April - June 2017 Vol. 12, Issue 2 (USPS 018-250) e e n n i i z z a a g g a a M UU M SLayainrg ggoeodrby et hto aa lnoc aLl leigfee nd Tried & True Loud & Clear Union & Non-Union President Conger reflects UFCW Local 324’s new Union Made Memorial on former Executive VP mobile app is the latest in Day... you’ll be surprised Rick Eiden’s time with us at the Local’s communication at all of the products made UFCW Local 324. program. with union labor. Pages 3-4 Page 7 Page 4 Official Publication of the United Food & Commercial Workers Union Local 324 e e n n i i z z a a g g a a m What’s Inside U m Sec.-Tres. Report 5 Communication is key, there are a variety of ways to keep in touch. An App for that... 7 UFCW Local 324 rolls out their new mobile app. Next General Membership The Era of Rick Eiden Meeting is Wednesday, 8 Exploring the history that became June 14 at 7 p.m. the legend at Local 324. 8530 Stanton Avenue Buena Park Hot Topics! 11 Working off the clock isn’t only bad business, you could get fired. Withdrawal Card Request Representin’ Change of Address Form 12 Pictures of Union Representative Mike Ramirez‘s members at work. Member's name:_______________________________ Word on the Street SSN:______________________ DOB:_____________ 14 100 days as president, how do you think he has done so far? Address______________________________________ City_____________________________zip__________ Editor : Todd Conger UNION OFFICE HOURS Asst. Editor : Mercedes Clarke 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday Phone #______________________________________ TELEPHONE NUMBERS : Orange County: (714) 995-4601 Long Beach-Downey-Norwalk Limited Area Toll Free: (800) 244-UFCW email________________________________________ MAIN OFFICE : 8530 Stanton Avenue, P.O. Box 5004, Buena Park, California 90622 If requesting withdrawal, what was your last day worked? ________ U magazine (USES 018-250) is published bimonthly by UFCW Local 324, at Post Office Box 5004, 8530 Stanton Ave., Buena Park, CA 90622-5004. Subscription rate is two (2) dollars per year (U.S. funds) Periodicals Postage paid at Buena Park, CA. If we don't know where you live or how to reach you, there's POSTMASTER : Send address changes to U magazine , UFCW Local 324, Post Office Box 5004, Buena Park, CA 90622-5004. no telling what you might miss out on in the future. READERS : Direct all inquiries and changes of address to the COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT , UFCW Local 324, Post Office Box 5004, Buena Park, CA 90622-5004 . Web Site Address: UFCW324.org U have to tell us! 2 April - June 2017 U have to tell us! President’s Report Brother Eiden: To say you will be missed doesn’t quite say it all I had the occasion of meeting Rick Eiden for ployed by Organized Labor the first time July 10, 1990. It was an exciting time since the early days. to be a member of the UFCW. Our leadership in Rick holds the Washington had recently initiated a major push traditions of the “old for locals to devote more resources to growing school” close to his the union. heart but was The only thing we knew about Rick was what ready to replace we were told by senior staff at the International any model of any Union. They said to expect a hard core union man kind if modern who would impress us with his intelligence and technology had his passion for helping working families. Rick is shown to be supe - the son of a Local Union President from Wiscon - rior. And he would sin so he grew up knowing why unions exist. It know. Rick followed took only about a week for me to realize what an the evolution of tech - asset he was going to be to Local 324. Either they nology with an eye toward beating our opponent didn’t really know Rick, or their desire not to be to the chase by being the first to embrace ad - hyperbolic was historic. I have never met a more vancements. dedicated, hard-working, devoted trade unionist Our current Communications Department is in my life. perhaps the biggest beneficiary of his forward My initial introduction also left me with an - thinking. He saw the need for a more focused and other impression. He could just as easily been sustained approach to reaching out to our mem - plucked from the pages of GQ in their All-Ameri - bers. Within a few short months of creating an can boy next door issue. This also happened to in-house department for Local 324, UFCW Locals be the time when Rick’s main hobby was body across the country were following our lead. building so at a generous 5’6, he was literally one I am also better off today for having watched continuous