ELECTION RESULTS ARE IN!

UFCW Members Speak Out On Health Care Reform

UFCW members were on Capitol Hill last week to lobby their elected officials and speak out about the importance of health care reform. (watch the video)

Workers at World's Largest Pork Plant Ratify First-Ever Union Contract

Deal raises Tar Heel workers' wages and brings up benefits and working conditions to union standards.
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Obama introduces Judge Sonia Sotomayor as Supreme Court Justice nominee

Learn more

Update on H1N1 influenza

1) Pork is safe to eat. The CDC website makes it clear that the virus cannot be transmitted through the consumption of pork products: ?Swine influenza viruses are not spread by food. One cannot get swine influenza by eating pork or pork products.? In addition, humans are not infected by touching uncooked pork. According to the USDA, ?there is no evidence at this time that touching uncooked pork could infect someone with the virus.? http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/key_facts.htm

2) The virus is called ?H1N1? or ?North American influenza.? According to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), ?it is not correct to call the current disease ?swine influenza?. The virus that is circulating includes genetic components of human, avian and swine origin.? Referring to the new virus as ?North American influenza? uses the same approach to nomenclature as used with the Asian influenza and Spanish influenza outbreaks that have occurred in the past.

3) Human-to-human contact is how the H1N1 flu spreads throughout the population of a city, state, or country. The CDC recommends that anyone with symptoms stay home from work. UFCW local unions should make sure our employers are respectful of this advice and honor the sick leave policies of our contracts.

4) If any of your members work in the health care industry, there are fact sheets available for health care workers available here: http://www.ufcw.org/press_room/fact_sheets_and_backgrounder/

5) The UFCW is closely monitoring the situation and working with infectious disease experts at Johns Hopkins to gather as much information as possible. We will continue to provide UFCW local unions and members the most credible, accurate and timely information.

6) To see a press conference with USDA Secretary Vilsack on this outbreak, click here.

7) If your local union is contacted by local reporters looking for reaction, please direct them to the UFCW International Union Communications Department ? 202-223-3111.

Grievance Filed

UFCW Local 1036 has filed a mass grievance for all Ralph's and Vons employees who were affected by the recent reductions in full-time positions and bumping into lower classifications. We do not believe many of the reductions followed the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement which affected over 100 employees. We have set up meetings to review the procedures utilized in these reductions and resolve grievances that resulted in violations of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Wal-Mart submits plans for Ventura store

Read More:

Ventura County Star

Employee Free Choice Act

Employee Free Choice Act is overdue - read more

Click here to see the latest Employee Free Choice Act ads

More resources:
American Rights at Work
UFCW TV

Latest Union News

U.S. Jobless Rate Soars To 8.5% - read more

Change to Win Statement on OSHA Enforcement Failures - read more

AT&T labor contracts expire without agreement, talks to continue - read more

Add to Your Health, Add to Your Savings . . .

Attention Indemnity PPO Medical Plan Participants - this Local and the Fund Office have been receiving calls from members asking, "How can I get more money into my Health Reimbursement Account?"

Did you have to reach into your pocket to cover pharmacy co pays and up-front medical expenses last year?

There's a way to get an EXTRA contribution of up to $250 in your Health Reimbursement Account (HRA). All you need to do is to complete a confidential and easy Health Risk Questionnaire (HRQ) between February 1 and May 1.

It's that simple? take 15 minutes to answer the HRQ - online or on paper - and receive the extra contribution in your HRA. And if you completed the HRQ last year, you are eligible for ANOTHER contribution if you complete the HRQ this year.

Remember, the contributions in your HRA are used to help pay your medical PPO deductibles, coinsurance (the percentage of covered expenses that would otherwise come out of your own pocket), and even your prescription drug copays. If you don't use all of your HRA contributions in one year, you can use them to pay eligible health care expenses in the future--as long as you stay in the Indemnity PPO Medical Plan.

Go online and do the HRQ now at http://www.2009hrq.com.

Have questions or need help? Call 1-800-721-2763.

This special benefit is available only to Indemnity PPO Medical Plan participants and their spouses/domestic partners.

Unemployment in California Jumps to 9.3 Percent

California's unemployment rate skyrocketed to 9.3 percent in December, up almost a full percentage point from the month before, according to new figures from California's Employment Development Department. More and more workers are dependent on the state's unemployment program. But because of outdated rules, California denies unemployment benefits to thousands of laid off workers each month.

"With the state now at the highest level of unemployment in more than 15 years, we're facing a code red economic crisis," said Art Pulaski of the California Labor Federation. "Now more than ever, it's crucial that we update our unemployment system to ensure benefits get to those who need it most."

Visit the California Labor Federation website to learn more about unemployment insurance.

AFL-CIO and Change to Win Unions Call for United Labor Front

Union presidents from a dozen major unions, plus leaders from the AFL-CIO and Change to Win, met Wednesday to discuss ways to create a united labor movement to effectively take on the challenges facing working Americans. Talks could lead to the reuniting of AFL-CIO and Change to Win unions, which split in 2005.

"The goal of the meeting is to create a unified labor movement that can speak and act nationally on the critical issues facing working Americans," the labor leaders said in a joint statement. "While we represent the largest labor unions, we recognize that unity requires broad participation."