Ra YLLMAGAZINE - UFCW Local 75
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RaLLY
Vol. 3, No. 2 Spring 2019
MAGAZINE
Foundation Provides More
Membership Benefits
Pictured: Winners of 2018 Steve Fricke Memorial Scholarships
Local 75 Star ts New Charity Foundation
Throughout the In our current economic state, we know Membership Assistance Program will
years, UFCW that our members may struggle to meet give members a chance to get back on
Kevin Garvey, Local 75 has obligations and reach those goals as well. their feet.
UFCW 75 President remained commit- For this reason, we have started the UFCW In the past, UFCW Local 75 has held
ted to providing service and support to our Local 75 Charity Foundation with the aim a golf outing to raise funds for Leuke-
hard-working members and communities of helping our members find success both mia & Lymphoma Society blood cancer
at large. Our mission has always been to at work and at home. research. While Local 75 will continue
give workers a voice on the job through Charity Foundation funds will go to be a committed partner with LLS and
strong, negotiated contracts with employ- toward providing opportunities such as donate to their cause, this year the golf
ers that ensure guaranteed wages, better the Child Care and Family Enrichment outing will raise funds for our Charity
healthcare & benefits, safe work condi- Reimbursement Scholarships for parents Foundation which directly benefits our
tions, and fair scheduling. These are the and guardians. Daycare and children’s membership. We want our members to
core benefits of union membership and activities are expensive and take a toll on be healthy, happy, and successful on all
what make membership worth fighting for family budgets. These scholarships help fronts. Local 75 plans to keep growing the
every day. to alleviate some of that burden. Foun- Charity Foundation and add even more
However, the value of union mem- dation Funds also go toward our $1,000 opportunities in the future to make this
bership does not begin and end at work. Steve Fricke Memorial Scholarships for possible. 75
UFCW Local 75 values the whole member, college-bound high school graduates to use
which includes life outside of the store or for tuition expenses. As college educa-
plant floor. Our members have families, tion becomes more and more difficult for
obligations, and goals for the future. This is families to attain, Local 75 wants to make
why Local 75 makes every effort to provide sure our members have help along the way.
our members with opportunities for dis- Even when members experience financial
counts, free events, scholarships and more. hardship, Foundation Funds through our Family Enrichment Reimbursement Scholarship Winner and Steve Fricke
Memorial College Scholarship Winner
Bargaining Update
Kroger Grocery and Meat Toledo ratified a new 44 month agreement last December. The agreement includes wage
increases in every year of the contract, improved health plans that include $25 office visits, shortened wage progression,
Bryon O’Neal and increased start rates for new employees. Also, the Grocery and Meat contracts were merged with new transfer
language.
Secretary-Treasurer
Newly organized first contract at Concord Nursing Home. The new contract includes wage increases. Prior to being organized, employees wages had
been frozen for 3 years. Additional negotiated benefits include: after 8 hours in a day employees will be paid at the overtime rate of time and one half,
improved language on forced mandatory work, perfect attendance bonus ranging from $150-$300, ability to bid on jobs, increased shift premium, and
training pay.
Silgan Can Company ratified a new 3 year agreement which includes wage increases, ratification bonus, improved vacation language, and maintained
health care plans in the Heartland Health and Wellness Fund.
Campbell Soup Company, after nearly 6 months of bargaining and a 85% authorization to strike, ratified a new 3 year agreement. The agreement in-
cludes wage increases, ratification bonus, improved vacation language, increased sick pay, and no increase in 2020 to members’ weekly health care cost.
Also language to transition to the Heartland Health and Wellness Fund during the life of the agreement. This will improve coverage and reduce cost.
JH Routh Packing ratified a new 4 year deal which includes wage increases, ratification bonus, longevity pay, attendance bonus, health care cost limited
to 5% per year to members, additional personal day, and increased night shift bonus.
The Great Scot contract expired in early March and has been extended. We expect to start bargaining in the near future.
Local 75 Supports St. Vincent
Member Life: Dan Mason
Hospital Strike
Dan Mason is a 20 year
clerk at the Walton Kroger
store. He works third shift
but during the day, he
raises Beef Cattle, on his
100 Acre family farm.
Currently, he has about 11
Cows, 2 Bulls and 3 Heif-
ers (a Heifer is a young
female cow who has not been bred yet). They are very healthy and he takes
good care of them. Below are pictures of the cows and a calf. He has to
keep them healthy by bringing them in periodically for regular check ups.
