WWW.UFCW.ORGFebruary 20, 2013 Volume 17, Issue 10

UFCW Pushes for Part-Time Worker Bill of RightsLast week, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) intro-duced the Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights which would help eliminate the incentive for employers to drop health coverage for their part-time workers. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) penalizes employers who fail to provide health insurance to full-time workers but includes no such penalty for part-timers (defi ned as working less than 30 hours a week).

This loophole has driven some national employers to an-nounce plans to reduce workers’ hours in order to avoid the penalty. Walmart dropped part-time health coverage last year. The Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights seeks to level the playing fi eld and protect the millions of part-time workers in retail and other service industries.

UFCW local unions are encouraged to contact their Members of Congress this week while Senators and Representatives are in their home states and districts. Locals can fi nd tools to support the bill at locals.ufcw.org and attached to this issue of On Point.

The UFCW continues to use every avenue possible—whether through the regulatory process or legislation—to strengthen the ACA and protect quality, union-negotiated health benefi ts. The Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights is a part of that effort. OP

UFCW Kicks Off Campaign for National Comprehensive Immigration ReformThe UFCW recently kicked off its public campaign for comprehensive immigration reform. Civil Rights and Com-munity Action Department Director Esther Lopez says she expects a bill to be introduced in March or April, followed by hearings in May or June, and a vote in August. The Civil Rights and Community Action Department along with the Legislative and Political Action Department have unveiled a number of tools for locals to use when lobbying their Mem-bers of Congress including: the UFCW’s core elements for im-migration reform in both English and Spanish, talking points, a sample newsletter, and a lobby report form.

In addition, over 80 UFCW leaders in attendance signed a letter to President Obama in support of comprehensive immigration reform.

“The time to create a principled, legal immigration system that treats all immigrants with respect and dignity is right now,” the letter read.

Immigration reform rallies are being planned across the country. Local union staff and members are encouraged to attend.

The scheduled rallies are as follows: February 25: San Francisco February 28: Houston March 6, 12, or 13: Minneapolis/St. Paul March 7: Chicago March 11: Phoenix TBD: New York City

Immigration tools for local unions are attached to this email, and can be downloaded from the local union Sharepoint site http://locals.ufcw.org. OP

Pinnacle Foods Workers Ratify New Contract; Preserves Pension Plan Pinnacle Foods workers from UFCW Local 617 in Fort Madison, Iowa voted on February 14, to ratify a new four-year contract that preserves their pension plan and includes a wage increase over the term of the agreement. Earlier in January, Pinnacle Foods workers voted to authorize a strike to protest the company’s plan to eliminate their pension plans.

“The fact that we were able to preserve retirement benefi ts for Pinnacle Foods workers is signifi cant,” said UFCW Local 617 President Darin Boatman. “Pensions allow workers to remain in the middle class, boost their savings rates during retirement and re-invest in our economy. This contract is not only a win for Pinnacle Foods workers, it’s also a win for the surrounding communities.”

Comprehensive immigration reform is a critical issue to UFCW members across the country.

WWW.UFCW.ORGFebruary 20, 2013 Volume 17, Issue 10

The new contract covers over 450 Pinnacle Foods workers in the Fort Madison plant, which manufactures canned food products, including Vienna sausages, Armour brand corned beef hash, beef stew and chili. OP

Walmart Workers Plan for Bigger 2013 with Ally SupportEarlier this month, OUR Walmart members and their growing coalition of allies from around the country met in Washington, DC. The group met to discuss the successes and short-comings of last year’s historic Black Friday strike, as well as to build toward a more bigger and more exciting 2013.

Organizations representing a broad cross section of the progressive movement from labor and corporate watch-dog groups, to civil rights, and womens’ groups, gathered to express their support for Walmart workers. The Retail Justice Alliance, a new coalition dedicated to raising the living and working standards of retail workers was one of the many groups in attendance.

The organizations pledged to take swift and bold action against Walmart’s attempts to silence and intimidate its work-ers for speaking out for change. Additionally, they discussed an exciting calendar of events for 2013.

Ally support was absolutely essential to the success of Black Friday and to Walmart workers continuing efforts to make change. OP

Members Fight Against Right-to-Work and Paycheck Deception Legislation in Missouri

Members of UFCW Locals 8, 22, and 655 traveled to the Mis-souri State Capitol yesterday to urge their legislators to oppose both right-to-work and paycheck deception. According to Progress Missouri, these proposals closely mirror legislation produced by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a business front-group that was abandoned by dozens of companies last year over its support for voter suppression and other controversial laws. UFCW members told their legislators that right-to-work and pay-check deception are unfair, misguided, and hurt working families.

The Missouri Legislature recessed today because of inclement weather but one or both of these anti-worker proposals could be brought up in the Senate on Monday. UFCW members in Missouri can contact their Senators in opposition to these bills by calling 1-888-907-9711. OP

Community allies from across the country meet with OUR Walmart members to pledge their support for Walmart Associates standing up to live better in 2013.

UFCW members traveled to the Missouri State Capitol for a lobby day to fi ght right-to-work and paycheck deception legislation.