Harvey WhillePRESIDENT

Matthew MolinaroSECRETARY-TREASURER

John ColellaRECORDER

EXECUTIVE BOARD VICE PRESIDENTS

Ronald Bennett, Stop & ShopRuby Boston, ShopRite

Richard Brock, Stop & ShopRobert Brozowski, ShopRite

Joseph Cahill, FoodtownGerry Callan, ShopRiteJames Cullen, ShopRite

Michael DeMartino, Local 1262Michael Ebbe, Local 1262Jeanette Galante, ShopRitePam Germain, Stop & ShopFrances Green, ShopRite

Dolores Jackson, ShopRiteMichael Kantor, Local 1262Richard Madore, ShopRite

Karen McManus, Local 1262William McNeill, ShopRiteDonald Merritt, Local 1262

Irene Pereira, ShopRiteMichael Piccicacco, Local 1262

Stephanie Pieper, ShopRiteRichard Taylor, ShopRite

Darlene Walaszek, Stop & ShopKathy Wilder, ShopRite

EXECUTIVE STAFF

Michael Kantor John ColellaExecutive Vice President Recorder & Field Director

Michael DeMartino, Director Contract Administration & Internal OperationsSal Colarieti, Assistant Field Director

Elizabeth Laughery, Assistant Field DirectorDonald Merritt, Assistant Field Director

Michael Piccicacco, Assistant Field DirectorAnthony Yodice, Organizing Director

Cynthia McCarthy, Communications Director

EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAL STAFF

Christine Connery Gladyz Feimster Valerie Morano

I N T H I S I S S U E

The 1262 Banner (ISSN-0190-4744) is published quarterly by United Food & Commercial Workers Local 1262 for its members.

President: Harvey WhilleSecretary-Treasurer: Matthew MolinaroRecorder: John ColellaEditor: Cynthia McCarthy

Volume 56, No. 1 – SPRING 2015

If you have comments, suggestions, information or news you would like us to consider for publication, please send to:

E-mail: cmccarthy@ufcwlocal1262.org Fax: 973-777-3430 Mail: 1389 Broad Street, Clifton, NJ 07013

Periodical Postage paid at Clifton, NJ and additional offices

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Banner 1389 Broad Street, Clifton, NJ 07013

V O L U M E 5 6 , N 0 . 1 – S P R I N G 2 0 1 6

UNION REPRESENTATIVES

Steve Blaho, Jr. Michael Ebbe

Rich EbbeJohn FaulhaberJames FeimsterKenneth HassettMargaret HrehaRichard JanssenEd MagierowskiKaren McManus

Christopher MolinaroTom MountNancy Miller

James MulhollandRich Pena

Carmen PizziGary SagueDavid Uczen

Thomas Whille

President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Secretary-Treasurer’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Colleen Pagano: A Local 1262 Shop Steward and A “Steward” for Veterans Lives, Too. . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Dearborn Market Is The Newest Company To Employ Local 1262 Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

MAP Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Local 1262 Salutes Our Shop Stewards . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Field Director’s Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

New Foodtown Opens in Bloomfield’s Glenwood Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Snapshots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

THIS SUMMER – AND ALL YEAR – SHOP UNION STORES & BUY

UNION-MADE PRODUCTSLocal 1262 President Whille reminds our members to shop UNION stores and buy UNION-MADE products whenever

possible. Supermarkets represented by Local 1262 include:

ACME DEARBORN MARKET FAIRWAY MARKETFOODTOWN MORTON WILLIAMS SHOPRITE STOP & SHOP

For a list of other Union retailers and UFCW Made Products visit www.unionplus.org.

SPRING 2016 1262 BANNER 3

Merriam-Webster defines “solidarity” as follows: Solidarity -- noun sol·i·dar·i·ty \ˌsä-lˌ-ˌda-rˌ-tˌ -- a feeling

of unity between people who have the same interests, goals, etc.

But solidarity is more than just a “feel good” word, especially when it’s put into action.

Local 1262 recently had the privilege of being part of “solidarity in action” through the sup-port we provided our brothers and sis-ters in New England during their con-tract negotiations with Stop & Shop.

Our support began when I was asked by UFCW International President Marc Perrone and Region One Director Tom Clarke to come to New England and address the Presidents of the five locals involved in the negotiations. I drove to Rhode Island and had the privilege of not only addressing the presidents, but also all of the rank-and-file members who were serving on the Contract Negotiation Committee. I spoke of the importance of solidarity and how well it had served Local 1262 in the past. I also made the commitment right then and there to provide whatever support and whatever action was necessary to help them get through what promised to be some very difficult and contentious negotiations.

I made this commitment not only because it was the right thing to do, but also because it was an opportunity for Local 1262 to repay all the fine Local presidents and members in that Region for the assistance and support they provided to our members many, many years ago when we were in the same boat here in our area. It was an honor to be able to now come to their aid and help this outstanding group of hard-working people who

helped Local 1262 obtain – years ago – the fine contracts we still benefit from today.

The New England negotiations got underway in December with the company looking for massive conces-sions from New England members. The five New England locals – assisted by all of the locals that represent more than 55,000 members employed by Stop & Shop and

other Ahold-owned stores along the Eastern Seaboard – stood up to the company – in solidarity – and said “No!”

Solidarity came to life in our Union, in the stores and in the community.