The Black Angus beef cattle will eat up at least 3 tons of hay in one season. In May, the UAW Local 12 nurses of St. Vincent Mercy
Dan harvests the hay from his fields with a tractor that rolls the hay. His Hospital went on strike over working conditions and
brother also lives close by and they help each other out. healthcare. Local 75 supported our brothers and sisters
There is a routine mating season. The bulls are put out between June and by donating 100 Kroger gift cards to the UAW Local 12
March. The mothers go through a 9 month pregnancy. The young heifers Hardship Fund, which will go to help their members
will be placed out to breed when they are about 2 years old. Young calves make it through the strike. Pictured are St. Vincent
are born in the spring and summer. Hospital nurses as well as UAW Local 12 President Bruce
Smaller cattle farms like Dan’s work very hard to reproduce, care for, and Baumbower along with UFCW Local 75 President Kevin
sell their livestock. This is Dan’s second job, and it’s a big responsibility, but
Garvey and Secretary-Treasurer Bryon O’Neal.
he enjoys the work every day. Thanks for all you do, Dan!
2
New Kentucky Law Favors Workers Easter Egg Hunts: 4.14
and Their Families:
“Accommodation for Kentucky
Pregnant Workers Act” Passes
The new state statute requires Kentucky employers to make
accommodations for pregnant employees. The act takes affect
6/27/2019. This statute requires that Employers must provide
Written Notice of Rights before 7/27/2019 to all associates and all
new hires going forward.
The Bi-Partisan Bill made
it through after two years
of lobbying efforts by
UFCW Members. Member Retirement
Pictured are lobbyists at
the Statehouse in
Frankfort, KY. Congratulations to Carl Webster
from Kroger 410 on his
retirement! Carl has 42 years
with the company and has
Examples of Accommodations:
worked at a whopping 86 stores
- More frequent or longer breaks - Temp. Transfer to less
throughout his career! He has
- Time off to recover from childbirth strenuous job
also been called the “Green Rack
- Modification/acquisition of - Modified work schedules
King” for his work in produce.
equipment - Light Duty
Thanks for all your years of
- Appropriate seating - Private space other than a
service, Carl. Enjoy your
bathroom to express milk
much-deserved retirement!
Eastern Gateway Community College & The Free College Benefit Program
Recently at the 2019 Labor Management Conference at Northern Kentucky
University, Eastern Gateway Community College President, Jimmie Bruce, spoke
during at presentation about expanding Union involvement in College initiatives.
Eastern Gateway Community College has been a partner of UFCW and several
other labor unions with their Free College Benefit Program which gives union
members and their families the ability to earn a tuition-free Associates Degree. The
program is unprecedented and is providing many of our members with the oppor-
tunity for a higher education with no out of pocket costs.
The college itself has been unionized since 2015. Although there were some tough
negotiations at the time, since then Eastern Gateway has made many strides to
partner with labor unions and make changes that benefit hard-working families. For
instance, the college is currently seeking to sell only Union-made apparel in their
bookstore.
At the conference, President Bruce was excited to meet UFCW Local 75 Union
Representative Latoya Mathis, who enrolled in the Free College Benefit Program a
few years ago while she was a member working at Kroger. Latoya, who is completing
her Business Management Degree with Eastern Gateway, spoke up at the conference
during the presentation to shed light on the program’s great benefits.
Are you or a family member interested in getting a FREE Associates Degree? This
benefit was made for our members, so take advantage and get started today!
Call for more information: 1-877-665-0075 ext. 3010.
33 UNITED FOOD & COMMERCIAL WORKERS LOCAL 75
Pension & Retirement Planning Seminars: Cincinnati 4/29, Dayton 4/30, Toledo 5/1 May Day Brunch: 5/1 Cincinnati Interfaith Workers On May 1st the Cincinnati Interfaith Worker’s Center (CIWC) held their Annual May Day Event. May Day came about in the 1880’s and was the fight for the 8-hour work day. Among many great speakers, was Scott Williams, a Professor at Wright State University, who became active in his Union (AAUP) during the 3 week strike at Wright State. He stated, as an affluent Business Management Professor, “I felt a little strange carrying my union card in my wallet.” However, when the University Management began to attack quality education, he realized the importance of his Collective Bargaining Rights and eventually became a strike captain. See his picture below with Mike Marowski, Brennan Greyson and Magda Oleanda from the CIWC. Visionaries + Voices Art Show & Auction: 5/3 Visionaries + Voices held their art show and auction on May 3rd. This event showcases many unique pieces which artists have been working on for the last six months. UFCW Local 75 is a sponsor of this great annual event and the V + V Program. There were four UFCW Local 75 Kroger Members who showcased their work in the show: Courtney Cooper, Diamond Snowden, Carlos Perez and Andrew Hostick. They not only call their V + V studio “home”, they have become recognized artists. We are very proud of all of their excellent work! Third Shift Workers Day 5/8 & Mothers Day 5/12 Our hard-working members who pull night shifts often don’t get much acknowledgment or visibility. National Third Shift Workers Day recognizes our awesome night crews who get the work done while everyone else sleeps. They unload trucks, stock, prepare food and orders, clean our facilities, and more! Thank you Night Crews for all that you do! Also, special thank you to all our hard-working Local 75 moms! We hope you had a great Mother’s Day this year. RaLLY Magazine SPRING 2019 4
Politics & Organizing
Recently, we achieved a momentous victory by passing protections for
pregnant mothers in the workplace with support from both
Republicans and Democrats. The efforts of UFCW Kentucky members
during Lobby days over the last several years not only brought this
Bill Benner, issue to the forefront but were the pivotal push on lawmakers to ensure
Organizing Director it was passed. These efforts will undoubtedly result in more healthy
& Political Coordinator mothers having more healthy babies.
