As a new employee in the bargaining unit, you are represented by United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 75. If you are like many new employees, this may be the first time you have been represented by a union, and you may have some questions as to what this means to you.
Union representation means that Local 75, on your behalf and with your full and active participation, negotiates and administers a legally binding contract, known as a collective bargaining agreement, with your employer that sets forth your wages, benefits, hours and all your working conditions. Because all employees negotiate together through the Union, union members receive higher wages and better benefits than non union workers doing similar jobs. Strength in numbers makes this possible!
Local 75 is part of the United Food & Commercial Workers International Union which represents workers in many similar occupations throughout the United States and Canada. The UFCW has 1.4 million total members. There are approximately 500 local unions in the International. Because the International is so very large, it provides a highly trained and motivated staff to help local unions. Local 75 can also draw on the other immense resources of the International, including modern technology and research departments.
Through various mergers, Local 75 has been in existence since the 1940s and, today, has approximately 30,000 members working in various industries and for various employers.
The officers of this Local Union are: President, Secretary-Treasurer, Recorder, and up to 35 Vice Presidents. Your contract is administered by the Local Union under the supervision of the Director of Representatives. Should you have any questions or problems regarding your job, you should contact your Steward or Union Representative. Stewards are available to assist you in your work location; however if there is no Steward available, contact your Union Representative. You can reach your Union Representative at the Local 75 office by calling toll free at 877-665-0075. The officers of Local 75 are elected by the membership in secret ballot elections. As a member, you will have the opportunity to participate in these elections. Local 75 is a democratic institution governed by our members under a written constitution and bylaws. All Local 75 members are encouraged to attend Quarterly General Membership Meetings in order to be informed about Union business. These meetings are held in January, April, July and October. The time and place of these meetings can be found in Rally, the Local 75 news magazine, and posted on the union bulletin board in your workplace.
As a new member, you also should plan to attend the New Member Orientation Meetings. The time and place of these meetings can be found posted on the union bulletin board in your workplace or by contacting your union representative. At this meeting, you will have an opportunity to learn a great deal about the operation of your Local Union. Eligible members will receive a partial rebate on their initiation fee for attending. A union contract provides numerous advantages not found in the non-union workplace. Without a legally binding contract, the law allows an employer to fire you for almost any reason or no reason at all, or change your wages or hours without your consent. There are virtually no restrictions set by law regarding what your employer can do. Our Local Union contract provides a legally binding agreement that is enforceable. As a member of Local 75, you can enjoy all the benefits of the union contract. A copy of the contract can be obtained by completing and mailing a Contract Request Card, a copy of which is included in your new member packet or available at your workplace. As new and better contracts are negotiated, a copy will be sent to you. As an employee represented by the Union, you can enjoy all the benefits of this contract. This contract establishes your wages, hours, benefits and working conditions. The contract also does much more. Every contract is different, please read yours carefully. However, your contract may provide the following:
THE CONTRACT protects your seniority which will become increasingly important to you the longer you are working for this employer;
THE CONTRACT prohibits discipline or discharge by your employer, except for just cause, once you have completed your probationary period;
THE CONTRACT provides for paid vacations negotiated by the Local Union and paid for by your employer;
THE CONTRACT provides for health and welfare and pension benefits negotiated by the Local Union and paid for by your employer;
THE CONTRACT establishes a grievance procedure with binding arbitration to resolve your complaints in a way that gets results; and,
THE CONTRACT provides many more benefits, all of which are negotiated by the Local Union and detailed in the written agreement.
Perhaps the greatest benefit of being covered by a Local 75 contract is the knowledge and security that the provisions of
that contract cannot be changed whenever the employer decides. No change can be made without the Local Union’s agreement. The Local Union and the employer negotiate new contracts when the old ones expire. At that time, the Local Union seeks various improvements, including better wages and working conditions.
In addition to the specific benefits of the Local Union contract, when you become a member of this Local Union, you will
be able to: VOTE YOUR CONSCIENCE on acceptance or rejection of proposed contracts that would set your wages, benefits an working conditions; FULLY PARTICIPATE in the development of contract proposals, election of officers and union activities; and, BENEFIT from other programs such as Union Plus, Membership Assistance Foundation, scholarship programs, discount plans, discount coupons, and other services available only to union members. When you become a member of Local 75, we hope that you will take advantage of your membership and become an active, involved member of your Union.
Strong, active and informed members are essential to the strength of your Union. In the long run, your participation will benefit both you and your co-workers by helping the Union gain improved benefits and working conditions. Following is a membership application. After you read this letter, we urge you to fill it out, sign and date it, and submit it. Do it today so that you can start enjoying the full benefits of membership in Local 75. Also following is a dues checkoff authorization. This permits your employer to automatically remit your dues, fees and/or assessments directly to the Local Union. This saves you from having to pay the dues on a monthly basis by direct payment. Virtually everyone in the Union uses this system, and we encourage you to take advantage of it.
If you are an employee working under a UFCW contract containing a union security clause, you are required, as a condition of employment, to pay dues or fees to the Union. If you are an employee working under a UFCW contract that does not contain a union security clause, you are not required, as a condition of employment, to pay dues or fees to the Union.
WELCOME! It would be a pleasure to have you as a member of Local 75. Please call the Local Union toll free at 877-665-0075 if there is anything we can do to
help you. We look forward to serving you.