: UFCW Katrina Relief Fund: Region 5 Council 1400 West Northwest Highway Suite 100 Grapevine, TX 76051 ONE TINY RIPPLE --Caroline Larsen That is how it starts: with one tiny action. When other members join the action, it can grow into a movement. We have been looking at the faces of poverty every day since the hurricanes hit. Did we not know poor people were there? Is this new news to us? I do not think so. The top twenty percent of the world’s population consumes eighty percent of the world’s resources while the bottom twenty percent of the population uses only one percent of the world’s resources. There are people in this world who live on $1.00 per day. There are people in this world that live in garbage dumps, foraging for food and things to sell. We need a wake up call. Food, clothing, shelter and work should be a God given right for every human being on this earth. We can make many excuses, and we do, every day, not to contribute to these human needs. We can share a little and help others when we have the time. That should fix the problem, right? IT IS NOT WORKING! We are not doing enough. When a person works at a job that does not provide a living wage, health care and retirement plan, they will have to rely on the government for assistance at some point in their life. That is if there is any assistance available. When people have nothing to live for they do not value life. The faith communities are trying to meet the needs of the poor, but they cannot provide healthcare. We need to start a movement to eliminate poverty! When there was a strong labor movement, labor attempted to negotiate wages, hours and working conditions that kept people out of poverty. They did a good job of doing just that. If there are good jobs, the economy will benefit. People can buy products, take vacations and share their good fortunes with others. Stockholders were happy with the growing economy too. In the last ten years or so, everyone has been getting so greedy. CEOs now make so much money. They are paid this excessive amount whether they do a good job or not. Man has no wealth without labor. What about labor? Are you one of those people who say we do not need labor unions anymore? Who will look out for the workers? Worker rights are human rights too! We need to reboot the labor movement. I have a choice where I can fight these battles. I am fortunate to be in a position where I represent many workers and working poor. I need to start a ripple: just one tiny ripple. Please join me. We can start something. I suggest that you and your co-workers refuse to shop at Sam’s Club and Wal-Mart until they pay their employees a living wage with proper health and retirement benefits and convince your friends and relatives to do the same. That can start the tiny ripple. After that, we can convince those in our religious community to do the same thing. One final thought. If you want peace, work for justice. Happy holidays! Who’s Aldi? ¿Quien es Aldi? -- Shane Bastien What most of us see when we go into Aldi’s is the low prices and the lack of name brands, appearing to cater to those of us who budget our groceries, but what is Aldi’s track record with the community? Where do they come from? What’s their game? Aldi is a relative stranger and that has to change. On a recent Monday, I met with the Equity Coalition to answer some of these questions and kick off our Aldi’s campaign in the University Midway area where two Aldi stores are under construction. One can always find the intent of something through its inception. Aldi was founded when Theo and Karl Albrecht were released from a US POW camp after WWII. Penniless they returned to war ravaged Essen and opened their first supermarket. From these disturbing beginnings Aldi grew to being the dominant grocer in Germany. Aldi has become known in Europe as a “hard discounter.” A “hard discounter” is a term for a grocer who slashes prices by forcing their producers to remove their brand names from their goods so they can sell them at little more than cost. However this creates unfair competition to supermarkets that lack similar leverage and puts pressure on food producers, creating an artificial market not based on production costs. For example: - 35,000 grocers in 2003 went out of business in Germany due to Aldi - German dairy farmers picketed in response to a 15% plummet in milk prices due to Aldi’s imaginary economy. - Opening stores: World wide Aldi is recognized as Wal-Mart’s main competitor. Aldi poses a threat to Wal-Mart by not only being able to slash food costs but by operating in a smaller more urban environment. This places them in direct competition with smaller markets, many of which are locally and minority owned. As for worker benefits Aldi proves no better. Each store employs only about seventeen people total including a manager and two assistant managers. There are no departments, everyone does everything. Shifts are irregular and apart from management no one is full-time. Although starting pay is decent, roughly ten dollars an hour, that’s where it stays, and with a stripped down management structure ability for advancement is negligible. Will other grocery stores survive when faced with