The new Define American project is asking folks: what does it mean to be an American?
Jose Antonio Vargas, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who moved to the U.S. from the Philippines when he was 12, and has been struggling with his undocumented status for almost 14 years. In that time, he has thought a lot about what it means to be an American. From him newly released video:
“I define American as someone who works really hard – someone who’s proud to be in this country, and wants to contribute to it. I’m independent; I pay taxes; I’m self-sufficient. I’m an American. I just don’t have the right papers. I take full responsibility for my actions, and I’m sorry for the laws that I broke.”
Take five minutes, and watch the full video of Jose’s story now. You’ll be glad you did. Then be sure to add your voice to the conversation at http://defineamerican.com/
Jun 23, 2011
Jun 22, 2011
Former Walmart associate Sandy Carpenter Presents Human Rights Award to Actor James Cromwell
DC-area social justice advocates got a special treat Monday night: Sandy Carpenter, a former Walmart associate, joined the American Rights at Work annual awards celebration to present an award and share her inspiring story. Carpenter was fired from her position at Walmart after trying to organize a union in her store, but continues to advocate for the rights of Walmart workers across the country. It was very appropriate, then, that she presented the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award to actor and activist, James Cromwell.
Carpenter gave high praise to Cromwell for all the work he has done throughout his career to promote workers' rights, including his efforts to highlight how Walmart treats its employees. Cromwell has often joined picket lines with workers and appeared in commercials for the critical documentary WALMART- The High Cost of Low Price. He is also an active member of the Screen Actor's Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio. Everyone in the audience agreed: Carpenter's speech on her experience with Walmart and presentation of the award were very inspirational and empowering.
Bo McCurry was another very moving speaker at the celebration. McCurry works at the Philips plant in Sparta, Tenn. The plant is closing down despite the fact that it has been repeatedly honored as productive and effective. The plant has also begun to outsource jobs to Mexico. At the celebration, McCurry gave an incredible speech on his fight for workers' rights.
Carpenter and McCurry represent what UFCW works towards everyday: a safe and fair environment for American workers.
Carpenter gave high praise to Cromwell for all the work he has done throughout his career to promote workers' rights, including his efforts to highlight how Walmart treats its employees. Cromwell has often joined picket lines with workers and appeared in commercials for the critical documentary WALMART- The High Cost of Low Price. He is also an active member of the Screen Actor's Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio. Everyone in the audience agreed: Carpenter's speech on her experience with Walmart and presentation of the award were very inspirational and empowering.
Bo McCurry was another very moving speaker at the celebration. McCurry works at the Philips plant in Sparta, Tenn. The plant is closing down despite the fact that it has been repeatedly honored as productive and effective. The plant has also begun to outsource jobs to Mexico. At the celebration, McCurry gave an incredible speech on his fight for workers' rights.
Carpenter and McCurry represent what UFCW works towards everyday: a safe and fair environment for American workers.
Jun 17, 2011
Bourbon and Bacon Tasting at Netroots Nation
The UFCW Bourbon and Bacon Happy Hour is being held on Saturday, June 18, at Netroots Nation, in Minneapolis, featuring bourbon and bacon made by UFCW members. In honor of this event, here are some more interesting facts about bacon:
- America produces around 2 billion pounds of bacon annually, and a 200 pound pig will normally produce about 20 pounds of bacon.
- Seventy percent of bacon is consumed during breakfast.
- There are 8 different cuts of bacon: streaky, back, collar, picnic, jowl, gammon, cottage and middle.
- There are also 8 different types of bacon which are: Canadian, Pancetta, Ventreche, Proscuitto, Serrano, Guanciale and White bacon.
Jun 16, 2011
Eva Longoria Speaks at the CARE Press Conference
The Children's Act for Responsible Employment (CARE) is endorsd by many organizations, UFCW included. On June 16th, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard and other advocates of the bill, including actress and activist, Eva Longoria, gathered at the Capitol Builiding to share with the press the importance of passing this bill.
