March 27, 2014 - Union delivers a short but strong NO! on Employer proposals to the elimination of preference of hours and meat 1 1/2 pay on Sunday to the Employers (Lunds Food Holdings, Kowalskis and Jerry's Enterprises).
News
March 26, 2014 - ARGA and the Union met for their second bargaining session. Both sides had a good discussion on several items with health care being the biggest subject.
The Employers made it clear that they are not pleading poverty. We did reach some tentative agreements. The Employers started off the morning on our proposal which was short and sweet. We have a tentative agreement to change the Local number from 1116 to 1189. The rest of our proposals are economic issues which the Employers said they want to get all non-economic issues off the table first.
March 25, 2014 - UFCW Local 1189 met with Cub Foods Representatives. President Don Seaquist presented the Union's proposals to the Employer. UnionRetailProposals2014.pdf
March 24, 2014 - UFCW Local 1189 met with the three Employers who have chosen to bargain together (for convenience), Jerry's Cub & County Market, Lunds/Byerly's, and Kowalski's. President Don Seaquist presented the Union's proposals to the Employers.
UnionRetailProposals2014.pdf
March 20, 2014
Southern Division retail negotiations began on March 20, 2014 with the Union presenting our proposals to the Employer representative for Knowlan's Festival, Chris Thienes. The Union and the Employer met at FMCS (Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service); Jeanie Frank is the mediator assigned to our negotiations.
At the 2013 International Convention, Local 1189 Union Representative Tamara Jones was elected to serve on the executive board of UFCW OUTReach, the newest constituency group for the UFCW focusing on GLBT workers. Recently, UFCW OUTReach held its second executive board meeting and first annual lobby day in Washington, DC.
The Union members at Interfaith Care Center in Chisholm ratified their contract on March 18, 2014, after a nearly two-year fight. Pictured are the vote talliers (l-r), Jane Joki, Christine Spurlin, Rose Gerding, and Cheryl Winterquist. Congratulations to all of the members on their agreement and thank you to the community for your support!
UFCW 1189 Kokaisel Scholarship and the UFCW Local 1189 Executive Board Scholarship
Negotiations with ARGA (Arrowhead Retail Grocers Alliance) began on Wednesday, February 26, 2014.
Both the initial Union and Employer proposals are posted:
Union Meat Proposal - - - - - - - Union Grocery Proposal
Employer Meat Proposal -- - -- Employer Grocery Proposal
We are currently working with Federal Mediation to get bargaining dates on the calendar. As of today, there are two groups of employers willing to begin negotiations sitting together: Lunds/Byerlys, Kowalski's and Jerrys have indicated they will initially sit together in convenience bargaining. Corporate Cub, Rainbow and Festival have also expressed interest in sitting together. We are looking at dates toward the middle and end of March for both groups. Once dates have been confirmed, we will again send out an update. Don Seaquist, President UFCW Local 1189