December 2009
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UFCW Official Publication of Local 1167, United Food and Commercial Workers Union December 2009 his poem was written by a Marine stationed in Okinawa, cold, lonely holidays away from their families. This is a well-known Japan, and was published previously in this publication. Once poem and we feel it is appropriate for reprint in the Desert Edge . Tagain, most of us will be filled with the pleasure and joy of being Regardless of your opinion on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, home with family and friends this holiday season. We often forget about please hold our soldiers in your thoughts this season. all of the men and women in the Armed Forces who will be spending — Bill Lathrop, President ’Twas the night before For this house was different, The children would play, My country, my Corps.” Christmas, It was dark and dreary, And grownups would celebrate The soldier rolled over He lived all alone, I found the home of a soldier, A bright Christmas Day. And drifted to sleep. In a one-bedroom house made of Once I could see clearly. They all enjoy freedom I couldn’t control it, Plaster and stone. The soldier lay sleeping, Each month of the year, I continued to weep. Silent, alone, Because of the soldiers I kept watch for hours, I had come down the chimney Curled up on the floor Like the one lying here. So silent and still, With presents to give, In this one-bedroom home. And we both shivered And to see just who I couldn’t help wonder From the cold night’s chill. In this home did live. The face was so gentle, How many lay alone The room in such disorder, On a cold Christmas Eve I didn’t want to leave I looked all about, Not how I pictured In a land far from home. On that cold, dark night, A strange sight I did see, A United States soldier. This guardian of honor No tinsel, no presents, The very thought So willing to fight. Not even a tree. Was this the hero Brought a tear to my eye, Of whom I’d just read? I dropped to my knees Then the soldier rolled over, No stocking by mantle, Curled up in a poncho, And started to cry. With a voice soft and pure, Just boots filled with sand, The floor for a bed? Whispered, “Carry on, Santa, On the wall hung pictures The soldier awakened It’s Christmas Day, Of far distant lands. I realized the families And I heard a rough voice, all is secure.” That I saw this night “Santa don’t cry, With medals and badges, Owed their lives to these soldiers This life is my choice. One look at my watch, Awards of all kinds, Who were willing to fight. I fight for freedom, And I knew he was right. A sober thought I don’t ask for more. “Merry Christmas my friend, Came through my mind. Soon ’round the world, My life is my God, And to all a good night.” Quarterly Membership Meeting: December 23, 2009 7 p.m. in the UFCW Local 1167 Auditorium, 855 W. San Bernardino Ave., Bloomington Wiisshhiinngg yyoouu tthhee hhaappppiieesstt aanndd hheeaalltthhiieesstt tthhiiss hhoolliiddaayy sseeaassoonn!! FFrroomm tthhee OOffffiicceerrss aanndd A C , O N I D R A N R E B N A S d e t s e u q e R e c i v r e S n r u t e R SSttaaffff ooff LLooccaall 11116677 5 8 2 2 . O N T I M R E P 6 1 3 2 9 A C , n o t g n i m o o l B 7 6 1 1 x o B . O . P D I A P 7 6 1 1 l a c o L n o i n U E G A T S O P . S . U s r e k r o W l a i c r e m m o C d n a d o o F d e t i n U . G R O T I F O R P - N O N : o t s y a d 5 n i n r u t e R PAGE 2 DESERT EDGE DEcEmbER 2009 Please report vacations to Insurance Department MAP ood members are urged to fill out hours in a month in which they took a place to list vacation hours will be sent MembershipAssistanceProgram Loss of Eligibility (vacation) forms paid vacation. to them from the trust fund in Cypress. to maintain health coverage. This Many Food members are getting However, since these notices often go Eligible active or retired Food and Meat F does not apply to pharmacists and notices for the first time, since they have out right before the time eligibility would participants can call the toll-free MAP drug members. been accustomed to taking vacation time lapse, this frequently results in a tempo - The 2004 Collective Bargaining off in the free months. rary loss of eligibility while the health number at the Health Management Agreements eliminated free months for As there are no longer any free trust fund