VOICE 2020 NO 1_Layout 1 7/9/2020 8:22 AM Page 1 United Food & Commercial Workers Union Local 880 9199 Market Place - Suite #2 Broadview Heights, Ohio 44147 Summer 2020 Volume 37 - No.1 IN THIS ISSUE: Fall Food Negotiations Will Be Very Different By the time you read this, Local 880 will have sent notices to reopen nine (9) food industry contracts: Giant Eagle Cleveland Your Unions and The Pandemic 2 and Akron-Canton Clerks and Meat; Protect Yourself from COVID-19 2 Gillombardo’s Grocery and Meat; Heinen’s UFCW President Perrone on Justice 3 Clerks and Meat; and Wadsworth Giant Eagle Fill Out Those Questionnaires! 3 Grocery and Meat. The negotiations with To Mask or Not to Mask? 4 Giant Eagle and Heinen’s will kick off the discussions. But because of the pandemic, Know the COVID Warning Signs 4 negotiations this year will be unlike those of Who’s on My Ballot? 5 any previous year New Meijer’s Stores 5 Given the restrictions on gatherings, and Local 880 Takes on Save-a-Lot 6 the concerns about in-person transmission, Kellog’s Workers Join UFCW 6 Local 880 and the various employers will Retirements & Passings 7-11 need to agree on how best to proceed before Retiree Happenings & Info 12 talks can begin. Local 880 and the employers will need to discuss about how they are going to negotiate before they can begin to negotiate. TO MASK Due to the pandemic, 2020 negotiations present a whole new challenge. One key difficulty will be the negotiating OR NOT However it is that the negotiations proceed, as committees. Local 880 has historically fielded TO MASK? always, Local 880 will not decide what constitutes large committees, primarily to insure that a an acceptable contract. That will be up to the 4 representative cross-section of the membership members in each bargaining unit. We will take brought their viewpoints to the table, helping to whatever is negotiated and bring it back to the LOCAL 880 insure that all voices and positions were heard. affected members for a secret ballot vote. The WELCOMES 2 But since maintaining social distancing will be final say on a new contract always resides with the NEW MEIJER’S almost impossible, it may be that committees will members. 5 not participate in this round of negotiations. While it is too early to predict how these Local 880 officials are currently discussing the LOCAL 880 negotiations will ultimately go, we can say for best strategies to conduct negotiations that will GETS GOING ON certain that “we live in interesting times.” Stay include extensive member input and some level of SAVE-A-LOT tuned. 6 member participation. Know the COVID Symptoms and Be Smart! Make Sure You’re Familiar with the Signs - Read Page 4 VOICE 2020 NO 1_Layout 1 7/9/2020 8:22 AM Page 2 CARL IVKA Your Unions and the Pandemic Most of you know that as a member of Local 880, you example, President Perrone called a press conference to are also a member of the UFCW, otherwise known as the highlight the plight of workers who endure real risks of “International.” Its full name is the United Food and illness and death each day they go to work. Commercial Workers International Union, and its president President Perrone said, “As this pandemic continues, is Marc Perrone. the threat of this virus is real across every grocery store in Local 880 is your “local” union, in part because we are America. Yet, most states and supermarket chains are still physically close, but mostly because we are the union that failing to enforce social distancing or mask wearing in directly represents you in your day-to-day work life. We stores to keep customers and workers safe.” He followed negotiate contracts for you. We handle your grievances. up by urging grocery chains nationwide to maintain, or in We come to your workplaces and to visit with you. We Carl Ivka certain cases reinstate, the hazard pay that partially LOCAL 880 PRESIDENT answer your questions. We speak up for you to your compensates workers for the increased risk that they supervisors and to management when necessary. We endure each day they are on the job. answer the phone when you call for help or information. In short, we Local 880 too has urged its employers, not only in the grocery deal mostly with your “local” issues and concerns industry, but also in the nursing homes and in the meat and food The International, on the other hand, deals with larger and broader processing plants, where the risk of infection is at least as great if not issues. Located in Washington D.C. it is close to the center of political greater, to implement pandemic pay in recognition of the risks that power in this country, and works diligently to see that “labor friendly” you are all