Migrant children, as young as 12 and 13, often work incredibly long hours on farms with dangerous equipment and in dangerous conditions such as extreme heat. Longoria is the executive producer of the new documentary The Harvest/La Cosecha which shows children who work as migrant laborers on American farms. One of the major problems with this labor, is that while these children are doing backbreaking work in 110 degree heat, they are also being taken out of school making it close to impossible for them to ever have the chance of earning a high school diploma.
Longoria and the other producers of The Harvest/La Cosecha feel that the film will raise awareness of the problems here in America and will also help grow support for Congresswoman Royal-Allard's bill which will help improve laws to protect migrant children working on farms by raising the minimum age for farmworkers to 14 and raising the age at which they can do hazardous work to 18.
Also speaking at the press conference was former child migrant worker, Norma Flores Lopéz. She shared with the press the days of having to wake up early every morning and miss school for months at a time. Today she is the director of the Children in the Fields Campaign at the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs (AFOP).
UFCW continues to support the passing of this bill to help give migrant worker children an education and a safer life than they have now.
Bourbon and Bacon Happy Hour
Few things are as interesting or delicious as bacon, and in anticipation of the Bourbon and Bacon Happy Hour being held on Saturday, here are a few fun facts about bacon!
Bacon is one of the earliest processed meats in the history of the world, first being processed in 1500 BC. The first noted reference of bacon was made by a London cheesemonger in the 16th century. The origin of the word bacon is derived from the Old High German word Bacho. The phrase, "Bring home the bacon" is based on the story of a couple from Dunmow, Essex who, in 1104, impressed the Prior of Little Dunmow with their marital devotion to the point where the prior awarded them with a flitch.
If your at Netroots Nation in Minneapolis, stop by UFCW's Bourbon and Bacon Happy Hour on Saturday, right before the keynote.
Bacon is one of the earliest processed meats in the history of the world, first being processed in 1500 BC. The first noted reference of bacon was made by a London cheesemonger in the 16th century. The origin of the word bacon is derived from the Old High German word Bacho. The phrase, "Bring home the bacon" is based on the story of a couple from Dunmow, Essex who, in 1104, impressed the Prior of Little Dunmow with their marital devotion to the point where the prior awarded them with a flitch.
If your at Netroots Nation in Minneapolis, stop by UFCW's Bourbon and Bacon Happy Hour on Saturday, right before the keynote.
Jun 15, 2011
UFCW Goes to Netroots
A few of us will be traveling to the annual Netroots Nation conference in Minneapolis this week, to meet with progressive allies and bloggers and chart a course forward for the causes our members care about. For those of you planning to be at Netroots - or planning to follow along online - here's a quick cheat sheet of where you can find UFCW. Of course, we'll be around all week, so if you're in Minneapolis and looking to connect, tweet us @UFCW and we'll be sure to find you!
Thursday:
Thursday:
- From 9 - 10:15, find us at the panel on wage theft - "Stop! Wage Thief! How Workers are Getting the Money They're Owed" - featuring Carrie Gleason, co-Founder and Director of the RWDSU/UFCW Retail Action Project.
- From 3 - 4:15, UFCW will caucus with our brothers and sisters from throughout the labor movement at a Labor Strategy Session, moderated by Tula Connell and Paco Fabien.
- Friday afternoon at 1:15, we'll take a break from the panels and keynotes for a Fight Back for Good Jobs Rally with our LIUNA brothers and sisters at the Stone Arch Bridge, which spans the Mississippi and overlooks the I-35 bridge—a symbol of both the dangers of neglecting our basic needs and the possibilities that come with modern roads and bridges. If you're in the Minneapolis area, be sure to join us!
- After the day's sessions end, we'll be joining our friends from Walmart Watch for their "Accountability with a Shot of Netroots" happy hour, from 6-8 pm at Kieran’s Irish Pub, on the corner of 6th St and 1st Ave N. The happy hour will feature free drinks, fun beer koozies, and a chance to learn about Walmart Watch and how it can serve as a resource for the Netroots community.
