UFCW Official Publication of Local 1167, United Food and Commercial Workers Union October 2012 Tentative agreement with Rite Aid submitted VOTE! to members in So. Calif. he seven UFCW unions in Southern California reached a tentative agreement with Rite Aid on Sept. 25. The pro- posed contract was promptly submitted to Rite Aid’s T union members for ratification. Results of the ratification vote and details and details of the agreement will be featured in the next issue of the Desert Edge. The agreement was announced by leaders of UFCW Locals 8, 135, 324, 770, 1167, 1428 and 1442, which represent Rite Aid PRESIDENT’S REPORT workers between Kern County and the Mexican border. “I am so proud of you for sticking together in the quest to protect your health benefits,” UFCW Local 1167 President Workers need more Bill Lathrop told the Rite Aid members. “Thank you for your strength and solidarity!” friends in government s the Nov. 6 elections draw closer, Califor ni ans are reading up on the candi- dates and issues. A . C A 5 G Some of us may default to vot- , 8 R O E 2 O N G I 2 A ing along party lines, but as we T . D T I D O R F S I A N O O A consistently tell our members, N P R T P I R . P - E S M . N B R party affiliation is not the only fac- U E O N P N A S tor to consider when deciding whether a candidate deserves your vote. The most important factor by far is the candidate’s commitment to support the goals of working peo- ple. While friends of labor usually gravitate toward the Democratic s r e Party, this is not always the case. k r By Bill Lathrop o For example, Gloria Romero, the W l former Democratic leader in the California Senate, announced her a i c endorsement of Proposition 32, otherwise known as the “corporate r e d e deception” ballot initiative. m t 6 s m 1 e This horrendous proposition is being promoted by business inter- o 3 u : 2 C q o 9 t e ests that are trying to silence the voices of labor unions. d 7 R A s n 6 y a C Romero went as far as to claim that the initiative is “as balanced 1 e a 7 1 c , i d d 6 l n v 1 a measure as we can achieve at this time.” o r a o 5 1 t c o e g n o F x S i This is ludicrous. If — heaven forbid! — Proposition 32 is n L o i d n n B r r n m e t . u u o o Please see page 3 i t i t o O e n n e l . R P B U U R PAGE 2 DESERT EDGE OCTOBER 2012 JUST RETIRED the industry for 31 years with Stater The month of August brought us Bros. and Safeway. several new retirees. Joining the Congratulations to all of our new ranks of the retirees are Steve retirees! We wish you many healthy, Bigelow, Aaron Chavez, Roger happy years ahead to enjoy your Connell, Jacobus DeKiewiet, well-earned retirements! Dorae Falwell and Debbie JUST MARRIED YOUR UNION Pederson. Steve Bigelow retired Misty Kelley, Stater Bros., mar- after 41 years in the industry. Steve ried Jonnall Biggers on June 22. ... worked for Alpha Beta, Ralphs and Justin Van Demark, Stater Bros., What’s Stater Bros. Aaron Chavez worked took Cassandra Avalos to be his for Stater Bros. for 33 years as a bride on Aug. 9. The wedding was Happening meatcutter. Roger Connell worked held in Moreno Valley and the happy by Maureen McCabe for Albertsons and Lucky for 36 couple honeymooned in Oceanside. years. Jacobus DeKiewiet worked ... Monica Perea, Stater Bros., mar- for Stater Bros. for 37 years. Dorae ried Alejandro Holguin on July 27 in Falwell worked for Vons for 33 Las Vegas. years. Debbie Pederson worked in Congratulations to all of our new- lyweds! JUST BORN Andrew Lyman into the world on Lorina Contreras, Vons, has a new Anastacia Rivas, Stater Bros., Aug. 7. Jason weighed 8 lbs. 11 oz. son. Ruben Rolando was born on welcomed Benjamin Russell ... Jesus Ontiveros, Stater Bros., Aug. 17, weighed 9 lbs. 4 oz. and Happy Barreras on July 29. Benjamin and his wife, Marie, proudly measured 21 inches. Lorina writes, weighed 7 lbs. 12 oz. ... Larry announce the birth of their first baby “Mommy and Daddy love you, baby Halloween! Garcia, Rite Aid, has a new daugh- girl on Aug. 11. Deanna Marie boy!” ... Byron Giovanni Ferrer, ter. Emmalee Grace was born on weighed 7 lbs. 6 oz. ... Demetrius Stater Bros., proudly announces the July 31, weighed 7 lbs. 1 oz. and Morales, Stater Bros., has a new birth of Averie Sky on Aug. 19. measured 19 ½ oz. ... Laura son. Julian Ethan was born on Aug. Averie weighed 7 lbs. 2 oz. ... Make it