TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2009
UFCW 21, 44 merge into one local
With over 35,000 members, it's the largest, fastest-growing union in WA

The following news release was distributed Monday by WSLC affiliate, the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 21:

SEATTLE/MT VERNON -- This morning a merger agreement, approved last week by the members of UFCW 21 and UFCW Local 44 went in effect. This merger creates a new and larger UFCW 21 with over 35,000 members working in grocery store, retail, health care, and other service sector jobs. In addition to grocery and retail workers, Local 44 brings meat cutters and processors into UFCW 21. With the additional 3,500 members from Local 44, UFCW 21 is the fastest growing and largest private sector union in Washington. 

"The time was right to bring the members of Local 44 into Local 21 and create a larger and more powerful voice for working people," said semi-retiring President Mike Hatfield who has led Local 44 for decades and who will serve in a consultant and advisory role over the next couple years. "This will increase our bargaining power with employers." 

The two top officers of UFCW 21 will remain in their positions of the newly enlarged local. "This will bring more resources and organizing of UFCW into northwest Washington resulting in improved communications, more staff support for contract fights, and more organizing efforts," said Dave Schmitz, President of UFCW 21. 

Preceding the merger vote, the two locals had often negotiated contracts together. An example of such work is the current effort to reach a renewed contract between over 1,500 UFCW members who work at Macy's and Macy's corporate management. The current contract expired a month ago and negotiations to reach an agreement are ongoing with another bargaining meeting this Friday. 

"It has been great teaming up with my fellow UFCW members on this fight for a fair contract at Macy's over the past couple months," said Sonje Bajema-Hawes, "Becoming all members of Local 21 will help us speak with an even stronger and more unified voice as we fight to protect our working conditions, wages and job security." 

The Mt. Vernon building will remain open and continue with the same Union Representatives and Office Staff. The Mt. Vernon office now joins the other UFCW 21 offices in Seattle, Silverdale, Spokane and Mt Vernon. For more information about UFCW 21 go to www.ufcw21.org

TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2009
Sen. Murray: Health care rally "makes a difference"

Following are U.S. Sen. Patty Murray's remarks from Saturday's "Health Care for All" rally and march in Seattle:

Thank you so much, Kristin, for that introduction and for all of your work to ensure that the needs of our families are front and center in the policy debates facing our communities and our country.

Wow! Look at this crowd!!

If this turnout doesn’t send a message back to Washington, D.C. that there’s a groundswell of support for real health care reform this year – then, boy, I don’t know what would!

Thank you all so much for being here today!! I know many of you traveled long distances.

You are taking time away from jobs, family members and in some cases, sick loved ones.

You are spending your weekend standing up and speaking out for what you and I know shouldn’t be a privilege for the few, but should be available to all: quality, affordable health care

And I want you to know that your being here today truly makes a difference!!

You are sending a message to Congress and the White House and communities across this country that we are diverse in background and belief but we speak with one voice and march in lock step when it comes to doing what’s right for our kids, our families, our economy and our future and that is ensuring access to quality, affordable health care for all this year!

And thank you so much to all the organizers of today’s rally. To the nearly 200 sponsors – Thank You!

And to all the groups from Labor, to Health Providers, to Businesses, to Religious, and Community Organizations to the every-day heroes who are working quietly to make a difference– thank you!

I know you have literally given hundreds and hundreds of hours of your time planning today’s rally. I have been so impressed by your stories and your commitment, passion, and enthusiasm.

I know you’ve worked your hearts out!! You’ve knocked on thousands of doors. You’ve spent hours making phone calls and fliers and organizing your friends and neighbors. You’ve raised money. You’ve held raffles. You’ve organized carpools and busses and vans.

And look around you! You have already made a difference!

And you know I have to give a special shout out to one very special group of people here today. You are the ones who work hard every day, who never want or ask for credit, and, who - too often - don’t get the credit you are due. But you truly are Leading the Way to a better path for all of our kids, grandkids and communities, you are the Moms out here today!!!