processes the information and Center at any time, insurance coverage and replaced them clears eligibility. DAY OR NIGHT, 24 HOURS A DAY, with a “skip month” eligibility system. Because hours are reported just prior For example, September hours earn cov - to coverage lapsing, if a Loss of SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. Complete the form and erage for November, October for mail it back to the Eligibility form reporting a vacation is Food Division, call December, and so on. on record, you will most likely still Benefits Department after (800) 461-9179 In order to maintain health coverage, receive a Loss of Eligibility notice, but Food and Meat Division members must you have returned from you can just call the Insurance Drug Division, call work a certain minimum number of your vacation. ... The Department and someone generally can (866) 268-2510 hours every month. have your coverage reinstated within the Food Clerks, General Merchandise form is also available on day. If there is no form on file, then there (All calls are confidential) Clerks and Meat Clerks must work a the union’s website, will be a lag due to mailing and process - minimum of 92 hours and Meat Cutters www.ufcw1167.org, ing times. must work 76 hours. Plan B Warehouse under the Insurance If you have taken a paid vacation and Clerks, General Clerks, Service Clerks think you may be short on hours as a Department tab. You are interesting! and Meat Clerks must work a minimum result, call the Insurance Department at of 76 hours. Clerk’s Helpers and Utility (909) 877-1110 and request a Loss of Tellusaboutyourself. Clerks need to work 64 hours. Eligibility form (vacation waiver form). You are the most interesting thing Paid vacation hours count toward the months, many members taking vacations Complete the form and mail it back to about our union! If there’s monthly minimum number of hours, but may get short-hour notices. the Insurance Department after you have generally they need to be adjusted manu - As in the contract, Vons will begin returned from your vacation. This will something unusual or newsworthy ally. This is because most stores report paying vacations when taken. Therefore, maintain your insurance coverage with about your life, hobbies, abilities or vacation hours when they are paid on the the vacation waiver may not be required, minimal loss of eligibility. The form is talents, call us at the office and tell member’s anniversary date and not when but it will depend on each individual. also available on the union’s website, us about it so that we may consid - they are taken. For this reason, members Whenever members are short on www.ufcw1167.org, under the Insurance er doing a feature about you in the may get a notice that they are short on hours, a Loss of Eligibility notice with a Department tab. Desert Edge. Just ask for Kathleen Franks or your Union Rep. Yourduesarenowpayable! PresidentBillLathrop UNION OFFICE CLOSURES If you are one of the few members of the local who are not yet signed up for Thursday, Dec. 24 — closed at noon dues checkoff: DECEMBER DUES ARE NOW DUE AND PAYABLE. IF Friday, Dec. 25 — closed NOT PAID ON OR BEFORE FEB. 1, 2010, YOU WILL AUTOMATI- CALLY SUSPEND YOURSELF. Friday, Jan. 1, 2010 — closed With dues checkoff, all future dues can be deducted automatically from your pay check. If you do not have an authorization form, call the local and one DESERT EDGE will be sent to you immediately. Bill Lathrop Non-payment or payment of the incorrect amount will automatically suspend you — a costly and inconvenient mistake. Although not required, the local as Editor a courtesy normally sends billing notices by first-class mail to those not on Official monthly publication of dues checkoff. It is the member’s obligation to pay dues in a timely manner. Not Local 1167, United Food and Commercial Workers International receiving a notice is not an excuse for failure to pay dues on time. Union, San Bernardino, Riverside Avoid suspension. Authorize dues checkoff today! and Imperial Counties, California. 855 West San Bernardino Ave. Bloomington, California (Open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.- 4 p.m.) (Closed Sat., Sun. and holidays) In MEMoRIaM P.O. Box 1167 Doris Dement, a retired clerk formerly employed by White Front Bloomington, CA 92316 and Fedco, died Oct. 22, 2009, at the age of 73.