artificially low prices or will the only choice left be Aldi or Wal-Mart? Que la mayoría que nosotros ven cuando entramos Aldi es los precios bajos y la carencia de las marcas conocidas, apareciendo como una buena oportunidad de ahorrar dinero, ¿pero cual es la expediente de pista de Aldi con la comunidad?, ¿de donde vienen? Aldi es desconocido y esta tiene que cambiar. Lunes el día tres fui y conteste estas preguntas por una reunión de la coalición para igualdad para empezar nuestra compaña para organizara a Aldi. Va a abrir dos impresas por University y el Midway. Uno puede encontrar siempre el intento de algo con su inicio. Aldi fue fundado cuando Theo y Kart Albrecht fueron lanzados de un campo del PRISIONERO DE GUERRA de los EEUU después de la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Sin dinero volvieron a su pueblo Essen ya derrotado por la guerra y abrieron su primer supermercado. De estos principios sombrosos Aldi llego a dominar Alemania. Aldi se fundió el práctico del “descuento duro”. El “descuento duro” es cuando el vendedor dirige al productor que le quita su marca para reducir radicalmente los precios. Sin embargo esto se hace la competición injusta a los de mas que tienen que comprarlo y venderlo al valor de la marca. Crea un mercado artificial no basado por la producción sino a lo gusto del Aldi. Por ejemplo: - 35,000 supermercados alemanes cerraron en el año 2003 por Aldi. - Granjeros de la leche levantaban un piquete en contra de Aldi por una plomada de 15% de leche dentro de Alemania. - Aldi es reconocido como el competidor principal del Wal-Mart. No solo es una amenaza a los mercaditos que han levantado algunos acá pero no trata bien a su trabajador tampoco. El sueldo es más o menos pero no le dan a nadie tiempo completo sino los supervisores. Además es casi imposible llegar a una posición alta por esta compañía porque tienen un sistema de mayordoUnion Organizer Shane Bastien is shown mos regionales. at a recent community meeting discussing the potential negative impact Aldi will have ¿Puedan sobrevivir otros superon metro grocery stores and their workers. mercados confrontados con los precios bajos de Aldi? Workers’ Issues Information on Issues that Effect Our Members PENSION: How Many Vested Credits Do You Have? --Tom Oswald During my store visits, I have had numerous conversations with Union members regarding their pension benefits. It concerns me that many of our Union members do not know if they have vested or not in their pension plan. Each year, every member who works in a position that requires an employer contribution to one of the UFCW pension plans will receive a pension update in the mail. This update is only an estimate, and there is a possibility that it may not be completely accurate. If you changed employers, Unions or job classifications over the years, it is possible that an error could occur. Even if you haven’t changed jobs or employers, mistakes in reporting can and do happen. To be sure your vested credits are accurate and accounted for you should check with the Pension Office periodically to verify that your vesting years and pension credits are accurate. That way, down the road when you are actually ready to retire and “pull” your pension, you’ll know that your vested credits are accurate and you can receive your pension in a timely fashion. If you have never checked on your vested credits with the Pension office you should seriously consider doing so. If, for some reason, their records differ from what your records reflect, it can be a time consuming issue to get it straightened out. It is better to find an error now and spend the time getting it corrected while you are still working, than to discover it when you are out the door, ready to pull the benefits, and are unable to because of the discrepancy. To make sure you have all the vested credits you‘ve worked hard for, all you need to do is contact the UFCW Local 789 Union Office at 651-451-6240 and request a “Pension Vested Credit Check Packet” be sent out to you. Please be sure to let our office know if it’s for the Grocery or Meat Pension because the packets are different for each pension. Also, be sure to verify your current mailing address and phone number with our office to insure you receive the information in a timely manner. The bad news is, when you receive your packet, you are going to have to fill it out. Both forms are simple to complete and require a copy (not an original) of your birth certificate. The forms require you to answer basic general questions that should take you approximately 30 minutes to complete. Note: if you do not remember or you don’t have exact employment dates it is ok, get as close as you can, noting the year in which you worked is generally sufficient. President Don Seaquist has contacted both the Meat and Grocery pension offices and is in the process of scheduling Pension information meetings for sometime in January, 2006. Experts from the pension office will be on hand to answer all your questions (including those on early retirement). Keep an eye on your bulletin board for exact dates and times. Again, if you have any questions, contact your Union Representative. If you have