- At Saturday morning's keynote session, UFCW International President and Change to Win Chair Joe Hansen will join an impressive panel of speakers to talk about "The Attack on America’s Middle Class, and the Plan to Fight Back." President Hansen will speak alongside Sen. Al Franken, AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Lee Saunders, Wisconsin Education Association Council President Mary Bell, SEIU President Mary Kay Henry, and economist Bob Kuttner. The panel, moderated by Ari Melber of The Nation, starts at 9:00 AM. It's a discussion you can't afford to miss!
- Later on, right before the conference's closing keynote, UFCW will be hosting a Bourbon and Bacon Tasting - featuring bourbon and bacon made by UFCW members! The tasting starts at 4:15 - it's a great chance to learn more about the products UFCW members across the country produce. Don't forget to RSVP!
Jun 14, 2011
UFCW Feeding the Hungry Tour 2011
UFCW is one of the many organizations presenting Al Roker's charity, Lend a Hand TODAY, with items it needs to continue supporting local charities. For the tenth year, Roker is beginning his week long trip across America with the Lend a Hand TODAY charity. On each stop across the nation, Roker (and scores of volunteers) gives a deserving charity a truck full of essential goods and supplies to help them help their communities. UFCW's Feeding the Hungry Program has partnered with Lend a Hand TODAY to help make this years donations an even bigger success!The tour started off June 13th in Anchorage, AK. The members and staff of UFCW Local 1496 started their day at 2 a.m. to give the Food Bank of Alaska the protein that was raised for them. Lend a Hand TODAY also donated recreational supplies and equipment (kayaks, water guns, basketballs, etc.). Monday's drop off was a huge success!
Day two took the tour to Las Vegas, NV, where the members and staff of UFCW Local 711 helped deliver 120,000 servings of protein to the Culinary Training Academy at 4 a.m.
Spreading support to all corners of America, the UFCW Feeding the Hungry Tour in partnership with Lend a Hand TODAY will be heading out again to give more local charities supplies. To the members and staff of UFCW and all the volunteers, we give you a big thank you for the early mornings and for all the hard work!
UFCW's Feeding the Hungry program, a joint venture with Smithfield, is a three-year, multi-city, coast to coast effort to donate and deliver more than 20 million servings of protein to food banks. To learn more about the program, visit UFCW.org.
UFCW's Feeding the Hungry program, a joint venture with Smithfield, is a three-year, multi-city, coast to coast effort to donate and deliver more than 20 million servings of protein to food banks. To learn more about the program, visit UFCW.org.
Jun 10, 2011
Local 10 needs your support
The organization that represents most West Coast shipping bosses is suing the longshore workers' union local for the Bay Area over a one-day work stoppage earlier this year to show solidarity with the struggle against union-busting in Wisconsin.
International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 10 was answering the call by the AFL-CIO for a day of solidarity with Wisconsin workers on April 4. Following the AFL-CIO's slogans of "We are all one" and "No business as usual," rank-and-file members of Local 10 decided unanimously to stay off the job.
Now, the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) is suing ILWU Local 10 and its president Richard Mead for "unspecified damages" over the work action.
The PMA is citing the notorious Taft-Hartley Act – an anti-union law passed in 1947. Taft-Hartley was crafted to ban solidarity strikes – secondary boycotts, mass pickets and wildcat strikes – actions that built union strength in the 1930s. The last time Taft-Hartley was used against the ILWU was in 2002, when the PMA locked out longshore workers who were facing attacks on their working conditions, wages and benefits.
ILWU Local 10 needs our support now. If the PMA succeeds in its campaign, the labor movement will be pushed backward – and in a moment when we need rank-and-file union activism and solidarity to grow, not dwindle. The battle against the current attacks on all workers in the United States and internationally needs Local 10 and they need us now, more than ever! Click here to show your support for ILWU Local 10.
