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April 29, 2009
Update on Local 555 Negotiations in Portland Area
Dear Portland Area CCK, Grocery, and Meat UFCW Local 555 Members –
Over the last two days we have been at the bargaining table with your
employers. We would like to tell you we have a tentative deal, however, the
need to negotiate the best contract has prevented us from moving so quickly.
We are not interested in making just any deal -- we want an acceptable deal.
UFCW 555 members deserve the best possible deal, even in hard economic
times.
The Portland Bargaining Committee is united and will continue to stand
steadfast, striving for success, during these tough negotiations. Current
negotiations broke midday on April 29, 2009 because new information
regarding Health & Welfare was provided by a consultant. The numbers
indicate that previous projections may be inaccurate, thus needing
reanalysis. As a result, your Union Bargaining Committee did not feel
comfortable continuing to negotiate your contract based on uncertainties
and/or bad assumptions. We believe that the previously used figures, related
to costs, is severely under-projected and inaccurate. We have asked to have
the numbers reevaluated so that your new contract does not grossly
underestimate the money needed to ensure you and your family are taken care
of. This will take time. We want to make improvements in the plan, however,
we cannot move forward until basic funding is assured.
Below are other issues facing us at the bargaining table:
• New Hires – The employers wanted to significantly limit benefits on new
hires. One example is no overtime after eight hours. The Union Committee let
the employers know that this was unacceptable. Currently, most of these
issues have been taken off the table.
• Wages – Originally when the employers came to the table they wanted to
continue with the old practice of forgoing real wage increases with bonuses.
The Union Committee stood strong and told the employers “No!” Time after
time the Union Committee told the employers that bonuses were not
acceptable. The employers are now listening but we still have work to do
when it comes to acceptable wages.
• Pensions – This issue is important to all of us. The Union Trustees moved
to file the “Green Status” extension with the IRS to give the market time to
stabilize and to provide time for the rules governing the Pension Protection
Act of 2006 to be written. Unfortunately, on February 11, 2009, the Employer
Trustees voted against the Union Trustee position resulting in a deadlock.
As a result, participants in the Oregon Retail Employee Pension Trust will
be receiving a letter explaining the “Red Zone – Critical Status” that has
been submitted. It is our belief that the employers may have wanted green
status but falsely thought the Union needed it more and that we would rush
into a contract in order to get the status changed prior to the April 30th
IRS deadline.
Rushing into a contract satisfies no one, except maybe the employers, and it
is unacceptable to rush into a bad contract. The committee has seen a change
in the demeanor of the employers. The solidarity of the members as a result
of the contract campaign is having an effect. We encourage everyone to stay
strong and stay united.
Your Union Bargaining Committee:
Dan Clay, Jeff Anderson, Ken Spray, Lynda Hart, Jeff McDonald, Ian Young,
Judy Caire, Lisa Brinson, Carolyn Doll, Michael Miller, Moe Moar, Cherlyn
Patterson, Jerry Rogness, and Stuart Fishman
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