And believe me – I happen to know this one first hand - if there is a group of people who CAN and WILL make a difference - it’s a group of Moms in Tennis Shoes!!!! And don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!!

I didn’t.

You know, over the years, I have met many moms and dads – and all kinds of people – in all kinds of shoes – who decided they could complain or they could get organized. And that’s what all of you are doing here today. You are organized. You are passionate. And you can make a difference in the direction of this country. And when I see all of you here and I hear stories like those of Marcelas and so many other courageous people who share them with me – I know we can and must reform our health care system this year!!

You know, the last time I looked out on a crowd with this much energy it was a cold but historic day in January. Over a million people had crowded onto the National Mall to watch Barack Obama be sworn in and to hear his first words to us as President. I think no matter who you were – or what party you represented – we all felt hope for the future.

As President Obama said that day, our country has been divided for too long. He said that the question we all need to ask ourselves is not whether our government is too big or too small but whether it works.

And that’s why we are all here today. To send a message back to the “other Washington” that for the health of our families, the survival of our businesses, the strength of our communities and our economy long-term that health care must work for all Americans!

I’m happy to say that we have begun to make health care work better for one very special group who had been overlooked for too long – our kids. No one should have to worry about whether they can afford to take their child to see a doctor. Shortly after President Obama took office, we passed a law to guarantee health coverage for more than 4 million new children across the country, including 6,000 children here in Washington. I’m proud of the progress we have made, but we can’t stop – and I know all you mom’s out there won’t stop - until every child in America is covered.

And we have an historic opportunity to finally get it done – and to tackle the challenge of covering all Americans.

Here in America, families are struggling with the crushing costs of health care that threaten their financial stability, leave them exposed to higher premiums and deductibles and put them at risk of losing coverage as employers struggle to provide coverage.

Here in America, families are losing the very parts of their health care that they value most – their choice of doctors, hospitals, and insurance plans; their choice of treatments and the security and stability that comes from knowing that they are covered if anything goes wrong.

Here in America, people who should be focused on fighting for their lives are instead fighting insurance companies.

Here in America, families are telling their kids they can’t go out for football or baseball or soccer because if they get hurt, there is simply no way to pay the bills.

Here in America, twilight years are darkened by having to choose between seeing a doctor and buying groceries.

Here in America, too many people are limping and crawling into Medicare – like I watched my own parents do.

Here in America, too many people can’t get care when they need it, can’t pay for it when they do and aren’t given a say in some of the most important and personal choices in their lives.

Here in America, we can do better.

Now, some critics out there argue that now is not the time to tackle health care reform. Well to me, that’s shortsighted reasoning and tone-deaf governing.

Investing in our health care system is not a luxury – it’s absolutely critical to our future strength. There is a direct connection between our nation’s long-term prosperity and developing health care policies that stem the chronic bleeding in business and in our state and national budgets.

We must reduce costs and make health care more affordable.

We also have to understand that health care is personal. We need to protect a patient’s choice of doctor and insurance plan as we work to make sure all Americans can see a doctor and get quality care at the time they need it.

That’s why I believe in protecting existing coverage when it is good, improving it when it is not, and guaranteeing health care for the millions who have none.

We also need to prioritize the health professions workforce and access to quality care in rural areas. And we have to focus on the importance of preventative care so that American families aren’t left with giant bills for expensive care down the road.

And, I want to mention one more thing that I am focused on as we move through health care reform and that is helping our trauma care centers – like Harborview here in Seattle – defray the increased costs of providing health care and uncompensated charity care. Accidents don't discriminate among rich and poor and neither should our trauma care centers.

So, I want you to know that I’m headed back to D.C. on Monday to join with my good friend and mentor Senator Ted Kennedy and with President Obama to tackle this issue head on.

I will take your stories and your passion with me. And together we will give families back their choice,

businesses back their strength, and America back her promise of a brighter day ahead.

So, I want to thank you for everything you are doing! Keep it up!! Keep your voices up!!

Keep marching and keep standing up for health care reform and a stronger, healthier America! Thank you!!

  

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