Solidarity came to life when Local 1262 and our sister Locals provided support by sending our own seasoned Union Representatives to work with the New England Union Representatives. Together, side by side, they visited stores to talk to members and to cus-tomers. Our Union Reps (Local 1262’s Tom Mount, Steve Blaho and Ed Magierowski among them) stayed in New England for weeks and played a

major role in the campaign.Solidarity came to life when other unions, elected

officials, community allies and customers came together – often arriving by the busload – to attend numerous Rallies held in New England to support our members and their families. In addition to our Union Reps already on the ground in New England, Local 1262 sent other staff members (Don Merritt, Mike Piccicacco, Tom Whille, Mike Kantor and others) to the rallies where they showed there is strength in numbers and voices to be heard.

Solidarity came to life when UFCW members – Local 1262 included – reached out to customers in New

“Solidarity is more than just a “feel good”

word, especially when it’s put into action.

”

Harvey Whille

U F C W   L O C A L   1 2 6 2   P R E S I D E N T ’ S   M E S S A G E

L abor union leaders, myself included, often talk about the importance of “solidarity.” But what does solidarity really mean to each of us in the labor movement and why is it so important?

Solidarity Is Alive and Well

(Continued on page 18)

4 1262 BANNER SPRING 2016

United Food & Commercial Workers Local 1262 Nomination Of Officers

The offices of President, Secretary-Treasurer, Recorder and Vice Presidents 1 through 24 inclusive are open for nomination for election to three-year terms of office commencing January 1, 2017 and ending December 31, 2019. The nominations shall be conducted by petition. Each of the 24 vice presidents is numerically designated for nomination and election pur-poses. For example, Vice President Number 1, Vice President Number 2, etc.

This shall serve as official notice to the active membership of UFCW Local 1262 that nomination petitions for any of the above offices must be submitted in person, by U.S. Mail or other carrier no later than 4:30 p.m., Friday, July 1, 2016 at the main office of UFCW Local 1262, 1389 Broad Street, Clifton, NJ 07013 to the attention of General Chairperson.

Each page of the petition will contain the name of the

active member being nominated, the specific office for which that member is being nominated and valid, verifiable original signatures. No less than (564) active members in support of said nomination are required. Petitions are available from James Mulholland, General Chairperson, UFCW Local 1262, 1389 Broad Street, Clifton, NJ, 07013. The nominating petition will contain information sufficient to permit the General Chairperson to verify the identity of the signatories thereto, for that purpose, in addi-tion to their signature, each member should print their full name and address and last four digits of their Social Security number. Only active members of UFCW Local 1262 shall be permitted to solicit and obtain nomination signatures from active members. Each page of the petition must contain verification that all the signatures on the petition page were solicited and obtained by an active Member of UFCW Local 1262.

ARTICLE X I I -- ElectionsSection A. All officers shall be elected

by secret ballot of the membership, and their term of office shall be for three years, commencing January 1, 1978. Terms of office shall expire on December 31, and the terms of newly elected officers shall com-mence on January 1.

Section B. Nominations and elec-tions shall be conducted during the last six months preceding the expiration of the term of office. Date(s), time(s), places(s), and rules for the election shall be estab-lished by the General Chairperson of the election.

Section C. Not less than 30 days prior to the deadline for the receipt of nomina-tion petitions, notice shall be mailed by the Local Union to each member at the member’s last known home address, set-ting forth the manner for conducting the nominations, the actual number of signa-tures required for nomination petitions, the deadline date for the receipt of petitions, and all other relevant requirements for the filing of petitions, including what each peti-tion is required to contain.

Not less than 15 days prior to the elec-tion, notice shall be mailed by the Local Union to each member at the member’s last known home address, setting forth the times, dates, and places for conducting the election.

Notice of nominations and elections may be combined into a single notice, which shall be mailed in accordance with the time requirements specified in the first paragraph of this Section.

Section D. No person shall be eligible for nomination or election to any office unless such person is:

1. An active member in the Local Union, who has been an active member in the Local Union, or who had been a mem-ber of another organization merged with

the Local Union, for a continuous aggregate of at least 12 months immediately preced-ing the month in which the deadline for the receipt of nomination petitions occurs, or;

2. An active member in the Local Union who has been an active member in the International Union continuously for at least 24 months immediately preceding the month in which the deadline for the receipt of nomination petitions occurs.

Any member satisfying the eligibility requirements of this Section must maintain continuous active membership in the Local Union to remain eligible to run for or hold elected office.

Section E. 1. Nominations shall be conducted by petition. Nomination of a member for a specific office shall require the signatures of two (2) percent of the average monthly active membership of the Local Union, based on the number of active members on which the Local Union pays per capita tax to the International Union, for the twelve-month period ending with the next to last month prior to the month in which the notice of nominations is mailed to the membership.

2. Each petition shall indicate the member who is being nominated and the specific office for which he or she is being nominated. If a member is being nominat-ed for a Vice President position, the peti-tion shall specify the numerically designat-ed Vice President position for which he or she is being nominated. Any petition may nominate more than one (1) member for office, provided that each member is being nominated for a different office and that the office for which each member is being nominated is specifically indicated. Each petition shall contain the signature, printed name, and other identifying information, as determined by the general chairperson of the election, of each member signing the petition.

3. Petitions shall be filed at the Local Union office by mail or in person. The original signatures are required to be filed, and transmission by facsimile, computer, or other form of electronic transmission shall not be valid.

4. If a signature on any petition is not accompanied by a printed name or the other identifying information required by the general chairperson, but the identity of the member can be determined from the signature, the signature shall be deemed valid and shall be counted.

