We often say “Union Members Get More!” because it’s true.
For example, an average Union worker’s total compensation is $10.62 per hour higher than a non-Union worker’s.
This
adds up to big money over the course of a lifetime. In fact, a
full-time member could earn $662,688 more than a non-Union worker earns
over a 30-year career.
And this doesn’t include holiday and vacation pay, workplace guarantees and many other perks of membership.
All this is possible because Unions are about giving power to working people.
In
the spirit of solidarity, we bring workers together so they can stand
up for themselves and negotiate as equals with the giant corporations
which employ them.
Through
the collective bargaining process, we negotiate contracts with
employers to protect and promote the interests of working people, who
really are the force behind economic growth in our country.
Beyond
the substantial differences in wages I described above, here are a few
additional examples of how your Union negotiated contract makes your
career and your living standards better than “normal”:
Equal pay for equal work
Technically,
it’s against the law for companies to pay their workers differently
according to gender, race, ethnicity or other arbitrary distinctions
which have nothing to do with a worker’s job performance.
Unfortunately,
reality has a long way to go before it catches up to the ideal set by
law. Women and racial minorities especially feel the sting when equal
pay does not come with equal work.
Fortunately,
our Union-negotiated contract provides legally binding guarantees of
wage standards for all. Every Union member knows exactly what to expect,
based entirely on job classification and experience. If any
discrimination exists, we will enforce the contract vigorously.
Pensions
Most
working Americans have Social Security or an equivalent. This maintains
a minimum standard which might not guarantee one’s ability to retire
with security, but it can supplement other sources of retirement income
to enable people to barely get by.
For
Union members, though, it’s not enough to barely get by. Our contracts
provide retirement plans which supplement Social Security and ensure
financial security and dignity into our later years.
Health care
The
Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, requires large employers
to provide health care packages to their full-time employees and their
families. While they are much better than no health care, these plans
can’t compare with the high-quality, comprehensive and low-cost packages
you enjoy as a member of UFCW 8-Golden State.
Workplace guarantees
Employees
without a Union contract are “at will,” which means managers can
discipline them or even fire them in most situations with little or no
recourse. There’s nothing to stop a boss from terminating an employee
simply because he or she earns more than a less-experienced employee at a
non-Union workplace.
Fortunately,
Union workers are protected by strong contracts which enforce fairness
and equal treatment. Your manager is not allowed to deny you work hours
simply because he or she has a friend who is getting those hours
instead.
Your
Union contract’s grievance procedure means you are entitled to a
hearing if you are being mistreated or if you are accused unfairly of
breaking the rules.
Protections against harassment
We’re
hearing a lot these days about sexual harassment and bullying on the
job. Should you be affected, please contact your Union Representative
immediately.
Your
Union membership means you have a powerful and effective ally in
correcting injustice. Those who don’t have a Union usually have to go it
alone, regardless of what the law says.
None
of these protections and benefits come to you as gifts from your
employer, and government doesn’t always succeed in getting you what you
deserve from your job.
The
members of UFCW 8-Golden State have earned it all by sticking together
and demanding more than the minimum standards required by government or
the free market.
Solidarity Works!
Our Union Family Steps Up
Members respond to tragedy with compassion, generosity
In times of sadness, we are comforted and inspired by the ways our Union family responded to the tragic events of recent months.
Together, we witnessed a senseless act of mass violence in Las Vegas, followed by the terrible loss of life, property and jobs in fires throughout Northern California.
Almost simultaneously, our fellow Americans suffered through devastating hurricanes in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico.
Our members reacted to each of these tragedies with life-affirming generosity.
This is especially evident closest to home. When Secretary-Treasurer Kirk Vogt and I went to Santa Rosa to assess the damage caused by the fires, we were moved deeply by the spirit of our members who lost everything. Through the pain, they focused on the positive side: healing and rebuilding.
When faced with their own seemingly unbearable challenges, they showed their concern for others and their willingness to help each other.
A common comment from those who lost all their material possessions was “It was just stuff.”
In the fires’ aftermath, we were continually reminded of the bonds which connect us to each other and our Union.
We experienced the compassion of our members on a daily basis. When our District Union Representatives (DURs) entered stores in fire-ravaged areas, members immediately asked them, “How are YOU doing?” and “Did YOU lose anything?” These are questions our DURs typically ask the members.
Our representatives worked long days and nights to find the whereabouts of members and determine whether they lost a home and needed shelter or any other kind of assistance.
The DURs and office staff provided valuable information, advising and directing members to the resources available to them. Just as important, they were ready to listen when someone needed to talk about his or her experiences.
The Union website, UFCW8.org, also provided information about assistance available to fire victims.
We’ve witnessed many acts of generosity — to our members as well as store supervisors, managers, vendors, drivers, sales staff and other affected individuals in our industry.
We thank UFCW International President Marc Perrone, our International Union, our sister UFCW Local Unions, the UFCW Northern California Trust Fund employees and our service providers for their generous donations to the UFCW 8-Golden State Disaster Relief Fund.
We also recognize our employers who stepped up — whether it was Safeway paying for housing for nearly two weeks for evacuated employees, or Foster Farms donating $100,000 to a local food bank, or Petaluma Poultry, Save Mart/Lucky, Rite Aid, Raley’s or our other independent retailers providing their assistance to those in need.
Of course, we want to thank the first responders — the firefighters, police and medical personnel who risked their own lives to protect people they’ve never met.
We are one family
In sad times and happier times, Union members don’t lose sight of who we are and why we’re here: people banding together for the common good.
We don’t care about your family background, the color of your skin, how old you are, whom you worship (or don’t), or the language you speak. We march together and won’t stop until everyone can share in the bounty of our amazing country.
This is why, in our Union, we call each other Sisters and Brothers. We are family.
Solidarity Works!
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