Valenzuela, Food 4 Less, is the 14, weighed 8 lbs. 9 oz. and meas- Dennis Yip, Rite Aid, welcomed proud mother of a beautiful baby ured 20 inches. ... Diego Ramirez, Violet Sum Haun Yip on Aug. 24. boy. Mason was born on Aug. 6 and Stater Bros., is pleased to announce Violet weighed 6 lbs. and .74 oz. safe weighed 6 lbs. 11 oz. ... Ann the arrival of Elena Marie on Aug. Congratulations to all of our new and sane Kitchen, Ralphs, welcomed Jason 16. Elena weighed 7 lbs. 7 oz. ... moms and dads! on Oct. 31! IN MEMORIAM Your dues Neil Carruthers, a retired general merchandise clerk formerly employed by Alpha Beta, died on Aug. 2 at the age of 85. He had been a continuous member since are now May 1970. Clyde Geeslin, a retired food clerk formerly employed by Alamo, Crocker's, Food payable! DESERT EDGE King, Market Basket, Mayfair Market, Ray's, Sav-on Drug and Stater Bros. Markets, Bill Lathrop died on Aug. 23 at the age of 77. He had been a member since August 1952. If you are one of the few members of the Editor local who are not yet signed up for dues Margaret Isom, a retired general merchandise clerk formerly employed by Official monthly publication of checkoff: OCTOBER DUES ARE NOW DUE Mayfair, Food King, Smith’s and Vons, died on Aug. 12 at the age of 91. She had Local 1167, United Food and Commercial AND PAYABLE. IF YOUR DUES ARE NOT been a continuous member since September 1969. Workers International Union, San PAID ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1, Bernardino, Riverside and Imperial Counties, California. Eugene Metherell, a retired food clerk formerly employed by Safeway, died on 2012, YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY SUS- PEND YOURSELF. 855 West San Bernardino Ave. Aug. 21 at the age of 84. He had been a continuous member since February 1952. Bloomington, California Victor Moore, a retired food clerk formerly employed by Safeway and White Front, With dues checkoff, all future dues can be (Open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.- 4 p.m.) deducted automatically from your pay (Closed Sat., Sun. and holidays) died on Aug. 6 at the age of 85. He had been a continuous member since January P.O. Box 1167 1972. check. If you do not have an authorization Bloomington, CA 92316 form, call the local and one will be sent to William Moore, an affiliated member formerly employed by Alpha Beta, died on you immediately. Telephone Hours: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 24 at the age of 82. He had been a member since November 1990. Business Telephone: Non-payment or payment of the incor- (909) 877-5000 Marjorie Plante, a retired food clerk formerly employed by Lucky Stores, died on rect amount will automatically suspend Toll-Free Telephone: Aug. 8 at the age of 76. She had been a member since November 1974. you — a costly and inconvenient mis- (800) 698-UFCW take. Although not required, the local, Teresa Robinson, a retired general merchandise clerk formerly employed by Food and Meat Division Insurance: as a courtesy, normally sends billing (909) 877-1110 Stater Bros. Markets, died on Aug. 31 at the age of 68. She had been a member notices by first-class mail to those not since June 1990. Drug & General Sales Division on dues checkoff. It is the member’s Insurance: Mary Snyder, a retired drug clerk formerly employed by Rite Aid, died on Sept. obligation to pay dues in a timely man- (909) 877-2331 11 at the age of 71. She had been a member since May 1972. ner. Not receiving a notice is not an excuse for failure to pay dues on time. Lupe Villalobos, a retired drug clerk formerly employed by Thrifty Drug, died on Avoid suspension. Authorize Publisher Aug. 21 at the age of 74. She had been a member since November 1971. dues checkoff today! 869-M 100% Union Shop Our condolences go to the families of these deceased members. OCTOBER 2012 DESERT EDGE PAGE 3 PRESIDENT’S REPORT UNION REPRESENTATIVE’S REPORT Friends in government Our right to vote is an Continued from front page enthusiastic support of labor approved by the voters in unions. President Theodore American freedom November, corporations would Roosevelt said “It is essential have the upper hand in political that there be organization of fundraising and the effects would labor.” And when President Don’t let apathy get in the way be devastating for working peo- Richard Nixon ran for reelection ple.