Section F. No member may run for more than one office in any election and no member may hold more than one elected office at any one time. The regular employ-ees of the Local Union shall not constitute more than 50 percent of the membership of the Local Union Executive Board.

Section G. Any active member in the Local Union, as defined in Article 4(B) of the International Constitution, shall be eligible to vote in the Local Union’s elections.

Section H. 1. The elections shall be conducted at such times and places as will afford all active members a reasonable opportunity to vote.

2. The President shall select a general chairperson, who shall be a member of the United Food and Commercial Workers, to supervise the conduct of the nominations and election and not less than three mem-bers to act as election judges to assist the general chairperson. The general chairper-son and election judges, who together shall constitute the election committee, shall not be candidates for Local Union office. The general chairperson shall establish the applicable dates, times, places, manner, and procedures for the nominations and elec-tion. The election committee shall main-tain custody of all ballots and election reg-isters during the conduct of the elections.

(Continued on page 6)

U F C W   L O C A L   1 2 6 2   S E C R E T A R Y - T R E A S U R E R ’ S   M E S S A G E

I am pleased to report that Local 1262 is on

solid financial ground, ending our fiscal reporting

year with more than $11.4 million in

net assets.

Additionally, our pension funds con-

tinue to remain strong and healthy and

are expected to continue to do so.

I am also pleased to report that,

despite the Pathmark bankruptcy last

year and its subsequent store closings,

our membership remains steady -- hov-

ering around the 30,000 mark.

And last but not least, I am happy to report that

Local 1262 continues to provide benefits, negoti-

ated for our members via our contracts with your

employers.

During 2015 we paid more than $81 million

in medical claims, more than $29 million in pre-

scriptions, nearly $6 million in dental

benefits and nearly $1 million in vision

benefits, $1 million in pre-paid legal

benefits. We also paid more than $41

million in pension benefits, proving that

the benefits of a union contract stretch

far beyond your work days in the store.

(Please see the chart on the back

page for a complete guide to benefits

paid in the past five years.)

The proof is in the numbers! A union contract

means much more than good wages and job secu-

rity. It means ongoing benefits for our members

while they are working and after they retire.

I t is that time of year when people, businesses and organizations like ours crunch the numbers to assess their financial situation. Matthew Molinaro

“A union contract means

much more than good

wages and job security.

”

SPRING 2016 1262 BANNER 5

Local 1262 Paid Nearly $160 Million in Benefits To Our Members Last Year

Have You Recently……Changed Your Address?

…Married or Changed Your Name?

…Changed Beneficiaries?

Let Us Know.See Your Union Representative

or call Local 1262 and ask for the appropriate form.

From NJ 1-800-562-6913

From Other States 1-800-526-7814

6 1262 BANNER MAY 20136 1262 BANNER SPRING 2016

Where multiple polling places are used, at least one election judge or the general chairperson shall supervise the election at each polling place.

3. Each eligible member desiring to vote shall sign an election register autho-rized by the general chairperson of the election. The voter shall be given a ballot authorized by the general chairperson and shall be provided an opportunity to vote the ballot in secrecy. Ballots shall bear no number or marks which might identify the voter. After marking his or her ballot, the voter shall fold and place it in a secured ballot receptacle provided by the election committee. Alternative procedures for voting by machine, adequate to ensure the secrecy of the ballot, may be provided. Candidates may have observers, who shall be active members of the Local Union. Adequate safeguards to ensure a fair elec-tion shall be provided by the Local Union officers and election officials.

4. Where the election is conducted at a single polling place, the results shall be tallied and recorded by the general chairperson of the election and the election judges at the close of the voting.

5. Where the election is conducted at multiple times or polling places, the general chairperson of the election and not less than three election judges designated by the general chairperson shall meet not later than the second day following the last day on which the election was held and at a time and place to be specified by the general chairperson to tally and record the results of the election. As may be deter-mined by the general chairperson prior to the balloting, the ballots may be counted at the close of each polling place, provided that, the general chairperson or at least one election judge is present, and provided fur-ther that the general chairperson and not less than three election judges designated by the general chairperson shall tally and record the final results of the election as provided above in this paragraph.

Section I. 1. In lieu of or in addition to the election procedure provided for above, the general chairperson of the elec-tion may determine to conduct the election by a mail referendum in its entirety or in outlying areas.

2. An election by mail referendum shall be conducted as follows:

a. The election general chairperson and election judges will send by first-class mail to each active member of the Local Union eligible to vote by mail ballot the following: (1) instructions as to the proce-dure to be used by the members in casting their secret ballots by mail; (2) one official

ballot and one envelope bearing the words “Secret Ballot,” with no identifying number or marks; and (3) a ballot return envelope, which shall either contain a label with the member’s name and address or clearly ask the member to print his or her name and address, and which shall be pre-addressed to a post office box obtained solely for the purpose of the mail referendum.

b. The Local Union election general chairperson shall establish a deadline for the receipt of return mail ballots, which shall be no earlier than 15 days or later than 30 days after the date upon which the ballots are mailed to the members; pro-vided that, if separate notice setting forth the manner and the dates that the ballots will be sent to the membership and that the return mail ballots must be received has not previously been mailed to each member at his or her last known home address, the receipt deadline shall be no earlier than 20 days after the date upon which the ballots are mailed to the members. If only a por-tion of the election is conducted by mail ballot, the receipt deadline shall be within the limits provided above and, in addition, the same as the date established for the close of voting in the non-mail portion, if any, of the election.

