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Secretary/Treasurer's
Report
by Richard L.
Benson
This is my
first opportunity to address the members of UFCW5 as
Secretary-Treasurer of our union. It is an honor
and a privilege to serve in this capacity and I look
forward to working with the fine staff, Executive Board
and membership of this great union.
Less than a
year ago we began discussing the possibility of merging
our various locals into a new Local 5. I want to
thank the leadership of each of the locals for their
determination and commitment in making this work for the
benefit of our members and laying the groundwork to
bring new members into our ranks who currently have no
voice in their workplace.
UFCW 5 will
be a union that will serve the needs of our current
members and devote a significant amount of resources to
bringing the benefits of union representation to workers
throughout our core industries. We will work in concert
with the International Union and our sister locals in
Northern California to develop an organizing culture
that will grow the union. This is the greatest
responsibility leaders of the unions have.
2007 is a
very busy year for negotiations in both the food and
drug divisions of UFCW 5. We will be working with
the locals in Southern California as well as Seattle, so
that they can be successful in their talks which will in
turn strengthen our position in Northern California.
There will be plenty of opportunities for members to get
involved, and we will be reaching out for your
involvement and input during this process.
The
healthcare crisis continues to be one of the most
important issues we area dealing with, not just during
negotiations but on an ongoing basis. UFCW5 is
putting forth a tremendous amount of effort in working
on committees to develop strategies and programs for
dealing with the cost increases in healthcare benefits
and studying ways to improve benefit package designs.
For instance, we have hired MED EXPERT to work with UFCW
5 members so that they receive the best advice for
making proper healthcare decisions for themselves and
their families. We are glad to be able to offer this as
a new benefit for our membership.
I am pleased
to partner with Ron Lind, someone I have known and
worked with for the past twenty-nine years. Our
responsibility is to make UFCW5 a model local union for
the UFCW. We are confident that we will meet this
goal through the talent and experience of our staff,
past and present, and most importantly through the
involvement of UFCW5 members throughout the union.
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