Seminars Inspire and

Energize UFCW 8 Stewards

   Speakers praise Union leadership’s progressive ideas,

provide insights into intense negotiations that lie ahead

In a series of seminars throughout

the Union’s continually expanding jurisdiction, UFCW 8-Golden State Stewards were educated, energized and inspired on a variety of topics.

    Labor leaders and guest speakers,

including Sacramento Assemblyman

Dave Jones, offered upbeat assessments of the Union, its progressive leadership and the critical

role of solidarity on the long road

ahead toward negotiations.

    President Jacques Loveall began by

talking about the history of Organized

Labor around the globe.

   “Organized Labor has an

extraordinary history,” he said, “and

nowhere in the world is it stronger

than in one of the most forward thinking states in this great country,

California.

    “Union density is steadily on the rise

in Northern California, despite national

trends,” President Loveall said. “Our great Union was founded by a handful of dedicated members 70 years ago this year. The benefits and successes that we enjoy today were built on the sacrifices and struggles of those who came before us.

    “We have a moral imperative to

defend and protect our collective

bargaining agreements,” Loveall said

to a cheering crowd.

    “Unions make a community worth

living in, and our Union has the finest

contracts in the country,” he said.

Loveall showed a UFCW 8-

produced video that salutes the

Southern California UFCW workers

who walked picket lines in the strike

and lockout of 2003-2004. Southern

California grocery workers have been

working under a contract extension

since their contract expired on

March 5, 2007.

    Sharon Heckler, a steward from UFCW Local 770 in Los Angeles, spoke to some of the stewards in an emotional address.   

    “We fought a fight we couldn’t

possibly have imagined until we lived

through it,” she said. “In 34 years of

working in the grocery industry, I never had to worry when I took my child to the doctor or filled a prescription.

    Now, more than 50 percent of our co-workers can’t afford health care. We just have to change that.”

    Loveall talked about UFCW 8’s

pending negotiations with retail drug and food employers in the summer and the fall. He noted that, as a merged local with more than 30,000 members, the Union is in a strong position.

    “Our Union’s merger was historic

and created leverage in negotiations

and organizing,” Loveall said.

“It was a catalyst for the way the    UFCW does business in this state and

around the country.”

    Seven Bay Area locals merged earlier this year to create UFCW Local 5 and its president, Ron Lind, and

secretary-treasurer, Richard Benson, spoke to the Stewards.

    “We merged to create power for members in the workplace,” Lind said. “We have already been working with UFCW 8-Golden State

          President Jacques Loveall

and other Unions around the country to seize new opportunities at the

bargaining table.”

    Benson complimented UFCW 8’s leadership, including its District Union

Representatives and staff.

    “No one works harder on behalf of their members than your team led by

Jacques Loveall and Michael Tursky,” he said. “No one puts forth more time and effort with intelligence and passion.” At the Sacramento seminar, a live video- conference featured UFCW Local 1776 President Wendell Young IV from Philadelphia with members and stewards pledging their support to UFCW 8 in the upcoming contract negotiations.

    Secretary-Treasurer Michael Tursky led a discussion about the results

of thousands of questionnaires received by the Union, providing insight into the concerns and priorities of the members.

Tursky was followed by benefits expert Joe Sweeney who provided a perspective

on UFCW 8’s health care benefits, which he said are superior to any other in the

retail food and drug industry.

    “These are challenging times for working people,” he said. “Pension plans are being eliminated, companies are hiding behind bankruptcy to avoid their contract obligations, and health care for everyone is at risk.

    “Your Union is bucking the trend and improving your wages, benefits and pensions, and that’s because of you, the Stewards, and your forward-thinking

leadership,” Sweeney said. The seminar continued with a demonstration of new Union-negotiated benefits offered by MedExpert.

    Regardless of a member’s medical plan or the status of his or her health, MedExpert

answers medical questions and helps navigate the maze of health care benefits that can sometimes be confusing and intimidating.

    MedExpert accesses the world’s top health experts and medical research. Union

members who speak languages other than

English can use MedExpert’s services.

This benefit is available to active and

retired Food and Drug Division members

who receive benefits from the Northern

California Health and Welfare Trust Fund, as well as their family members.

    Calls to MedExpert do not cost Union members anything out-of-pocket and are completely confidential.

    President Loveall ended the seminars by

presenting a personalized UFCW Union Gold Card for each of the stewards.