August, 2016

UFCW Local 700 Members at ConAgra Bakery Approve First Union Contract

Aug 23, 2016

Members of Union Bargaining Committee

In June, workers at ConAgra in Indianapolis chose to join the UFCW Local 700 union family; last week, members approved their first union contract!

Together, and thanks to the efforts of the Union Bargaining Committee and SubCommittee, we reached an agreement that provides a better life, a more secure future, and respect on the job for the hardworking men and women of ConAgra bakery, and their families.

The new, three-year contract includes:

Mutual agreement to evaluate hours of work to create a pathway for more stable hours and more full-time jobs
Seniority protection for layoff and recall, job bidding procedure preventing favoritism and disparate treatment
More flexible leave policies, including union and personal leave
Strong language protecting the rights of Immigrant workers
Preferential hire provisions for workers at ConAgra Bakery who choose to transfer to 62^nd Street plant
Labor-Management committee to discuss workplace, and health and safety issues
Lump sum bonus and guaranteed wage increases during the contract
Weekly pay for workers at the plant
Protection of wage rates, including increases prior to ratification
Guaranteed call-in pay for either four-hours or four-hours of work
Health care coverage maintained over term of agreement; company may not change benefit levels

Worker Action

Labor Day Art Contest Opens!

Aug 09, 2016

Every year, we celebrate Labor Day to honor working people and all their contributions to our country and its middle class. The UFCW is made up of hard-working men and women who serve in our communities at retail and grocery stores, meatpacking and processing plants, and countless other facilities across multiple industries.

This year, the UFCW International is hosting its first ever Labor Day art contest, to celebrate working people with something made by working people!

UFCW members and their children are eligible to enter an original work of art to be in the running for a $500 Visa gift card AND have their artwork framed and displayed at the DC labor Fest in the fall! The winning piece will also be available for all UFCW locals and members at our online UFCW Store. Two runners up will receive $50 Visa gift cards, as well.

To enter, send us a high resolution photo image of your art at www.ufcw.org/contest. Your submission must have a Labor Day theme.

The deadline to submit is August 25^th, and winners will be notified by August 29^th.

This is your chance to showcase what you think Labor Day is all about while showing off your creative skills—we can’t wait to see what you can do!

Political action

In this election: What matters most to your family?

Aug 01, 2016

This election season, UFCW International President Marc Perrone wants to make sure the campaigns know what issues matter most to our union family, and how they plan to address them. To do this, UFCW is asking for your input on what issues are your priority for the next four years. We will then take those issues and draft letters to each of the campaigns so that Clinton and Trump can address your concerns directly.

We understand that we may not all share the same political beliefs or preferences for candidates – but that’s what makes us strong! We take pride in being a diverse union family and value it as a strength, not a weakness. This is your election, and whatever your political affiliation, you deserve to know how the candidates feel about your concerns.

To take action, visit www.ufcwaction.org/voice between August 1^st and August 12^th to send us your comments. We will use your input to draft a letter and send it to both Presidential Candidates on August 17^th.

We will post the responses from the campaigns to you on the UFCW Action website. To receive an alert when it’s posted, don’t forget to submit your contact information with your comment.

Make your issues known in this election. Join our conversation.