UFCW Local 8: Members Pay With No Say!

Despite the merger/election, and despite questionable balloting processes during the merger/election, the Slaydon reform campaign maintained momentum. More than maintained! Complaints regarding the irregularities have been filed with the Department of Labor and there's every reason to be optimistic that an investigation should be forthcoming.

The questionable goings on in the new Local, past and present, could be reason for members to feel defeat - but there is a glimmer of hope. Not all the news at Local 8 is bad news.

As reform candidate Doug Slaydon said:
"588 members did many things never done before; so be proud: you took your convictions, sense of truth and justice out to the streets, to the stores, to picket the UFCW 588 union halls in Roseville and Modesto.
You did something very few have done. You stood up. Made politics into action: got involved and spoke out, presented the Loveall Family with the most organized opposition they have ever seen* (a website, newsletter, leaflets, campaigning all over this huge "local"), shook up the UFCW International, learned many skills you can apply again in future educating-agitating-organizing!"

While contract negotiations for the Southern Ca UFCW locals are just months away and the Loveall leadership and UFCW International President Joe Hansen are out peacocking with hollow promises of "win backs" and multi local unity, members of the new Local 8 cannot afford to take the ostrich strategy for upcoming negotiations. There's no telling how much worse it can get than Jacques Loveall's "greatest contract in the nation" but grocery workers can no longer afford to find out!

With the guidance and help of Labor Notes, Retired UFCW president Local 789 and reform activist Bill Pearson, the Members for Democracy activist group at http://www.uncharted.ca , and some very knowledgeable people from a few of the Bay Area locals, the Slaydon reform crew indeed challenged the Loveall Dynasty with the most organized opposition they have ever seen.

There are a few things for certain, there will be no knight in shining armor that will lead grocery workers into some great victory! And with out a mass up-rising of workers in general,we will be destined for more attacks on ours and our families standard of living.

One thing is for sure! Members of the new Local 8 still pay with no say and that needs to change!

This is our opportunity to make choices which are good for the members.Please take the time to be informed and participate!

View discussion : http://forums.uncharted.ca/viewtopic.php?p=3671#3671