Plans are currently being coordinated between UFCW Local 227, UFCW Interna-
tional, and other labor and community partners for our efforts to elect a Governor
and other Executive Offices in the Commonwealth. The current KY Governor,
Republican Matt Bevin, was the figure to pass “Right to Work is Wrong” and will
be challenged by the winner of the Democratic Primary. It is likely our Political
Action Team will begin an aggressive field program on behalf of all UFCW endorsed
candidates after the Primary Elections on May 21. In Ohio, municipal and other local
elections will be taking place. Chief amongst Ohio races will be Toledo City Council
(6 District seats) and Dayton City Commission (2 Commissioner Seats).
We are currently working to recruit members for the UFCW Political Action Team to assist in Ohio with Voter Registration, UFCW Working People
Surveys, ABC sign-ups and “Right to Work is Wrong” Education for several weeks during the summer in Ohio. Local 75 Staff is also working to recruit
Action Team members in Kentucky to assist with efforts after the Primary. If you are interested in joining the Political Action Team please contact your
Union Representative.
Ohio Lobby Day plans have been finalized for Thursday, June 19. Local 75 members will join our brothers and sisters from Local 1059 at the Ohio
Statehouse in Columbus. Carrying on momentum from the passage of the Reasonable Pregnancy Accommodation legislation in KY, we are working
with Ohio lawmakers to craft a similar bill. Additionally, based on Working People Surveys our Political Action Team collected over the previous year,
UFCW Ohio has been working with legislators to introduce Paid Family Leave which will be another focus of Lobby Day. With the recent scares from
contaminated produce and other perishable products, we are also working with some of our elected leaders to write a bill that would require “country
of origin” labeling on certain products.
Lastly, UFCW and other labor partners are monitoring the current Ohio Budget Process. Through amendments, lawmakers often sneak various pro-
visions into the Budget bill that could have a direct impact on working families and the efforts of UFCW to provide better benefits for our members
and their families. One such provision would make changes to current law that could devastate the Free College Program enjoyed by UFCW families.
We encourage all members and their families to contact their State Representatives and Senators to urge them to vote against any provision that would
negatively impact this benefit.
In 2019, the Organizing department has been capitalizing on the great work by DJ Totty from
UFCW Region 4, who helped restart the Local 75 Member Organizing Committee, during the
summer of 2018. Over the course of several weeks DJ trained Local 75 members to be organiz-
ers and they learned the process, laws and techniques used to organize a union. Skills included:
how to research a potential organizing target, the 5 Steps to Organizing a Union, and Your
Rights at Work. But this wasn’t just a classroom training. Members put this training to use as
they made hundreds of contacts with non-union workers utilizing a wide variety of traditional
and new tactics and methods including store blitzes, home calls, hand-billing and more.
As a direct result of those efforts, we are continuing to work with union supporters at a variety
of companies to build strong worker committees and will undeniably lead to future organizing
wins and growth of our union family. We will continue to build on this program and are
Members during Member Organizing Training Summer of 2018 currently recruiting more candidates for the Member Organizing Committee. If you are
interested, please contact your Union Representative.
Changing times call for changing ways in how workers communicate. This requires us to change how we communicate to them. In addition to growing
the Member Organizing Committee, we have started implementing some new tools and technologies allowing us to communicate with more workers,
more often. Updates to the website will provide non-union workers more information on not only how it is possible to negotiate for a better life, but
also, why UFCW Local 75 is the best suited to help them do that. To get this message out to more people faster, we are working to grow our presence
on social media and utilizing targeted advertising to solicit more organizing leads.
