Posts Categorized: Local Union Resources

With the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) using recent cases to reverse key worker protections or push  anti-worker policies, it’s time for unions to rethink their NLRB strategy.

In one recent case, the NLRB virtually eliminated the rights of organizers to talk to workers at snackbars and other areas open to the general public. In another, the NLRB ruled that off-duty employees who work for contractors have the right to access only those workplaces where they “regularly” and “exclusively” work.

In a third case, the NLRB made it easier for companies to block access for union representatives, requiring that the union provide proof the company allowed other outside organizations to engage in the same type of activities for the same purposes. For example, to show that the company unlawfully excluded boycotters, the union must prove that the company allowed other organizations to ask customers entering stores to boycott the company. A recent NLRB ruling also made it much harder to petition for elections in “micro units” such as small departments of a company.

The International’s Legal Department is here to help locals carefully consider whether to pursue unfair labor practice charges with the current NLRB. In today’s environment, unions must be mindful of recent rulings where the NLRB has actively sought to undermine worker protections and proceed with caution before bringing any new charges.

Similarly, unions should consider withdrawing or settling cases currently pending before the NLRB, an administrative law judge or a NLRB Regional Office for the same reasons.

If you have any questions, contact George Wiszynski in the International’s Legal Department at gwiszynski@ufcw.org.

In a rapidly changing retail industry, it’s more important than ever to ensure our locals have the resources they need to welcome more workers into our union family and negotiate strong contracts for our members who work in these jobs.

Last week, local union leaders and staff from around the U.S. and Canada met in Las Vegas for this year’s retail conference, which focused on successful approaches to organizing and ways to strengthen our ability to negotiate strong contracts.

UFCW International President Marc Perrone opened the conference and spoke about his vision for our union.

“So, as we look ahead to this retail conference, I ask all of you to consider these questions as you attend your various meetings. How can you and other locals negotiate better contracts by working together – across regions? ” said Perrone. “How can we organize more workers, through greater coordination and cooperation? How do we communicate better across and within locals, and then echo those messages across every medium? But most importantly, how do we send employers a clear message that they can’t divide and conquer this union?”

Conference attendees participated in region-wide and company-wide organizing and bargaining sessions at the conference so that locals with the same parent companies, such as Kroger, Albertsons, Ahold, Macy’s and others, can coordinate and communicate with each other and align strategies, contract dates and messaging to give our members even more power at the table. Participants also attended plenaries and workshops on topics such as the Stop & Shop work stoppage; member communications strategies; defending a secure retirement for our members; understanding consumers in the retail industry; and successful approaches to organizing workers through member-to-member outreach.

In addition to Perrone, Executive Vice President and Director of National Bargaining Milton Jones and Director of Organizing Todd Crosby spoke about their goals for negotiating stronger contracts and strengthening our ability to organize more workers in the retail industry.

“Now, across retail, the simple fact is that we face an ongoing era of dynamic market change,” said Jones. “And, as such, we must rethink our future strategies – from how we bargain to the very structure of the benefits we bargain for. Because if there is one area that we must agree on it is this: The benefits and wages we bargain for must set a higher standard. A union job must be mean something more than a non-union job. That is our fundamental mission today, and it must be our fundamental mission tomorrow.”

“We are going to have to combine capital strategies, community allies, and worker leadership to win these organizing campaigns,” said Crosby. “A successful campaign begins and ends with real problems at the workplace that workers need to resolve through organization and collective bargaining….From there, we can organize around those issues with community allies and customers….With smart capital strategies, rock solid unity with the community, and workplace leadership development, there is no doubt in my mind that we can win!”