c. On the day of the receipt deadline, after 12:00 noon, at least two members of the election committee shall together pick up the mail ballots and return them unopened to the place specified by the general chairperson, and thereupon the election committee shall open and count the ballots. The general chairperson and the election judges shall remove the Secret Ballot envelope containing the ballot from all ballot return envelopes verified to have been sent by eligible voters. After all the Secret Ballot envelopes have been sepa-rated from the return ballot envelopes, they shall be opened and the votes tabulated by the general chairperson and election judges. If only a portion of the election is conducted by mail ballot, the election committee shall open and count the mail ballots following the close of voting in the non-mail portion that day.

d. Adequate safeguards to ensure the secrecy of each voter’s ballot and the fairness of the mail referendum shall be provided by the Local Union officers and election officials.

e. In all other applicable respects, the provisions of the International Constitution and these bylaws relating to the election of Local Union officers shall govern.

Section J. Write-in candidates and proxy voting shall not be permitted.

Section K. A plurality of votes cast shall be required for election except as to the offices of Local Union President and Secretary-Treasurer, where a majority of votes cast shall be required for election.

Where the election for an office other than President or Secretary-Treasurer results in a tie or where no nominee for Local Union President or Secretary-Treasurer receives a majority of votes cast, a runoff election between the two nominees with the higher number of votes shall be conducted.

Section L. When nominations have been completed and there are unopposed candidates, such unopposed candidates shall be deemed elected by acclamation.

Section M. The ballots and all other records pertaining to the nominations and elections, including the membership mailing lists which were used to send the notices of the nominations and elections, shall be preserved for not less than one year by the President.

Section N. A copy of the results of the election shall be immediately mailed to the International President.

Section O. Formal installation of the newly elected officers may be either before or after the start of their term of office to suit the convenience of the Local Union, but in any event, during either the month preceding or the two months following the start of their term of office; provided, however, that no officer shall be deemed to be in office unless bonded where required by the Constitution and laws of the International Union.

Section P. 1. Not more than 15 days subsequent to the election, all challenges to the election shall be submitted to the general chairperson of the election. The Local Union general chairperson and elec-tion judges shall consider any such chal-lenge and take such remedial action as they deem appropriate. Not more than 15 days subsequent to such decision, an aggrieved party may appeal such decision to the International President. Where the general chairperson of the election and the election judges fail to render a decision within 30 days of the Local Union election, the challenging party may appeal to the International President not later than 15 days thereafter.

2. The decision of the International President may be appealed to the International Executive Board not later than 30 days after such decision has been rendered.

3. Any challenge or appeal which could have been presented in compliance with these filing requirements, but was not, shall be deemed to have been waived.

Nomination Of Officers(Contiuned from page 4)

MAY 2013 1262 BANNER 7

And she puts those words into action every day of the year.

In November and December she’s running any number of food and toy drives. In February there is the Valentines Dance at the Veterans Home in Menlo Park. In May, you will find Colleen serving as Chairperson of her hometown’s Memorial Day Parade in Piscataway and handing out 5,000 hotdogs to veterans and their families and the community members who have gathered to pay tribute to them.

In June, there is the “Picnic on the Hill” at the Veterans Home in Menlo Park which provides the veterans, many of them bed-ridden, with a chance to salute Old Glory as part of Flag Day events. And the list goes on and on.

Colleen, a Shop Steward at the Stirling ShopRite and a member of Local 1262 for nearly 30 years, has always had a special place in her heart for Veterans, after all her own father – Dominick DeVico -- was a veteran of World War II. She wears her dad’s dog tags around her neck every day and proudly recalls how he used to bring the American Flag to schools and teach children about the flag’s history, as well as how to properly handle it, fold it and care for it.

Colleen’s mother, Mary Elsie Egan who hailed from Ireland and was dubbed the “First GI Bride” and recently featured in a book on Ellis Island, was, although not born in America, just as dedicated to its America and its soldiers.

“My father and my mother loved this country,” she recalls. “He was always quick to say how privileged he felt to be able to defend it and my mother was proud that she was able to raise a family here. Their sentiment was ingrained in me from a very early age and now I carry on their spirit the best way I know how – by helping those – like my dad -- who fought for our country.”

Hardly a day goes by when you won’t find Colleen vol-unteering her time to help veterans, whether its collecting donations or money, running fundraisers or spending time on site at the Veterans Homes in Basking Ridge and East Orange where, as just one example of hands-on caring, volunteers “adopted” a blind veteran who had no family and visited him with Christmas gifts that included books on tape.

“It’s the little things that add up,” she says. “A single small action by each of us is what can make such a huge difference in their lives.”

Colleen, who serves as New Jersey Spokeswoman for the American Legion and was named the American Legion’s National Woman of the Year in 1993, extends her volunteer efforts beyond the veterans themselves, with several events each year aimed at improving the lives of veterans’ families too. For example, last December there was a coat and toy drive to help 14 homeless veterans and their families who are living in shelters. And last spring, there was a Prom Dress Drive where veterans’ daughters were able to “shop” for prom dresses at the American Legion Hall in Piscataway. Even food drives often include collecting pet food for veterans’ cherished four-legged companions.

“I couldn’t do any of this without the support I get from ShopRite and from our wonderful customers who are so quick to donate to our veterans in whatever way they can through-out the year.”

