Messenger Official Publication of Ufcw 1428, United Food and Commercial Workers Union
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SPRINg 2018 MESSENGER OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF UFCW 1428, UNITED FOOD AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS UNION Record $40K raised at Labor United Against Cancer! UNION OFFICE CLOSED May 8 SECRETARY TREASURER ’S REPORT Charity Golf Tournament May 28 Memorial Day July 4 Let Rosie Be Your Inspiration! Independence Day built everything from jeeps to planes to help the soldiers fighting abroad. This was an important moment for women in UFCW Local 1428 Office American workplaces. It was just a few years P.O. Box 9000 earlier that women had fought for the right to 705 W. Arrow Hwy. vote and now women were realizing that being Claremont, CA 91711 a housewife, secretary or phone operator weren’t Website: ufcw1428.org their only options. They could, if given the op - Email: [email protected] portunity, work in the factories or any other workplace they chose, right alongside men. Membership Department To many women, Rosie meant there was no (909) 626-3333 turning back and women were now looking to Benefits Department be equals in the workplace. (909) 626-6800 It hasn’t always been easy since Rosie and Office Hours: the other riveters helped our country win the war Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. in Europe and Japan. But there was no turning Closed noon-1 p.m. for lunch every day back the clock on progress. Rancho Federal Credit Union As a woman working in the grocery stores, I (909) 626-3333 ext. 6 would see many working moms or single moth - Attend quarterly membership meetings! Deliana Speights Secretary Treasurer ers who felt a great sense of pride that they had Held the second Thursday of a good paying job that provided for their family. January, April, July and October. My good paying grocery job allowed me to 6 p.m. n January, we learned that Naomi Parker Fra - UFCW Local 1428 ley, the original Rosie the Riveter of World work and pursue my education and earn a degree 705 W. Arrow Highway, Claremont War II, passed away at the age of 96. from Cal State Northridge. I When I think of Rosie, I think of all of my When I was hired by my local union to work sisters who go to work every day working side in the Benefits Department, I was so excited by side with men. They’re doing the same job, about having the opportunity to help my sisters but in many instances those women are paid and brothers who I worked with in the stores. much less for the same work. But I wanted to do more to help, and visualizing On average, women make $.77 for every dol - those images of a flexing Rosie and remember - lar a male counterpart makes per hour. ing my sisters who helped pave the way for me Official publication of Local 1428, I was lucky when I started 30 years ago in the United Food and Commercial inspired me to become a Union Rep and even - grocery industry. I was paid the same as men for Workers International Union tually the Secretary Treasurer of this union local. doing the same work. It didn’t matter if I was I consider myself lucky to have this amazing MARK RAMOS, PRESIDENT gathering shopping carts from the parking lot or opportunity to work at Local 1428. When I EDITOR working in the checkstand. I was paid the same started working at Market Basket in Marina del DELIANA SPEIgHTS, SECRETARY TREASURER as my brothers in the grocery stores. Rey 30 years ago, I never imagined I would one MANAGING EDITOR Our workplaces aren’t always perfect, but as day have the opportunity to participate in the ne - a woman I have always been proud that our con - (ISSN 1060-3840) is gotiations that affect my sisters and brothers in UFCW Local 1428 Messenger tracts are blind when it comes to gender. published quarterly by Local 1428, 705 West Arrow our industries. To me, Rosie has been an inspiration that I Highway, Claremont, CA 91711. Periodicals Postage Rosie the Riveter has always been about could do anything a man could do in the work - Paid at Claremont, CA 91711 and at additional mailing more than an image on a button or poster. She is offices. Send address changes to POSTMASTER: place. When I would see that picture of her with P.O. Box 9000, a powerful reminder that women deserve fair - UFCW LOCAL 1428 MESSENGER, her arm curled and flexing, I would become de - Claremont, CA 91711-9000. termined that no task or challenge was too tough ness and respect in the workplace. for me. Seeing the #MeToo and #TimesUp move - During WWII, due to a shortage of men to ments of today, this powerful symbol of strength work in our factories, many women were called and equality serves as an inspiration to Stand Up upon to do their part for the war effort. Women and Speak Out and together WE CAN DO IT! Spring 2018 2 PRESIDENT ’S REPORT Confronting the Threat of Janus v AFSCME n Feb. 26, the United States he is mistaken. These things were won at the The billionaires know if unions don’t Supreme Court heard arguments bargaining table over a long period of time have the ability or resources to communicate in a case called Janus v AF - by his fellow employees working together with their members and the voters, then the O SCME . The court is expected to as a union. rich will be in complete control of the polit - reveal its decision in June. Janus v AFSCME is not about a worker ical conversation. The result could be the worst threat to the feeling trapped by being asked to pay his fair Labor Movement in decades. share of bargaining and representation costs. Rising to the challenge Anti-unionists like to portray this case as This case is bought and paid for by the We in the private sector can’t afford to a matter of protecting “free speech” or a CEOs and billionaires who want to further think this doesn’t have anything to do with “right to work,” but it’s really about trying widen the gap between the super-rich and us because we’re not state employees. That’s to destroy the ability of labor unions to ne - what the barons of Wall Street want us to gotiate higher wages and better benefits for think. their members. There is an old union saying that has Let’s look at the specifics of the case. never stopped being relevant: “An injury to Mark Janus worked for the state of Illi - one is an injury to all!” nois in the 1980s before he left his job to When we in Labor face a threat like start a business. He returned to government Janus v AFSCME , it presents us with an op - employment in 2008. portunity to organize and become more ac - As a member of the American Federation tive and stronger. of State, County and Municipal Employees The Supreme Court appears likely to rule (AFSCME), he never refused a single ben - in favor of the billionaires in this case, and efit his union ever negotiated for him. He re - we in Labor have an important choice to ceived pay increases when the contract make. We can curl up in a ball and feel sorry called for them and he used his union-nego - for ourselves or we can fight back! tiated health insurance. He is earning a pen - We can fight back by making sure we are sion that his union fought for and preserved. registered to vote and then vote. Sign up for The problem is that Mr. Janus thinks he the Active Ballot Club (political check-off). should get all of this stuff for free. He Join your union in the fight to get worker doesn’t want to be a union member. He friendly candidates elected to all levels of doesn’t want to share in any way the costs Mark Ramos government. Join your union at rallies and that his co-workers bear to sustain the union President actions for our contracts or to support other that does so much to benefit him. unions in their fights. working people. They want unions out of We can’t just vote for someone because Freeloader the way so employees will meekly accept he or she is a Democrat or a Republican. We Imagine walking into the local office of whatever they’re told to accept. have to ask candidates where they stand on the Automobile Club and demanding the The rich folks who handpicked Mark issues like Janus and “right to work.” benefits of membership without paying for Janus for this case also want to silence the If a candidate tells you someone should them. How long do you think the club would voices of working people in politics. If they be allowed to benefit from others paying exist as an effective organization? can do that, the politicians will only have to dues and being a freeloader is OK, then that Mr. Janus believes others should pay answer to them and not workers. individual doesn’t deserve our vote. dues and he should reap all the benefits. Big business already outspends Labor 10 My union, your union, our union needs Simply put, he is a freeloader ! to 1 when it comes to politics. But unions all of us to care. If Mr. Janus thinks the state of Illinois de - have a secret weapon, which is a knowl - For too long we have waited for others to cided on its own to provide pay increases, edgeable and activated membership that can be our savior, but I have come to realize over health benefits, a pension, job protections volunteer on campaigns and vote in its own the last few years that we are the ones we and more to him and other state employees, interests.