muscle. Rick evolve and grow. Once an impassioned When one gets to know Rick, it is clear that no workaholic so devoted to the cause, he forgot to singular description really does him justice. Sure have a social life. Rick has been working 50 to 60 he is every bit the Green Bay Packer cheese head hours per week for as long as I can remember. who speaks with a funny Midwestern twang but When I became President of the Local, I cre - he can make any worker his best friend inside of ated a new position especially for Rick—Execu - a minute. Rick is also a sophisticated connois - tive Vice President. He is, without question, the seur of international beer, holds a master’s de - most reliable and competent colleague I have gree, speaks conversational Spanish and is a ever worked with. When I asked for him to com - passionate and moving orator. plete a task, I never entertained a second of Rick’s job at the Local soon grew in responsi - doubt that he would get it done and with all an - bility. As head of our Organizing Department, he gles covered. proved that worksites could still be brought into One can scarcely imagine what it’s like to have the union fold in the 1990s. Even more impressive a work colleague like Rick tell you it’s his time to was the fact that his greatest victories came retire. I can’t quite place my finger on it, but the using the same, time-honored techniques em - emotion can be found somewhere between (Continued on page 4) April - June 2017 3 (Continued from page 3) sRhocik candk sad nEess. i Sdhocek bencau ser I ethoutgihtr Rieck s with his wife to enjoy the great outdoors among would go on forever and sadness for all of the mem - other things. bers and future members of our union who never will Of course I am happy for him and wish him all the have the good fortune of meeting or knowing Rick. best, we all do. Rick is a world-class labor leader, a What I will miss most is his inane sense of humor. world-class human being and a world-class friend. I No matter what the subject, Rick always finds an know our members along with everyone he touched angle that was worth a chuckle. A day did not pass throughout his career will miss him. working directly with Rick that I didn’t laugh at least Suffice it to say that every day he is no longer an once. office away, things will be different Rick is today doing what people who retire are here at UFCW Local 324. supposed to do and doing it at an age that will allow him to make the most of it. He’s moving to Colorado Memorial Day the UNION With Memorial Day around the corner and many of our Union brothers and sisters headingw outa to ty he warm weather and firing up the grill, be sure to support union made products. With the help of Labor 411 we have put together a list of union made products to make holiday grilling and chilling a bit easier! Grill: • Dr. Pepper • Breyers • Ball Park franks • Barq’s Root Beer • Carvel • Butterball turkey tenderloins, Games: • Good Humor drumsticks, burgers and franks • Battleship • Hiland Dairy • Dearborn Sausage Company • Candyland • Labelle Ice Cream • Empire Kosher chicken and • Clue • Laura Secord turkey • Connect Four • MacArthur • Foster Farms poultry • Monopoly • Orchard Harvest • Hormel beef, pork and chicken • Twister • Prairie Farms franks • Yahtzee • President’s Choice • Omaha Steaks Snacks: Fruit: Beverages: • Act II Popcorn • Airdrome Oranges • Bass Pale Ale • Cheez-It • Big Jim Oranges • Bud and Bud Light • Cheetos • Del Monte Apples • Coors Light • Chex Mixes • Del Monte Bananas • Killian’s Irish Red • Doritos • Del Monte Peaches • Land Shark Lager • Rold Gold Pretzels • Dole Apricots • Mad River Brewing Jamaican • Slim Jim • Dole Grapes Red • Sun Chips • Dole Plums • Miller Genuine Draft • Wheat Thins • Sam Adams Sunscreen: • Coca-Cola Ice Cream and Frozen Treats: • Bain de Soleil • Pepsi • Del Monte Fruit Chillers • Coppertone 4 April - June 2017 Secretary-Treasurer’s Report Your help is needed as we strive to perfect our communication program Communication has changed dramatically in the last proving your company’s position decade. And as a union with a diverse membership we un - during bargaining, membership derstand the need to keep up with these trends. Our com - meetings, pro worker endorsed munication strategies have recently been overhauled and candidates during local election, we are continuing to add new, faster ways to bring infor - and important national and mation to you. state wide issues where you Within the past year, your union has redesigned our can make a difference by website, making it mobile accessible.