Through the UFCW international, Local 75 has been trained to use new software that allows us to have real text conversations with hundreds of work-
ers at the same time. If you or someone you know could benefit from organizing a union in their workplace please ask your Union Representative to
get you in contact with our organizing department.
5 UNITED FOOD & COMMERCIAL WORKERS LOCAL 75
Contract
ENFORCEMENT
Vendor Stocking: Unscheduled Hours Affect Your Hours
The Kroger company sent in non-contractual vendors to stock Frozen Seafood and
work the seafood/meat cases. This is a direct violation of the Collective Bargaining
Agreement. Also, these were unscheduled hours, where work was being done. That
means the Operational Elms Hours will be less- because the company only sees
that the work was done in so many scheduled hours. A grievance was filed and
after investigation a settlement was reached in the amount of $748. Paige Stephens,
If your hours are being cut and you see Management Work/Vendor Stocking in Union Representative
your store- exercise your Rights and contact your Union Steward or
Representative.
Wage Rate Correction
A Kroger member who had been with the company since 2014 was presented with
the opportunity to become a Cheese Master in 2018. The member was excited
about the offer and took charge in the lead position. Unfortunately, the company
failed to pay the member the correct wage rate that reflected the new lead position.
This occurred for several months. After informing the Union Representative, a
grievance was filed. The investigation confirmed the error and the member Latoya Mathis,
received back pay in the amount of $2,854.10. The wage rate was also corrected Union Representative
going forward.
Contract Enforcement Defending Bargaining Unit Work
With the ever-changing landscape of technology and the evolution of the tradi-
tional grocery store format, it has never been more important to protect bar-
gaining unit work. Often the thought of someone assisting you with your work
is somehow looked upon as beneficial. Quite the opposite is really the case. That
“
assistance you are receiving is eroding the language negotiated through several
decades of contracts protecting bargaining unit work. Steve Wittekind,
Cincinnati Area Director
Recently Local 75 reached a settlement on a grievance with the Kroger company
totaling over $97,000. The grievance was filed on behalf of the membership at two
Northern Kentucky stores, 359 Bellevue and 901 Erlanger. The grievance addressed
bargaining unit work being done by a third-party vendor.
I always brag on Meijer. My experience with Wal
Mart was that they did not treat their employees
or customers well. I like Meijer and I like being
a Union Member! I could tell the difference in
having a Union my first week!”
-Claire C., Meijer 161
Claire worked at Wal Mart in the Lexington area
for 7.5 years. She has been at Meijer 161 for 2.5
years now. When you speak to someone that has
worked at Wal Mart- the largest retail company in
the country- it really hits
home how fortunate we
are to have the ability
to negotiate wages,
The Kroger company had partnered with the Walgreens company in creating Kro-
ger/Express. Kroger products are being sold in Walgreens stores and also utilized work conditions, and
for Kroger pick up orders. The third party was performing work of E-Commerce healthcare.
clerks inside these two stores. We have defined protection within our collective
bargaining agreement spelling out our work. We need to be conscious that any
partnership or coordination with other companies does not effect our protected Thanks Claire!
rights. If you see activities within your store that lead you to question something
please bring it to the attention of your union representative.
RaLLY Magazine SPRING 2019 6
2019 Bill Adkins Memorial
Member Golf
Outing
Kings Island Membership Appreciation Day
Wednesday, June 12th
$33 Tickets Ages 3 & up, includes:
Park Admission, Buffet 12pm-1:30pm, Soft Drinks 11:30am-2:30pm
* $12 Season Pass Holder Lunch Only
* Raffle Drawing Begins at 12:30pm
Get Discount Coupons from your Rep or online at www.ufcw75.org TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2019
Heatherwoode Golf Club
88 Heatherwoode Blvd., Springboro, OH 45066
REGISTRATION BEGINS 8:00 AM
SHOTGUN START 9:00 AM
Players must register and pay in advance.
$50 per player if registered and paid by August 1.
$60 per player if registered and paid between
August 2- August 17.
Cedar Point Membership Appreciation Day
Limited to 25 Teams.
Sunday, July 28th For more information, or to register and pay, contact
Save the date, more information soon
Laura at 877-665-0075 ext. 1951
STEWARDS!