But, veterans aren’t the only thing Colleen is passionate about. In 2012, Colleen and her ShopRite co-worker Tammi Buchman combined their love for motorcycles with helping the hungry and launched the Annual Motorcycle Ride for Hunger. Every September (this year’s event will be on September 17, 2016, for more information visit ShopRite of Stirling’s face-book page) hundreds of riders roar out of the Stirling ShopRite parking lot traveling from Long Hill Township to Piscataway’s American Legion Post 261, with police escorts joining from every town they pass through. Colleen, who shys away from the spotlight and will quickly direct the conversation from her-self to the veterans and their needs, was recently honored by the Piscataway PBA for her work on the event.

And Colleen being – well Colleen – quickly adds that it is Village Supermarkets, the owner of the Stirling store, that deserves the recognition for supporting the event as part of National Hunger Awareness Month activities.

“It’s an amazing place to work -- from my co-workers to the customers, it feels like family here, especially when we are all pulling together to help those who need it most.”

Colleen Pagano: A Local 1262 Shop Steward and A “Steward” for Veterans Lives, Too.

When it comes to our nation’s veterans, Colleen Pagano says that Americans just can’t do enough for the men and women who fought to defend our nation and our freedom.

SPRING 2016 1262 BANNER 7

8 1262 BANNER MAY 2013

Dearborn Market Is The Newest Company To Employ

Local 1262 Members

D earborn Market doesn’t look like most of the stores where Local 1262 members work. In fact, it looks more like a barn or greenhouse – which technically it is – in addition to being a spe-cialty food store.Saker ShopRite recently purchased

Dearborn Market which has been oper-ating in the same location on Route 35 in Holmdel since 1955. The market started out as a roadside fruit and veg-etable stand operated by the Luccarelli Family. In 1982, the family expanded the roadside farm stand by building the red barn and garden center that stands today amidst farm fields that yield goods sold in the store through-out the year.

The local landmark is host to events beloved by the community such as an annual apple festival, pumpkin picking and scarecrow stuffing. They also host an Annual Orchid Festival each February which drawers thou-sands of people from throughout the region.

Saker ShopRite, which has been in the supermarket business for nearly a century, said they purchased Dearborn Market with a strong belief in the products, recipes, traditions and team at Dearborn and says it plans to grow the business while maintaining the dis-tinctive red barn specialty food market, garden center and retail farm.

Saker ShopRite also asked the employees to stay on and now most are members of Local 1262, with Local 464A representing the meat and deli workers.

“Little will change at Dearborn Market, where we intend to maintain everything customers love about the market – including the Dearborn name. We also love the traditions, recipes and people of Dearborn and are proud to

add Dearborn to our family of stores,” Richard Saker, president and CEO of Saker ShopRites, said in announcing the purchase. “Both the Saker and Luccarelli families have a history and background in fine groceries and delicious prepared foods, and we think this is a great way to pass the baton from one local, fami-ly-owned business to another.”

The Saker family has been operating grocery stores since 1916, when Richard Saker’s great-grandfather first opened a small mom and pop grocery in Freehold, NJ. The Luccarellis also have roots in the area. Frank Luccarelli founded Dearborn Farms in 1925 and grew fruits and veg-etables that were sold at markets in New York City. His son Dominick took over the business in 1955 and moved it to the current location on Route 35.

8 1262 BANNER SPRING 2016

Dearborn Market Members Rich Morello and Mike Paduano in the produce department. Pictured here with Union Representative John Faulhaber and Assistant Field Director Mike Piccicacco.

Union Rep John Faulhaber and Asst. Field Director Mike Piccicacco with Dearborn Market Member Heather Mowery who works in the grocery department.

MAY 2013 1262 BANNER 9SPRING 2016 1262 BANNER 9

Dearborn Market Member Cashier Suzanne Araneo.

Trained at the French Culinary Institute, among other prestigious schools, Zhanna was a Pediatrician in her native Russia until a trip to the United States 20 years ago changed her life – or more accurately saved her life.

It was two decades ago when Zhanna was diag-nosed with cancer and had to travel from her home in Russia for treatment at a hospital in the Freehold area. Although she could not speak English at the time, Zhanna fell in love with the United States – and in love with Kevin Greene, who has been her husband for the past 17 years.

Now fluent in English and cancer-free for 20 years, Zhanna talks enthusiastically about her life and her “new” career.

“After my bout with cancer I felt like I wanted to pursue something different from medicine,” she says. “I always loved to bake so I enrolled in the French Culinary Institute and the rest is, as they say, history.”

Zhanna worked for many years as a private chef to Wall Street Moguls and entertainers. However, want-ing to be nearer to home (Freehold), she left the glitz

and glamour to take a job in a barn – literally – in the bakery at Dearborn Market where she has been baking up unique pastries, cakes, cannoli, and a slew of other goodies daily for the past nine years.

Zhanna, who became a member of Local 1262 when Saker ShopRite purchased Dearborn Market, said she is thrilled to be in the union. “Being in a union makes you feel human,” she said. “There is great comfort in know-ing you have a contract which provides you with good wages and benefits.”

She is also pleased to be working for a family-owned company where the owners know her by name and just happen to be frequent visitors to the bakery depart-ment. That might also be because Zhanna routinely creates one-of-a-kind new desserts – like Passion Fruit Cheesecake – for the shoppers who frequent the bakery.

