UFCW Local 1445 Picks Up Three Organizing Victories

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.massaflcio.org/node/2470

UFCW Local 1445 Picks Up Three Organizing Victories
Submitted by Mass AFL-CIO on Fri, 06/08/2007 - 6:59pm.


On May 1st the Stoughton, Massachusetts school cafeteria workers voted for UFCW Local 1445 in a three way election. A group of workers were tired of having no real representation in the Stoughton Lunch Association (essentially a company union) who had a document they called a contract with no arbitration, seniority rights or steward system. It also excluded the part-timers who receive no benefits, holidays, vacations, sick days and the like that full-time employees receive. Supervisors campaigned against the union and for the Association. The vote resulted in a UFCW victory. Dates for negotiations are being set.

On May 7th in keeping with the sprit of the proposed "Employee Free Choice Act" the Heinz Company D/B/A the Alden Merrell Cheese Cake Company in Newburyport, Massachusetts offered neutrality to UFCW Local 1445. Four experienced staffers from Local 1445 and one from the International entered the plant and signed up 122 workers out of 156 in less than 24 hours. On May 10, Local 1445 was recognized as the sole bargaining agent for the 156 workers after a neutral third party verified a solid majority of support for the union. Some anti-union efforts were made to thwart the drive by overzealous managers but the overwhelming support from the mostly Hispanic workforce brought in the union. The workers manufacture a number of commercial bakery products and frozen deserts which are sold to fancy restaurants and a supermarket chain. Negotiations for a first contract are being set up.

On May 9th UFCW Local 1445 was certified by the NLRB after the workers voted in the union at the Butcher Block Company in Boston. The company filed frivolous objections to the election in an attempt to destroy a majority of support by stalling on negotiating a first agreement. Butcher Block is a small meat packing plant in Boston that processes packaged beef and chicken products sold in meat markets and supermarkets. Solidarity prevailed and negotiations are beginning next week.

Congrulations to UFCW Local 1445 for adding well over 200 new union members to the Labor Movement.
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