Bargaining for a Better Tomorrow
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Fall 2015 Coverage of Local 152’s 10th Annual Charity Golf Tournament See page 6 From left: Eagle View Negotiating Committee Members Brandon Lee and Michael Ferrell; Union Representative Daniel Ross. Bargaining for a better tomorrow Members vote to ratify several strong new contracts FCW Local 152 continues to 151 Foods negotiate strong new agreements for members across the many Union members at 151 Foods ratified industries that we serve, from a seven-year contract, their first ever. u The company was formed this year retail food to manufacturing to health care. Members at work when the Ginsburg and Amoroso bakeries Page 7 “Our union negotiating teams are com - mitted to increasing wages and protect - merged to create the largest bakery on ing benefits for our members, and these the East Coast. The 225 union members recent agreements are a testament to at 151 Foods will enjoy a $1.60 In thIs Issue that goal,” UFCW Local 152 President per hour wage increase in the first year. Brian String said. Health and welfare benefits are Local 152 Mailbox Here are highlights from some of the maintained. Grocery Industry News contracts: (Please see page 2) Retirements In Memoriam Also inside: Organizing update • John Robbins retires after 44 years Bargaining for a better tomorrow Buy American! (Continued from front page) Allied Specialty Foods ‘Our negotiating Visit Members at Allied Specialty Foods teams are committed americansworking.com ratified a five-year contract that guarantees a wage increase of $1.50 per hour over to increasing wages for information on finding the term of the contract. Health and welfare American-made products. benefits are maintained. The contract and protecting Support U.S. workers also added premiums for members who benefits.’ and help save jobs. work in the second shift. The agreement covers 93 members. – President Brian String Eagle View Nursing Home Members at Eagle View Nursing Home ratified a three-year contract that classifications. Health and welfare benefits guarantees a 7.5 percent wage increase are maintained. The contract covers 110 over the term of the contract and members. substantially reduces premiums for their health and welfare. The union also Lawrence Warehouse & Seafood Co. improved leave of absence language. UFCW Local 152 Unity Members at Lawrence Warehouse The contract covers 60 members. Official Publication of and Seafood Co. ratified a five-year United Food and Commercial Goya Foods – North agreement that guarantees an up-front Workers Local 152 wage increase of $1.15 per hour fol - Members at Goya Foods in Seacaucus, lowed by 1 percent raises each year EDiTOr NJ, ratified a five-year contract that Brian String thereafter. The union eliminated em - guarantees wage increases up to $2.20 ployee contributions to their health and per hour over the term of the contract. The UNiON H EADqUArTErS welfare benefits. Members used to pay increase will be adjusted for different job 701 Route 50 (Continued on next page) Mays Landing, NJ 08330 (888) JOiN-152 Vol. 11, Issue 3 UFCW Local 152 Unity Retirees’ Club (ISSN: 1542-720X) is published quarterly by UFCW Local 152, 2015 meetings 701 Route 50 Mays Landing, NJ 08330 All retirees from Local 152, as well Periodicals postage paid at LOCAL 152 as former members of Local 1358 Trenton, NJ and Local 56, are cordially invited WOmEN ’S NETWOrk POSTMASTER: Send address to join the Retirees’ Club. changes to UFCW Local 152 Unity BrEAST CANCEr 701 Route 50 AWArENESS PiN Dec. 7 (Luncheon) Mays Landing, NJ 08330 Coastline Restaurant To purchase a pin for $5, contact 1240 Brace Road, Cherry Hill, NJ Published by: your Union Representative or call the union office at (888) 564-6152. For more information, contact Chairman W.F. Kreidler, Jr. A portion of the proceeds will benefit The American Cancer Society. (“Sonny”) at (856) 983-4502. 2 Fall 2015 LOCAL 152 mAiLBOx Dear President Brian String : While my coworkers and I were being told that our company Pathmark was going bankrupt again and we would no longer have jobs, our first reaction was shock and then anger. But through it all, Union Representatives Jerry Chudoff and Danny Ross never left our side. From left: Union Representative Joe Williams; George Wells Negotiating Danny sat next to me the day we were told and not Committee Members Jack Green, Anthony DiTheodore and David Pecunia; and Local 152 Director John Robbins. only did he and Jerry answer all of our questions, they are still today helping everyone find jobs with other supermarkets. (Continued from previous page) $34 per month and now they won’t pay a penny. The contract I can’t tell you enough how grateful we are at our covers eight members. store for the help we are still receiving from Local 152. Spring Oaks May God bless all of you for taking the