difficulty filling out the forms, we can help you with that as well. La Última Palabra Hay varios temas para exponer, las negociaciones de los asilos, las negociaciones de Minnesota Beef, nuestra nueva campaña en contra de Wal-Mart, el costo de la aseguranza, el retiramiento, etcétera, etcétera, la lista sigue. Son las remas que nos rodea y no van a disminuir. Los 8.000 miembros de esta unión merecen lo mejor servicio y los que no tienen la unión tienen que conocer a sus derechos. Por muchos han sido muy difícil para ganar el sueño americano y la unión esta puesto a apoyarles como puede. Algunos obreros nunca vayan a lograr este sueño. Con este conocimiento debemos luchar para cambiar al sistema económico que deja que los patrones ganan 431% más que sus obreros. Donde los patrones del Northwest, el aeropuerto, están cerrando y queden con sus bonus cuando sus obreros queden afuera con hambre. Es nuestra responsabilidad como obreros sindicalizados para confrontar a la injusticia que permanece a nuestra sociedad. No solo debemos pelear por nuestros derechos pero para todos los obreros. Cuando el obrero no alcance a llenar su tanque con gasolina tenemos levantar nuestra voz y cambiar el sistema. Si no los patrones aprovechan de nuestro silencio. In Solidarity, Don Seaquist, President Women’s Network Annual Fund Raiser is a Huge Success!! The Women’s Network Silent Auction Event Raised over $10,000.00 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. 100% of the money raised will go toward funding research to find a cure. Thank you to everyone who made this event out best ever. Thank you to all of you who answered our request for donations to the Silent Auction (see list of donors on page 9). Thank you to all of the Stewards, Members, Staff, Family and Friends who sold and bought tickets to the event, and purchased items at the Auction. Thank you to the Community Services Committee for assisting with the food (along with your other contributions), and thank you Gail Freeman and Lee Kern for making sure we got everything done right and on time. Members enjoy a brats a to music during th Future Union Members assist the Women’s Network with prize drawings Women’s Network Members Caroline Larsen, Suzi Johnson, Jeanine Owusu and Ruth Andre Members, Family and Friends enjoy a fun filled evening of giving Workers’ Giving and beverages and listen he Silent Auction Thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of this year’s event Anderson, Larson, Hanson & Saunders Jensen, Bell, Converse & Erickson PA T.E.A.M, Inc. Comprehensive Care Services, Inc. Zenith Administrators Wilson McShane Corporation Legacy Professionals, LLP McGrann Shea Anderson Carnival Graves 601 Hotel Wild Wings Minnesota Twins Mystic Lake Casino Treasure Island Resort & Casino Salon Etc. Hirshfield’s Rainbow Foods, Inc. Knowlan’s/Festival Cub Foods Cottage Grove Awada’s on Plato Cooper’s Super Valu Lund Food Holdings, Inc. (Byerly’s/Lund’s) Shirley Muelken Donna Kronholm Tinnucci’s Restaurant Laurie Anderson, Sue Flores, Mike Dreyer, Pat Eger Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Suzi Johnson Ruth Andre Estetica Salon (165 Western Ave) Chicilo & O’Hara Chanhassen Dinner Theatre Minnesota Zephyr Voyageur Asset Management Mike Dreyer Caroline Larsen Doris Toritto Jerry’s Cub Foods Pam Travis Gail Freeman Sue McKee Howard & Lee Kern Minnesota Vikings Susan Unger Tom Andring & Son Jean Schwab Curves (South St. Paul) Dale Earnhart, Inc. Cathy’s Racing Collectibles Diane Winter K.I.K. Corporation Nascar, Inc. Jo Romer Penske Racing THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR FUND RAISING EVENT! Members of Local 789 Working to Improve the Lives of all Working People Mark your Calendars!! Fun for the Whole Family!! Visit with Santa Enjoy Games, Food, Fun and Prizes!! Coloring Contest and Face Painting!! Annual UFCW Local 789 Kid’s Christmas Party Sunday December 4, 2005 12:00 - 2:00 PM At the Union Hall Call Tom Oswald at 651-451-6240 for more information. Sponsored by the UFCW Local 789 Community Services Committee. UFCW Local 789 Receives Awards for Excellence Local 789 was honored for our efforts at two recent events. This Summer, our newsletter INSiGHT received the following four awards at the annual ILCA (International Labor Communication Association) convention: Second Award for General Excelence, Second Award for Best Cover, and a Second Award & an Honorable Mention for Best Editorials. We were again honored when we received an award at the yearly Region 6 Education conference. The Local was recognized for the Largest Union Election Victory (for a Local with over 5,000 Members). The Award was for our 2004 organizing efforts. Thank you for supporting your Local Union in the Fight to represent the Organized and the Unorganized work force. Workers’ Time-Off Fun Things for Local 789 Members to Do Apply Now! Your Dream Can Become a Reality -- Howard Kern It is hard to believe that as I write this article, summer is all but over. Days aren’t as warm and the evenings are cooler. What happened to those long lazy days of summer? The first signs of fall – the State Fair and Labor Day have passed and a new school year has begun. For many of us, the start of the school year rekindles our dream to continue our education. We have always wanted to improve our skills or even change careers, but have realized that it would not be possible without further education. At the same time, we are aware that to do so, requires a big commitment of both time and money. Education can be costly. 