International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 10 was answering the call by the AFL-CIO for a day of solidarity with Wisconsin workers on April 4. Following the AFL-CIO's slogans of "We are all one" and "No business as usual," rank-and-file members of Local 10 decided unanimously to stay off the job.
Now, the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) is suing ILWU Local 10 and its president Richard Mead for "unspecified damages" over the work action.
The PMA is citing the notorious Taft-Hartley Act – an anti-union law passed in 1947. Taft-Hartley was crafted to ban solidarity strikes – secondary boycotts, mass pickets and wildcat strikes – actions that built union strength in the 1930s. The last time Taft-Hartley was used against the ILWU was in 2002, when the PMA locked out longshore workers who were facing attacks on their working conditions, wages and benefits.
ILWU Local 10 needs our support now. If the PMA succeeds in its campaign, the labor movement will be pushed backward – and in a moment when we need rank-and-file union activism and solidarity to grow, not dwindle. The battle against the current attacks on all workers in the United States and internationally needs Local 10 and they need us now, more than ever! Click here to show your support for ILWU Local 10.
Next Saturday at Netroots Nation: UFCW Bourbon and Bacon Tasting (Free!)
The UFCW represents more than 1.3 million workers throughout the U.S. and Canada, primarily in retail, meatpacking, food processing, and retail food. We're also America's union with the largest membership under the age of 35. And we like bacon and bourbon - especially the bacon and bourbon our members make!
That's why next Saturday at Netroots Nation in Minneapolis, the UFCW is hosting a free bourbon and bacon tasting! If you're planning to be at Netroots, mark your calendars for a bourbon and bacon bonanza, on Saturday from 4:15 to 5, right before the closing keynote! Come mix and mingle, and sample the fine products UFCW members make - on us. Don't forget to RSVP!
And speaking of Netroots, have you seen the new NN11 mobile app? It's a fabulous addition to this years conference, and we have the lovely folks over at AFT to thank for it! Download the app, and then make sure to mark the UFCW Bourbon and Bacon Happy Hour as one of your favorite events. We'll see you - and a lot of bacon and bourbon - there!
That's why next Saturday at Netroots Nation in Minneapolis, the UFCW is hosting a free bourbon and bacon tasting! If you're planning to be at Netroots, mark your calendars for a bourbon and bacon bonanza, on Saturday from 4:15 to 5, right before the closing keynote! Come mix and mingle, and sample the fine products UFCW members make - on us. Don't forget to RSVP!
And speaking of Netroots, have you seen the new NN11 mobile app? It's a fabulous addition to this years conference, and we have the lovely folks over at AFT to thank for it! Download the app, and then make sure to mark the UFCW Bourbon and Bacon Happy Hour as one of your favorite events. We'll see you - and a lot of bacon and bourbon - there!
Jun 8, 2011
Next Week in Minneapolis: UFCW President Joe Hansen Joins Netroots Nation Keynote on the Attack on America’s Middle Class and the Plan to Fight Back
We’re witnessing the fruition of a decades-long plan by conservatives in Washington to undercut the progressive movement by destroying its foundation: labor unions. After decades of successfully diminishing the power of private sector unions, the right wing is now coming after public employee unions. From Wisconsin to Ohio, Republican legislators are taking aim at public sector unions as a means to their political ends. As they attempt to destroy the bedrock of progressive infrastructure, the middle class gets weakened and income disparity continues to grow.
After years of playing defense, progressives are ready to take the fight to the other side. Americans of all walks are angry, loud and organized to retain collective bargaining as the bedrock of the middle class and to expand the power of working people. Why are public sector workers bearing the brunt of this attack, and what is next? What will become of the middle class if we are not able to repel conservatives bent on destroying labor unions? How can we continue to fight for workers even as more states try to strip away our right to collectively bargain? And how can progressive activists stand up for and with the middle class against corporations who are attempting to buy our government?