“I am a very lucky person in so many ways and espe-cially because I can say that I love my job and I love coming to work every day. It doesn’t feel like “work” to me because it is my passion and I’m thankful I have the chance to do it every day – and to get paid for it too? That’s just a bonus,” she says with a smile

F R O M P E D I A T R I C S T O P A S T R Y

10 1262 BANNER SPRING 2016

Zhanna Kobesova has a very interesting job that she absolutely loves coming to each day. And

the Local 1262 member, who heads up the bakery department at Dearborn Market, has a pretty

interesting life story too.

MAP CORNERBy Nancy Miller, Local 1262 MAP Coordinator

From time to time, we feature topics that we believe

will benefit our members. Today, we would like to discuss

Renters Insurance.

Anyone who owns a home most likely has

Homeowners Insurance because their mortgage company

requires it. However, many people who rent – whether it

is in a stand-alone home or an apartment complex – don’t

realize that they should have Renters Insurance.

MAP has worked on several situations where members

have lost possessions and housing as a result of fire or

other damage to their apartments. Unfortunately, in each

case, the member did not have renters insurance, adding

untold expense to their loss and displacement.

Basic renters insurance in New Jersey can run as low as

$14 a month or $172 a year -- depending on deductibles,

the level of replacement cost and other options. Besides

property loss, some policies can provide temporary living

expenses if your apartment is uninhabitable, protection

against theft, and even coverage if your dog bites some-

one.

So think about it. What would it cost you to replace

your television, computer, furniture, clothing and all those

electronic gadgets we have all become so dependent on?

You might be surprised to learn that renters, on average,

have more than $20,000 in belongings! That shocking

figure might make you decide you can’t afford not to have

renters insurance.

That’s exactly what happened to one Local 1262 mem-

ber who, using the Internet, obtained coverage in less

than 20 minutes.

“I went online and checked out three or four insurance

companies that provided renters policies in New Jersey.

Most of them even have calculators on their web sites

that walk you through a brief process to help you decide

what level of coverage you want and how much you want

to spend. Because I have a dog, I also had to make sure

my policy would cover him too. In less than 20 minutes

I was able to compare prices, select a company and I had

my coverage in place the very next day. The cost is about

$20 a month which I have automatically deducted from my

debit card so that I never have to worry about missing my

payment. The peace of mind knowing that my insurance

will not only replace my belongings but also provide funds

for temporary housing should anything happen to my

apartment is well worth what amounts to the same price

as a few cups of coffee a month.”

The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance

has a brochure that provides useful information even if

you don’t live in New Jersey. Visit www.dobi.nj.gov and

click on Renters Insurance. A PDF of that brochure can

also be found on Local 1262’s website – www.ufcw1262.

org – by clicking on the MAP link at the top right of the

home page.

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Local 1262 is unique in that we have a full-time

Member Assistance Program (MAP), that helps

our members with “off-the-job” issues, often

during times of an emergency, an illness, etc.

12 1262 BANNER MAY 2013

Local 1262 Salutes Our Shop Stewards

Local 1262’s Shop Stewards are a very unique group of people. They are your co-workers who volun-teer their time to make sure your rights are protected on the job and that your contract is being followed.

Each year Local 1262 hosts our Shop Steward Appreciation Day. The event provides us with an opportunity to bring your Shop Stewards up-to-date on the Union and its activities, finances, etc. But most importantly, it is our chance to say “Thank You” to this very special group of people.

If you don’t already know your Shop Steward, why not take a minute to say hello – and thank you. The names of your Shop Stewards are posted in your break room along with a copy of your Weingarten Rights.

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Robin Marinelli, Union Stop & Shop

Edwina Mignone, Raritan Stop & Shop

Linda Johnson, retired Shop Steward, Pathmark

Rebecca Kuebler, Freehold ShopRite

Bonnie Flowers, Newark ShopRite

Dennis Odom, Toms River ShopRite, who serves with long-time Steward Evelyn Comer

Joseph Wallington, Jr. , Kinnelon Stop & Shop

Ron Herzog, Spotswood ShopRite

Ray Rusay, Neptune ShopRite

Michelle Bopp, Aberdeen ShopRite

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Tina Galante, Executive Board Member & Shop Steward at So. Livingston ShopRite

Nicole Carson, Bayonne Stop & Shop

Richard Brock, Executive Board Member & Shop Steward at Clifton (Broad St.) Stop & Shop

Edward Sottile, Monroe ShopRite

Carolanne Romeo-Grazul, Clark ShopRite

Nicholas Krutz, Clinton ShopRite

Judy Cruz, Berkley Heights Stop & Shop

Karen Sebastiano, Metro Plaza ShopRite

Darrell Stewart, Metro Plaza ShopRite

Mildred Yakman, Fairview Plaza ShopRite

Mitchell Fennik, Parsippany ShopRite

llen Youmans, Nutley Park ShopRite

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Field Director’s ReportBy John Colella, Recorder & Field Director

I am pleased to report that Local 1262’s Union Representatives continue to be among the most hard-working in the nation. Our Union Representatives made nearly 10,700 store visits in 2015 and resolved more than 2,300 grievances. These resolved grievanc-es reflect actual “physical” grievances resolved (meaning meetings and actions other than telephone calls by Union Representatives) that did not have to proceed to the Grievance Review Committee (GRC). Our Union Reps also obtained nearly $135,000 in back wage claims for our members last year alone and handled health & welfare questions, too.