2006 Kokaisel College Scholarships Congratulations! to the 2005 Kokaisel Scholarship Winners $1000 - Victoria Krezowski Cashier, Kowalskis on Grand $1000 - Moses Ngugi Nursing Assistant, Roseville Good Samaritan $1000 - Brian Hendey Cashier, Midway Cub Foods Not only does it take time away from home and family by requiring more of our precious time to attend classes and study, it takes a huge financial commitment as well. These costs can be used as an excuse for not pursuing additional education. Although nothing can compensate for the time away from home and family, there are some financial assistance options available to our members. One such option is our own UFCW Local 789 Kenneth W. Kokaisel Scholarship Fund. This scholarship is open to all UFCW members with at least one year of membership in good standing. If you would like more information on this scholarship or to receive an application, call the Union office at 651-451-6240. The International UFCW offers another scholarship option. In 2006, seven UFCW scholarships totaling $28,000 will be awarded to UFCW members or their dependents who graduate from high school and enter college in 2006. Applicants must be UFCW members in good standing as of December 31, 2004, or their unmarried dependents, and must be age 20 or under on March 15, 2006. Starting November 15, 2005, you can go to www.ufcw.org/scholarship and apply on line. If you prefer to have an application mailed to you, please send your request in writing to: UFCW Scholarship Program 1775 K Street NW Washington DC 20006-1598 Take advantage of one or both of these options and perhaps your dream can become a reality. Monday November 7th is MEMBERSHIP APPRECIATION NIGHT! over $3000 in Union Logo Stuff to be given away! Come down and WIN! 7:30 PM at the Union Hall 266 Hardman Ave. South St. Paul 651-451-6240 Monday, November 7th is Membership Appreciation Night! Nov/Dec 2005 Volume 17, No.6 NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID ST. PAUL, MN PERMIT NO. 816 OFFICE STAFF Hilarie Duval-222 Gail Freeman-220 Twill Grove-227 Hall Rentals-651.437.2195 Officers: President: Don Seaquist Secretary/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. SouthSaint Paul, MN 55075. Phone 651.451.6240; Editor, Layout and Design: Jennifer Christensen 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 Your Union Organizers To leave messages for your Union Rep. on the weekend: Dial 651.451.6240 then enter “2” and their extension: Shirley Muelken Caroline Larsen TEAM: 651.642-0182 Howard Kern Groc/Meat HealthCare Administrator : 952.854.0795 Tom Oswald Meat Pension Office 1.800.531.2385 Jeanine Owusu Grocery Pension Office 1.800.445.8542 Rafael Espinosa UNION MEETINGS 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 Web : www.ufcw789.org www.youareworthmore.org ORGANIZING DEPT. Bernie Hesse, Director -239 Shane Bastien - 226 Jenny Shegos - 240 Don Seaquist, President INSiGHT E-Mail: [email protected] Bernie Hesse In Solidarity Union Office: 651.451.6240 Toll-free: 1.877.UFCW789 Fax: 651.451.8227 Shane Bastien There are any number of topics to write about in this final word, from nursing home negotiations, first contract negotiations with Minnesota Beef, our new campaign against Wal-Mart, health insurance costs, retirement plan concerns, and the list could go on and on. The issues that surround us on a daily basis will not go away. The 8,000 members of this union deserve excellence in their representation and the workers who don’t enjoy the benefit of a union contract need to be empowered. The financial pressures that our members face need to be addressed and they look to their union to help them. They have found it increasingly difficult to enjoy the American dream. For some workers, this dream will never be a reality; and that should make us all to want to change our economic system that allows executives to be compensated over 431% higher than the average hourly workers’ wages. We are the only industrialized nation in the world where this occurs. When the boss at Northwest Airlines asks the bankruptcy court to approve the bonuses currently in place for the executives because their expertise will be needed to get them through their “situation”, we should be outraged. Have we just been conditioned to accept the arrogance of executive compensation? Part of our role as workers, citizens, and Union members is to expose the inequities in our society. It can be based on race, gender, religion, etc.; but we also should look at the growing economic disparities. When workers can’t afford to put gas in the car to get to work, we need to change the system. The ability to speak out on issues that we realize are unjust is our right and obligation as a free nation. When we don’t, we empower those who will take advantage of the silence. Important Phone Numbers Jenny Shegos Final Word