time to care so much. Members at Spring Oaks ratified a two-year-and-eight- month contract. Management would not cover the remaining Sincerely yours, four months to complete the third year. The contract guarantees a 4 percent wage increase by 2017 and includes a night shift Carol Colucci differential. Part-time employees are now covered and paid- Acme #7893 time leave language was enhanced. The contract covers 45 (formerly Pathmark #567) members. Teddy Bear Drive ! n Grievances filed or resolved: 2015 O I 3rd quarter 2015 2015 total The Local 152 Women’s Network n is hosting its annual Teddy Bear Drive u 77 241 to benefit The Arc of Burlington e County, an organization dedicated to B helping children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. O Back pay and benefits t Donations of teddy bears and/or restored to members: stuffed animals can be dropped off with s your Shop Steward or at the union Y 3rd quarter 2015 2015 total office at 701 Route 50, Mays Landing, NJ. A P For more information, contact $45,520.67 $132,988.16 Danette Montes-Palmore at (888) 564-6152. t I Fall 2015 3 rocery industry news G By Jeff Metzger expansions, remodels at Acme ■ In this column, analyst Jeff Metzger looks at developments in the supermarket industry around the country. t its annual vendor meeting on Sept. 15 at its corporate offices in Malvern, PA, Acme executives, General membership meeting led by President Dan Croce, outlined the growing Somers Point, NJ A chain’s priorities while also discussing the company’s acquisition of more than 70 A&P stores in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut (the latter two states being new operating territories for the retailer). report: New Acme Supermarket Termed Project Azalea, the plan is to change over to open in Barnegat, NJ approximately 12 stores per week beginning in late September with the conversion of the Super Fresh on Girard Avenue Officials in Barnegat, NJ, announced that a new in Philadelphia and concluding with 10 stores on Nov. 17. Acme Supermarket will open in town early next year. As reported by the Asbury Park Press, the retailer Better service for customers will open a new 50,000-plus square foot location on West Bay Ave. at the former site of Genuardi’s food The stores, for which parent company Albertsons/ store. Cerberus agreed to pay nearly $250 million, range in size More than 20,000 people reside in Barnegat, but from 12,400 square feet (Pine Street in Philadelphia) to they have been without a grocery store in town since 67,300 square (Cottman Avenue, also in Philadelphia). Genuardi’s closed in 2012. The increased travel for Using a staggered system, all stores are to close and food shopping was especially hard on senior citizens, re-open three days later. During the “dark” days, attention Barnegat officials said. is paid to cleaning all stores thoroughly, filling orders and Acme officials have not yet confirmed the opening. changing IT systems. “They were concerned and anxious for the opportunity OrGANiziNG UPDATE to better serve their customers,” Croce said. The South Jersey native began his career with A&P 30 Workers organize at shopping malls years ago before joining Acme in 2005. He told the more than 350 vendors in attendance (a packed house) that Acme in Pennsylvania and New Jersey will be relying on them to help ease the conversion process. Workers at the Philadelphia Mills Mall (formerly Franklin Mills) in Philadelphia, PA, and the Burlington Looking to the future Center Mall in Burlington Township, NJ, have voted to join Local 152. Croce said that during the next 12 months, more The 30 workers at the Philadelphia Mills Mall — Pennsylvania stores will offer beer and that new stores and where contract negotiations are already under way — major remodels will occur in Sea Isle, NJ (a “from the are all housekeeping workers while the five Burlington ground up” replacement similar to the successful new Long Center Mall workers are housekeepers and mainte - Beach Island unit, which opened in May); Newtown, PA; nance workers. Bargaining sessions are still in the Paoli, PA; and Ridley Park, PA. planning stages at Burlington Center. In his usual humble manner, Croce told the vendors: In both locations, workers are seeking better wages “It ain’t grandma’s Acme anymore. We’re grateful for the and benefits, as well as representation to help them loyalty over the years. However, we are now moving bargain for additional cleaning supplies and changes forward and looking to the future.” to the policies governing vacations and personal days. ■ Jeff Metzger’s “Taking Stock” column appears in Food World and Food Trade News . 4 Fall 2015 shop where you work — protect your job! e make choices every day about how to spend our money, but sometimes Shopping at W those choices can favor short-term convenience at the expense non-union of our long-term benefit.