Save the date for the 2019 Steward Seminar Save The Date
2019 UFCW 75 Light The Night Walk
Join our Team!
xhttp://ufcw75.org/member-‐resources/family-‐
https://pages.lightthenight.org/soh/Cinci19/ufcwlocal75
enrichment-‐scholarship/
or call us if you just want to join the walk
1-877-665-0075 ext.1951
Thursday, September 26 - Fraze Pavilion, Dayton
Thursday, October 10th - Yeatman’s Cove, Downtown Cincinnati
CINCINNATI/DAYTON
Tuesday, October 1 The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is proud to celebrate 36 years of partnering with
UFCW! To date, UFCW’s commitment to finding cures and saving lives has generated
Sharonville Convention Center over $85 Million dollars for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society! From golf outings, clay
shoots, Classics for a Cure, Light the Night and many other events, UFCW has been
instrumental in the game changing advances LLS has made. The treatments we have
TOLEDO pioneered, thanks to UFCW’s generous support, are now saving the lives of people
affected by many different types of cancer. The FDA approved 39 blood cancer
Wednesday, October 2 treatments in 2017 and 2018 - of those 39 drugs, LLS supported and helped advance 34
of them!
Bowling Green State University The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, our patients, and their families are deeply grateful
for UFCW’s support! We thank you for your commitment and passion in serving others.
7 UNITED FOOD & COMMERCIAL WORKERS LOCAL 75
Local 75 Staff and Membe
Ohio Treasurer candidate
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Dayton, Ohio
United Food and Commercial Workers Union
7250 Poe Avenue, Suite 400 Permit No. 342
Dayton, Ohio 45414
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Follow us
on Social
Media!
ufcw75 @ufcw75 ufcw75
Here’s what’s coming up:
JUNE JULY AUGUST
June 5
Steward Meetings
July 4 August 7
UFCW75 Offices Closed in Observance Steward Meetings
Of Independence Day
Contact Us
Toledo Office, 9am or 6pm. Toledo Office, 9am or 6pm.
Registration begins 1 hour prior to July 8 Registration begins 1 hour prior to DAYTON OFFICE (MAIN)
meeting. Cincinnati Area Retirees meeting. 7250 Poe Avenue
June 7 Receptions Fairfield @ 11am August 9 Dayton, Ohio 45414
Family Fun Day July 9 Toledo Mud Hens Event
Ceasar Creek State Park 11am-3pm. Fifth Third Field, Toledo, OH
Office hours 8:30-5:00
Toledo Retirees
Cookout 12pm-2pm. Prize Raffle 1pm. Toledo Office @ 11am Tailgate before the game. Phone: 877-665-0075
Free for Members and families. Bounce August 12 Fax: 937-665-0600
House Water Slide. RSVP to Laura at July 11
Dayton Dragons vs. Wisconsin Timber Cincinnati Area Retirees
877-665-0075 ext. 1951. Receptions Fairfield @ 11am
Rattlers CINCINNATI OFFICE
June 10 August 13
Cincinnati Area Retirees
Tailgate 5:30p-7p @ Dayton Appliance 11915 Kemper Springs Drive
Parts. Free Parking. Game @ 7p, tickets Steward Meetings
Receptions Fairfield @ 11am Cincinnati, Ohio 45240
$10. Contact Laura at 877-665-0075 ext. Cincinnati or Dayton Office 9am or 6pm.
June 11 1951. Registration begins 1hr prior to meeting. Phone: 877-665-0075
Steward Meetings July 17 Fax: 513-674-0025
Cincinnati or Dayton Office 9am or 6pm. New Steward Training Toledo Area Retirees
Registration begins 1hr prior to meeting. Cincinnati, Dayton, and Toledo Offices. Toledo Office @ 11am
TOLEDO OFFICE
9am-4pm. August 20
Dayton Retirees 7441 International Drive
Member Golf Outing
Dayton Office @ 10am Quarterly Membership Meeting Heatherwoode Golf Club, Springboro, OH
Holland, Ohio 43528
Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo Offices 6pm Registration 8am, Shotgun Start 9am. Office hours 8:30-5:00
Toledo Area Retirees
July 18 Must register and pay in advance. $50pp Phone: 877-665-0075
Toledo Office @ 11am
Quarterly Membership Meeting by 8/1, $60pp 8/2-8/17. Call 877-665-
June 12 Napoleon Office 1pm and 4pm 0075 ext. 1951 to register and pay.
Fax: 419-865-8674
Kings Island Membership July 24
Appreciation Day Summer Seminar SEPTEMBER EMAIL US!
Tickets $33, ages 3 & up, includes: 10a-4:30p Dayton Office. Registration
Buffet 12p-1:30p, Soft Drinks 11:30a- Required. Seats Limited. Contact your
September 2 info@ufcw75.org
UFCW75 Offices Closed in Observance
2:30p, Raffle 12:30p. Season Pass Union Rep.
Of Labor Day
Lunch Only $12. Discount coupons
at www.ufcw75.org or your Union
July 28
Cedar Point Membership Appreciation
Labor Day events to be announced www.ufcw75.org
Rep. RSVP 877-665-0075 ext. 1951 Day
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