WWW.UFCW.ORGApril 9, 2013 Volume 18, Issue 5

Allies Join Wellness Connection of Maine Workers in Standing Up for Good Jobs, Safe Medicine

Labor leaders, politicians, and community leaders joined unionizing workers at Well-ness Connection of Maine in Port-land to demand a change in the business practices of Maine’s largest medical marijuana dispensary.

Workers and their supporters distrib-uted fl yers outside the company’s Portland dispen-sary calling for the company to change their ways, and start providing a

safe workplace, safe medicine and good jobs with a union voice at work.

Wellness Connection of Maine has ignored employee voices, attempted to silence whistle blowers, refused to recognize work-ers organizing for a voice on the job, and engaged in illegal and unsafe medical marijuana cultivation processes.

Workers organized and demanded recognition for their member-ship in the UFCW, but Wellness Connection of Maine has refused to recognize the workers’ right to stick together and bargain collectively.

“We just want a voice,” said Susan Gay, who works at the Thomaston dispensary. “Maybe if we’d had a real way to solve problems at work, there wouldn’t have been a need for workers to call in 23 tips to state regulators to stop Wellness Connection from using pesticides on the medicine we provide.”

The Maine Department of Licensing and Regulatory services found more than 20 violations of state regulations in a month-long investigation of the company prompted by employee tips.

Among the most serious of these violations was the unlawful use of nine pesticides in the growing operation.

“Our thousands of patients depend on us every day,” said Gay, “we depend on a safe workplace and a good job to support our families. Wellness Connection should listen to us, recognize our union and let us stand together to make our work better.”

Ground level workers have been out sick due to working condi-tions; some with lung infections from mold exposure in the warehouse, for which the company has yet to provide protec-tive equipment. Others have resigned citing moral confl ict over Wellness Connection’s business practices - including the use of pesticides on the medicine the patients depend on. OP

Members from UFCW Local 348-S Fight Immigration “Silent Raids” at the Workplace

On April 8, members of UFCW Local 348-S and allies rallied at the Homeland Security Offi ce of Investigation in New York City. Members are fi ghting the Department of Homeland Secu-rity audits of work authorization records that could threaten the livelihood of immigrant workers in New York.

New York’s offi ce of Homeland Security Investigations has an-nounced an audit of work authorization records at 3 Guys from Brooklyn, a family-owned produce stand and grocery. The move comes on the eve of long-awaited national immigration reform legislation. UFCW Local 348-S members are calling on DHS to halt the audit until the specifi cs of comprehensive immigration reform are known.

Members from UFCW Local 348-S rally to support the livelihoods of immigrant workers in New York.

Workers from the Wellness Connection medi-cal marijuana dispensary and community al-lies rally to fi ght for workers’ rights and safe working conditions at the dispensary.

WWW.UFCW.ORGApril 9, 2013 Volume 18, Issue 5

UFCW Local 135 Feeds the Hungry in San Diego

On March 28, UFCW Local 135 members teamed up with Smithfi eld Foods in the latest Feeding the Hungry event. 30,000 pounds of protein were delivered to the Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank.

Over the course of the three year collaboration, the Feed-ing the Hungry campaign has donated more than 19 million servings of protein to food banks that serve their communities through local and emergency food pantries and disaster-relief agencies. OP

OUR Walmart Shows Support for Workers in California

The I-9 audit that DHS is pursuing examines the person-nel records offered by employees when hired. If DHS agents discover workers they say are undocumented, they can fi ne the employer—or order him to fi re workers. Thousands of these “silent raids” in recent years have led to untold numbers of workers losing their jobs and their foothold in local communities. OP

UFCW Local 655 Members Rally Against Anti-Worker Bills in Missouri

Yesterday, members of UFCW Local 655 rallied in St. Charles against anti-worker legislation being considered in the Mis-souri legislature. St. Charles is represented by Senate Majority Leader Tom Dempsey—a Republican whose caucus has been pushing no rights at work and paycheck deception bills.

The rally was attended by about 200 members. Among them was Will Flesch who said, “Right to work is wrong for Mis-souri. There’s already a law that says no one can be forced to join a union. It’s unnecessary and frankly, unfair. They’re just playing politics.”

UFCW Local 655 member Laura Kelley added, “A lot of vot-ers don’t know what’s going on in Jefferson City, but when they hear what working people are facing and how wages will fall if these bills are passed, people are very concerned. Politi-cians should realize that constituents are paying attention.”

The rally was the latest event in an ongoing campaign by UFCW Local 655 against these measures. They are also par-ticipating in weekly canvasses, lobby visits, and other educa-tion and outreach efforts. OP

Members from UFCW Local 135 partnered with Smithfi eld Foods to donate 30,000 pounds of protein to a local food bank.

UFCW Local 655 members Deborah Caulifi eld (left) and Deborah Polkinghorne (right) attend a rally in St. Charles, MO protesting anti-worker legislation.

OUR Walmart members hold a “Thank You” action in San Leandro, Calif. to show support for Walmart workers.