UFCW International President and Change to Win Chair Joe Hansen will join an impressive panel of speakers to address these questions and more, at the Saturday morning keynote at Netroots Nation in Minneapolis next week. President Hansen will speak alongside Sen. Al Franken, AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Lee Saunders, Wisconsin Education Association Council President Mary Bell, SEIU President Mary Kay Henry, and economist Bob Kuttner. The panel, moderated by Ari Melber of The Nation, starts at 9:00 AM on Saturday, June 18. It's a discussion you can't afford to miss!
After years of playing defense, progressives are ready to take the fight to the other side. Americans of all walks are angry, loud and organized to retain collective bargaining as the bedrock of the middle class and to expand the power of working people. Why are public sector workers bearing the brunt of this attack, and what is next? What will become of the middle class if we are not able to repel conservatives bent on destroying labor unions? How can we continue to fight for workers even as more states try to strip away our right to collectively bargain? And how can progressive activists stand up for and with the middle class against corporations who are attempting to buy our government?
UFCW International President and Change to Win Chair Joe Hansen will join an impressive panel of speakers to address these questions and more, at the Saturday morning keynote at Netroots Nation in Minneapolis next week. President Hansen will speak alongside Sen. Al Franken, AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Lee Saunders, Wisconsin Education Association Council President Mary Bell, SEIU President Mary Kay Henry, and economist Bob Kuttner. The panel, moderated by Ari Melber of The Nation, starts at 9:00 AM on Saturday, June 18. It's a discussion you can't afford to miss!
Jun 3, 2011
Support Southern California Workers
Bargaining in southern California continues as grocery workers and UFCW members continue to stick together and take a stand for the good jobs our communities depend on.
The tens of thousands of unionized workers of Kroger, Supervalu, and Safeway are having their health benefits and pensions threatened. Negotiations continue between the UFCW and these supermarket chains.
These supermarkets have proposed health and welfare contributions that would fund less than half of the current level of benefits. Also these workers would receive inadequate pension funding, and indefensible work rule language.
Unionized supermarket employees set the standard for employment in our industries.
Send a letter to the workers and show your support by clicking here.
ufcwaction.org/california
The tens of thousands of unionized workers of Kroger, Supervalu, and Safeway are having their health benefits and pensions threatened. Negotiations continue between the UFCW and these supermarket chains.
These supermarkets have proposed health and welfare contributions that would fund less than half of the current level of benefits. Also these workers would receive inadequate pension funding, and indefensible work rule language.
Unionized supermarket employees set the standard for employment in our industries.
Send a letter to the workers and show your support by clicking here.
ufcwaction.org/california
What’s Right? Walmart’s Words vs. Walmart’s Political Priorities
A new report from Walmart Watch examines the political expenditures of Walmart's political action committee, Walmart stores Inc. PAC for Responsible Government, which makes contributions to candidates and other political action committees at multiple levels of government. While companies are not permitted to contribute directly to candidates at the federal level and thus act through political action committees, they are able to contribute in state elections, an opportunity Walmart regularly seizes.
Walmart Watch seeks to hold walmart fully accountable for its impact on communities, the American workforce, the retail sector, the environment and the nation's economy.
If you are interested in reading the report go to:
http://walmartwatch.org/get-the-facts/whats-right-walmarts-political-priorities/
If you would like to learn more about Walmart Watch, visit their website at:
http://walmartwatch.org/
Walmart Watch seeks to hold walmart fully accountable for its impact on communities, the American workforce, the retail sector, the environment and the nation's economy.
If you are interested in reading the report go to:
http://walmartwatch.org/get-the-facts/whats-right-walmarts-political-priorities/
If you would like to learn more about Walmart Watch, visit their website at:
http://walmartwatch.org/
Jun 2, 2011
UFCW Scholarship: Deadline June 3rd!
The deadline for the UFCW scholarship is tomorrow, but its not to late. Click the link below to apply.Your union is about more than your paycheck and benefits. The The UFCW is about workers coming together to build better lives for ourselves. It's about creating opportunity.
That's why each year the UFCW awards several scholarships of up to $8,000 each to UFCW members or their unmarried dependents.
http://www.ufcw.org/scholarship/scholarship_rules.cfm
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