encountering each and every day that you work. legislation and rules and procedures are passed and judges appointed. If you have any coronavirus or The International deals with the big picture, while Local 880 deals COVID-19 questions or concerns, with the day-to-day picture. don’t hesitate to contact us at 216- One of the more interesting ways the International advocates for 241-5930. In the meantime, stay Carl Ivka you and your co-workers is through press conferences. In May, for safe out there. Editor Barb Caruso Associate Editor STAY SAFE AND HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 WEAR A MASK DON’T TOUCH YOUR FACE 9199 Market Place - Suite #2 Broadview Heights, Ohio 44147 Masks help prevent you from infecting others; and You can put the virus into your eyes, nose or mouth by help keep you from being infected by others. touching your face. President KEEP YOUR DISTANCE STAY HOME Do stay home if you have symptoms; staying home Secretary-Treasurer Social distance—at least 6’. More if possible. even without symptoms is an excellent idea. Recorder WASH YOUR HANDS GET HELP Wash regularly with soap and warm water; use VICE PRESIDENTS By phone. Call your health care provider, Teladoc, or (Executive Board) sanitizer otherwise. your local health department, before seeking care. Paul Bodnar Mike Martino COVER A COUGH OR SNEEZE Dawne Cieslak Peggy Noble Penny Csata Gary Owen Don’t spray droplets into the air; sneeze into a tissue or Michael Dancy Allyne Richey your sleeve. Andrea Day Erik Rine Laura Grissinger Sandra Swislocki Tammy Harper Joe Tauro Jeanne Kortis Reatha Tolliver-Hogan Bryan Lajeunesse Mike Tomasic Tanya Mahoney Jonathan Ujhazy (216) 241-5930 1-800-241-5930 440-546-7280 2 Summer 2020 The Voice of the United Food & Commercial Workers Email: [email protected] VOICE 2020 NO 1_Layout 1 7/9/2020 8:22 AM Page 3 NEWS & INFORMATION UFCW International President Perrone Addresses Injustice CALLS FOR UNION MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC TO STAND TOGETHER UFCW International President Marc Perrone spoke about the need to unify and remedy injustice. He said: “Millions of Americans across the country are rightfully angry about the murder of George Floyd and the abhorrent injustices we have witnessed for far too long. Now more than ever, we must stand together to end the hate and discrimination that is poisoning this nation, and to make clear that we all stand in support of peaceful protests and in opposition to violence of any kind.” “Given the social upheaval that we are witnessing, we are urging our elected leaders to speak out for justice and peaceful protests with a united voice. The last thing America needs is more division and dysfunction.” “While it may be hard to see right now, our nation will get through this terrible moment. Standing together we can help ensure that all of our communities can recover, heal, and rebuild.” LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE TODAY - FOR FREE! Member Questionnaires Even Have you ever thought you might like to learn another language? More Critical This Year How about Spanish? French? German? What about Mandarin? If your contract is up this year, you will be receiving a Whether for travel, work, to impress your friends, or just for fun, the Questionnaire asking you about the things that are important to you. UFCW’s free foreign language program makes learning one of about We use the information gathered in the questionnaires to help us put seventy (70!) different language easy. All lessons are online and self- together our list of demands in negotiations. guided; you work at your own pace. And best of all, the courses are Usually, we have large committees to help us understand what is totally free. important to the membership in each bargaining unit, but this year, with These online lessons build on the four conversational skills the social distancing restrictions and the social gathering limitations, it necessary to fully learn a new language: vocabulary, pronunciation, does not look like it will be business as usual in negotiations. grammar, and culture. Visit the UFCW.org website and click on the “Learn a Language” link on the right side of the Home page. Impress This means that the information that you and your fellow workers yourself. Impress your friends. Do something different. Sign up today. provide to us will be more critical than ever in helping us to negotiate for the wages and benefits and protections that you want and need. When you receive your questionnaire, please do two things. First, UFCW LOCAL 880 - KEY 2020 DATES complete it promptly and mail it back. Second, give the questions and answers very careful thought.