I want to thank our Union Reps and our Assistant Field Directors for their dedication to our members. I also want to thank them for the work they are put-ting forth in helping us stem the tide on non-union operators trying to open in our region. These non-union operators not only include giants like Walmart but smaller companies as well.

Because of this Local 1262 continues to commit the resources necessary to stem this tide – including lend-ing support to our members in other districts and out-of state when needed. Local 1262’s Union Reps and staff members have been manning picket lines, leaflet-ing consumers and participating in other organizing activities throughout the region. This includes posting a picket line since January at the Fresh Market that opened “non-union” in Freehold, NJ and picketing and leafleting at the Whole Foods in Wall Township.

Now Local 1262 members can help us increase the impact of our organizing efforts by joining The Local 1262 GO! Team.

The GO! (Get Organized) Team is Local 1262’s new “army of organizers” who are on the ground at

non-union supermarket sites. Team members post informational picket lines to persuade customers to shop in nearby “union stores” and urge workers to come together for benefits, good wages and other rights under a union contract.

The pilot program for the GO! Team was launched earlier this year with former Pathmark members. Based on the success of their efforts and positive feedback on the pilot program, we are now ready to expand the GO! Team Program to all Local 1262 members!

See page 19 for more information on joining the GO! Team. We also encourage you to urge any fam-ily members or friends who are pro-union to join the Team as well. All Team members who participate on the picket lines will receive a stipend for their time.

If you have any questions regarding this pro-gram, please contact your Union Representative.

In the meantime, I thank you in advance for your anticipated support and for standing with us to help protect union jobs.

14 1262 BANNER SPRING 2016

Local 1262 Staff mem-bers Mike Kantor, Mike Piccicacco, Don Merritt and Tom Whille at a Stop & Shop Rally in New England.

MAY 2013 1262 BANNER 15

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Local 1262 Organizing Director Anthony Yodice (in the yellow hat) with members of Local 1262 and Local 464A on the Informational Picket Line at Fresh Market in Freehold, NJ.

Like father, like son. Union Representative Mike Ebbe joins his son Rich Ebbe on the Informational Picket Line in front of Whole Foods Market in Wall, NJ.

Local 1262 Union Reps Steve Blaho and Ed Magierowski with New England Stop & Shop Member Linda Pacheco in Westerly, Rhode Island.

Local 1262’s staff on the Informational Picket Line outside Whole Foods in Wall, NJ.

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The new Foodtown in Bloomfield, NJ is a textbook example of what an urban super-market can bring to a neighborhood.The new store – Jack’s Super Foodtown –is located in the new Glenwood Village mixed-use residential and commercial

development on Glenwood Avenue across from the train station.The store’s interior features an Industrial-Chic design with departments defined by murals and other design features

to create a street-like feel. Aiming to please with the young families who are moving into the new apartments in the high-rise above, the store features a hot foods bar, sushi department, deli and bakery in addition to the standard supermarket staples.

And, of course, serving up the fancy – and everyday -- fare are the friendly faces of Local 1262 members.

New Foodtown Opens in Bloomfield’s Glenwood VillageLocal 1262 Member Cashier Michele MacVicker

Local 1262 Member Michael Soules works in the Customer Service Department.

Local 1262 Union Representative Karen McManus and Assistant Field Director Don Merritt with Local 1262 Member David Abascal. David works full-time in the Dairy Department.

Dylan Conley works full-time in the Produce Department.

Khyree Jones works in customer service and as a cashier.

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SNAPSHOTS

John Zisa (right) and Luis Cosme pictured at the ShopRite in Ramsey on John’s last day of work. John, who became a member of Local 1262 in 1966 working in Finast Market, recently retired. John served as Shop Steward at the Ramsey ShopRite and also served on sev-eral Negotiation Committees.

85 Years Young! Eleanor “Ellie” Giordano (seated) is joined by President Harvey Whille, Union Representative Karen McManus and her co-workers and managers at the Stop & Shop on Broad Street in Clifton. Ellie’s co-work-ers arranged a surprise for her 85th Birthday including a cake and decorating her register with flowers and bal-loons. Ellie has been a member of Local 1262 since 1968 when she began working for Grand Union. Ellie says her secret to staying young is having good friends, working and staying active, which she does by watching her eight grand-children and two great-grandchildren. Ellie says being able to work part-time all her life allowed her the flexibility to raise her four (now grown) children while earning a good income thanks to her union contract.

President Harvey Whille bids well wishes to Rose Moccio who retired from the Montgomery ShopRite. Rose was a member of Local 1262 for more than 45 years and served as a Shop Steward up until her retirement.

Local 1262 Welcomes Newest Executive Board Member Ronald BennettRon Bennett, a member of Local 1262 for more than 37 years, was recently nominated and unanimously endorsed to serve on Local 1262’s Executive Board. Brother Bennett, who works in the produce depart-ment at the Stop & Shop in Jackson, NJ, began his term in March. Brother Bennett has been a Shop Steward for many years and has also served on sev-eral Contract Negotiation Committees. He replaces long-time Executive Board Member Kevin Ireland who recently retired from Stop & Shop.

18 1262 BANNER SPRING 2016

England and in other regions by leafleting, wearing union buttons and talking to customers about the issues.

The “Solidarity Campaign” continued to gain momen-tum as the contract expiration date came and went. Thanks to the support – and solidarity – demonstrated by their UFCW sisters and brothers, the New England UFCW members stood strong and united.

