Your Union is looking for difference makers. Are you one of them?
At the Shop Stewards appreciation meeting July 16, with several dozen political leaders attending, President Cook discussed the Union’s innovative VOP (Voluntary Organizing Program) designed to ultimately win better contracts for Local 655 members. To do that, the Union MUST increase its Density in the local food industry.
To do that, Local 655 is looking for a few good men and women who are willing to donate up to 16 hours a month in an all-out effort to organize non-union food workers to increase our union Density.
BENEFITS FOR YOU
There are benefits to volunteering:
• Friday nights and every weekend off
• Mileage reimbursement
• Special training for volunteers.
The work will include one-on-one talking with non-union food workers hand billing, making phone calls, perhaps even house calls to non-union food workers. It will be varied, and it will be fun.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
President Cook did not mince words. The current food contract is not what the Union would like it to be. It’s the best that could be negotiated under current economic circumstances.
The economics are clear: Union employers are paying up to $5 an hour MORE in terms of wages, benefits and pensions than non-union employers pay. That gives the non-union food stores an INCREDIBLE cost advantage in pricing their products.
The result, the union food stores are losing market share.
“In two years, it could be an even worse con- tact unless we increase Density – the number of union stores. If we can do that, we can be in a strong bargaining position. If we can’t, we’re at a major disadvantage,” noted President Cook.
That’s what VOP is all about. Are you good enough to be a VOPer? Only one person per store can be selected.
If so, call President Cook direct: 314-736- 2701.
The Union’s goal: 20 VOPers in action by the end of September.
Do you have the right stuff?
