Bargaining             

Bargaining in 2008:

• Retail Drug industry contracts (CVS and Rite Aid) expiring this fall
• Retail Drug agreements with CVS and Rite Aid are the largest bargaining units and represent nearly 2,000 UFCW Local 1099 members. 
• CVS agreement expires on October 11, 2008
• Rite Aid agreement expires September 13, 2008
• Significant participation rate in bargaining surveys demonstrated awareness of the importance for mobilization in the upcoming negotiations. 
• Survey responses were reviewed and discussed, and additional proposals were secured for our bargaining agendas; wage increases and benefit improvements were paramount on the survey. 
• Bargaining committees are being established and dates are being scheduled with the employers for contract negotiations.

• Independent agreements

Plans of action set in place prior to the expiration of this year’s agreements have proven to be beneficial in securing contracts. 

Completed:

Meijer 135 [Hamilton, Ohio]

• Expired March 8
• Bargaining Committee recommended for approval a four year, seven month agreement that provided enhanced seniority provisions and transfer rights. 
• Wages were increased by $1.35 per hour on all top rate classifications. 
• The agreement was overwhelmingly supported by membership. 

Keller’s IGA

• Ratified a two year, nine month agreement 
• The new agreement provides a lucrative set of health and welfare benefits; the new benefit design significantly reduces weekly contributions for full-time and part-time workers. 
• The Employer agreed to pay a 15% increase on annual benefit adjustments for the duration of the agreement.  Wages were increased by $1.00 per hour over term for all top rate classifications as well as a restructured wage progression that reflects state and federal mandated increases.

IBC - Interstate Baking Corporation [Butternut Bread thrift stores]

• Members unanimously ratified a five-year agreement that secures wage, benefit, and pension increases. 
• After three years of extensions due to the Company’s bankruptcy proceedings, Local 1099 and other sister UFCW locals throughout the country bargained with IBC and were successful in providing an agreement that establishes job security and protection. 
• Wages were increased by $1.65 an hour over term with an additional .19¢ per hour paid to the pension fund. 
• The new health and welfare benefit design provided generous improvements and ancillary benefits.

In process:

Exel Logistics

• Distributor facility for Tropicana Juice

• Expires August 31
• All bargaining surveys, proposal and survey summation meetings have been completed

Fechheimer Uniform Company

• The last of Local 1099’s garment industry agreements
• Expires September 7

• All bargaining surveys, proposal and survey summation meetings have been completed

Meijer 168 [Cold Springs, Kentucky]

• Agreement was merged with the metro Cincinnati agreement in October 2005
• The original 168 agreement expires in July 2008 and wage adjustments must be negotiated for the duration of the Cincinnati agreement, which expires in October 2010
• The Employer has made wage proposals and the Union’s committee is in the process of reviewing the offer.  Counter proposals are forthcoming.

Columbus Kroger

• Expires November 9
• Covers some 200 Local 1099 grocery members in Bellefontaine and Urbana
• Local 1099 staff and members will bargain with Local 1059 in Columbus and the UFCW International Region 4 staff. 
• The Columbus agreement covers nearly 10,000 Kroger members. 

Looking Ahead…

Dayton Kroger

• Expires June 20, 2009
• Plan of action has already commenced, outlining a bargaining objective, the bargaining process itself, and the ratification and support process for the new agreement.