WWW.UFCW.ORGJanuary 8, 2013 Volume 17, Issue 4

New York City Retail Workers Win Back Wages with Help from RWDSU and RAPOn December 20, over 100 cur-rent and former retail employees of Mystique Boutique in New York City received back wages through a $950,000 wage theft settlement obtained by the New York State Offi ce of the Attorney General which inves-tigated work-ers’ claims of non-payment of minimum wage and overtime. The settlement includes funds for restitution as well as independent monitoring for ongoing compliance with wage and hour laws.

Workers brought their claims to the New York State Attorney General through a campaign to clean up illegal labor practices in retail chains initiated by the Retail Action Project (RAP), working in partnership with the RWDSU. RAP is a member-ship organization of retail workers dedicated to improving workplace standards in the industry.

Carolina Ferreyra, a former Mystique Boutique employee of two years, led her co-workers through the process of fi ling their claims. She explained, “Mystique thought they could get away with violating the law because many of us are young immigrants. But we came together and exercised our right to fair and legal wages. My days of working 60-70 hours a week with no overtime, raises, or respect are over, and today I’m thrilled to be fi nally getting back what I’ve earned.”

Phil Andrews, Director of the Retail Organizing Project at the RWDSU, added, “SoHo is an important part of the city’s retail economy. When retailers like Mystique pay below minimum wage, they hurt standards for all retail workers.” OP

H&M Workers Join Local 1102* for a Union Voice on the JobAround 60 H&M workers in New York City joined Local 1102* to have a union voice at the workplace. Workers at 11 Manhattan H&M stores are now under a master contract.

H&M members from other stores helped to organize workers by discussing the benefi ts of standing together in solidarity and having a voice on the job.

“As a steward, I want all my H&M co-workers to have the same benefi ts and protection that I have. When I spoke to the new workers, I shared how having a union voice helped me and others in my store,” said H&M steward Charlie Truitt.

H&M worker Alicia Williams-Timo said,“When it was time for me to come speak to the new workers, I was happy to share my own story and how being part of a union helped me to stay with the company and develop within my job.” OP

UFCW Mourns Loss of Labor Leader and Former UFCW Local 1776 President Wendell W. Young, III Wendell W. Young, III, longtime leader of UFCW Local 1776 in Pennsylvania, died last week in his home surrounded by his family, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 74 years old. One of America’s most progressive labor leaders, Young dedicated his entire life to the pursuit of social justice and the interests of working men and women.

At age 16, he began working as a part-time clerk at an Acme Markets store in Northeast Philadelphia. After being encour-aged by his father to get involved in the labor movement, Young’s co-workers elected him as shop steward. In 1962 at the age of 23, Young successfully ran for union executive of-fi ce, and eventually became the youngest labor leader in Penn-sylvania. During his 43 years as President, Young expanded the union to include more than 24,000 members.

He was nationally recognized as a job creator and as an in-novative negotiator. He supported the creation of Super Fresh Markets and the creative employee stock ownership bid that saved Acme Markets and thousands of jobs throughout the

Retail worker Carolina Ferreyra led her co-workers through the process of fi ling their claims for the wage theft settlement.

WWW.UFCW.ORGJanuary 8, 2013 Volume 17, Issue 4

“This is the third year of our Feeding the Hungry tour, and together we have put 19 million meals on the tables of those who need it most,” said UFCW International President Joe Hansen. “All across the country, UFCW members are on the front lines of efforts to improve and strengthen their commu-nities, and this partnership with the Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana refl ects their unwavering commitment to protect and advocate for families during tough times.”

The Feeding the Hungry campaign launched in November 2009 in a coast-to-coast effort to help families and individuals become more food secure. The campaign committed to donate and deliver protein to food assistance organizations across the country. Since its launch, Feeding the Hungry has made more than 130 stops traveling from Florida all the way to Alaska and donated a total of 19 million meals to food banks across the country. OP

region. Under Young’s leader-ship, UFCW Local 1776 won national acclaim for negotiat-ing innovative employee ben-efi ts, including comprehensive healthcare cov-erage, pension plans, childcare benefi ts, and higher educa-tion assistance.

Young is survived by his wife Kather-ine, and sons Wendell IV, Brian, Scott, Eric, Brendan, Matthew, 13 grand-children and legions of friends. OP

UFCW Members Feed the Hungry in Indianapolis

The joint UFCW and Smithfi eld Feeding the Hungry cam-paign continued on December 20 in Indianapolis, Ind. Mem-bers from UFCW Local 700 participated in the 25,000 pound food donation to the Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana.

Labor leader and president emeritus of UFCW Local 1776 Wendell W. Young III passed away last week.

Members from UFCW Local 700 participate in the Feeding the Hungry donation in Indiana.