As a result a tentative agreement with the company was reached on Saturday, April 9 and was ratified with near unanimous approval soon after. The resultant con-tract for UFCW’s New England Stop & Shop members included good wage increases, improved scheduling language, benefit and pension protections and no conces-sions.

Thanks to the support from Local 1262 and all of our sister locals, the members in New England were able to dig in and stand strong and fight for what they deserved.

There is another lesson to be learned from what hap-pened in New England: never underestimate the value of customer loyalty.

Those of you who know me often hear me say that YOU – our members – are the “face” of this union and that YOU are the people who ultimately make your com-pany successful, whether that company is Stop & Shop, ShopRite, Acme, Foodtown or any other store. YOU are

the people who help the friends and neighbors who shop in your stores, day in and day out and who go the extra mile to make sure they are served properly.

Don’t ever underestimate or take for granted the grati-tude and respect your customers have for you because of the way you care about them. Because when push came to shove, it was the people in the community – those outside of the union – that made the difference in New England. It was the support from thousands of Stop & Shop customers in New England and elsewhere that ultimately helped turn the tide, forcing the company to wake up and see which way the wind was blowing.

Local 1262 members and the UFCW have a long and proud history of sticking together and supporting each other whether it be during difficult negotiations or disas-ters such as fire or flood. We stand together – in solidarity – as a family. Brothers and sisters united to fight for and protect the things we value as working families.

So the next time someone tells you the Labor Movement is dead, look them in the eye and ask them if they want to know what happens when we all come together. Let them know that you are proud to be part of “solidarity in action.” Let them know that the Labor Movement is very much alive and kicking and ready to take on any challenge that comes our way.

As always, I consider it an honor and a privilege to rep-resent you.

UFCW Local 1262 President’s Message(Continued from page 3)

S H O P U N I O N , B U Y U N I O NBuying products that are made in America is not just a matter of national pride, it is a matter of national survival. As workers – especially work-ers who belong to a union – it is important for us to make a special effort to support companies who manufacture products here in the USA and especially those companies that employ union members.

A shot of Economic Patriotism – buying American-Made and buying Union-Made – has never been more important than now!

When you buy products that are American-Made – and even better Union-Made prod-ucts – you are supporting American workers and the companies that employ them. You are helping the middle-class gain a foothold in an era when the middle-class is shrinking every day thanks to companies that ship jobs overseas or who continue to pay their workers substandard wages and benefits.

You can even help support your own brothers and sisters in the UFCW who work in food pro-cessing facilities that put the products we buy on the shelves in our supermarkets.

So while you are shopping for your weekend cook-outs or other events this summer, make a special effort to purchase products manu-factured by union members and shop in Union Stores.

And talk to your family, friends and neighbors and urge them to do the same.

For a list of companies that manufacture Union-Made foods and beverages, visit www.unionplus.org. The site offers special dis-counts and programs for Union members as well as provides a large selection of union-made products ranging from cars to beer and everything in between.

N E W S F R O M

JOIN LOCAL 1262’S GO! TEAM

Do you have a family member or friend who is pro-union & would like to join our team?

Contact your Union Representative to enroll them too!

PROTECT UNION JOBS & EARN MONEY TOO!

From NJ Call 1-800-562-6913

From Other States Call 1-800-526-7814

Tell the operator you want to register for the GO! Team.

GO

GO! Team Members:

• Post informational picket lines urging customers to shop in nearby “union stores”

• Tell workers about the benefits, good wages and other rights that YOU have under YOUR union contract.

• Are paid for each shift they work.

Local 1262 is proud to announce a new one- of-its-kind program

– The GO! Team.The GO! (Get Organized) Team

is Local 1262’s new “army of organizers” with boots on the ground at non-union

supermarket sites.

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REGARDING AVAILABILITY OF PENSION BENEFIT STATEMENT

U F C W L O C A L 1 2 6 2 B E N E F I T S

P A I D 2 0 1 2 T O 2 0 1 4

1389 Broad Street • Clifton, NJ 07013

Periodical Postage

Paid

UFCW LOCAL 1262 BENEFITS PAID 2012 to 2014

Local 1262 Benefits 2015 2014 2013 2012

Medical and Hospital $81,295,623.45 $81,580,847.64 $76,287,413.88 $70,467,019.13Prescription Benefits $29,117,282.38 $25,660,093.43 $24,158,625.60 $23,867,947.66Dental Benefits $ 5,955,207.42 $ 6,177,436.90 $ 6,588,085.60 $ 6,664,951.67Vision Benefits $ 949,586.65 $ 1,034,489.08 $ 1,072,665.02 $ 1,067,170.25Prepaid Legal $ 993,731.25 $ 1,000,591.25 $ 750,844.50 $ 863,471.95Pension Benefits $41,328,573.89 $38,717,236.36 $35,740,226.99 $32,370,993.40Death Benefits $543,856.04 $ 611,250.00 $ 521,250.00 $ 675,000.00Back Wage Claims $ 134,322.81 $ 106,649.21 $ 180,372.48 $ 389,341.47Store Visits 11,234 12,027 10,649 10,684Grievances Resolved 2,359 2,537 2,446 2,124

1262 STAMPS OUT HUNGER

Brookdale ShopRite Shop Steward Jolene Marshall, Local 1262 Asst. Director/Benefits Betty Laughery and Local 1262 Member Assistance Coordinator Nancy Miller with a sampling of the groceries purchased for the Stamp Out Hunger Program.

Local 1262 Member Sean Quinlan helped us shop, bag and pack up the van.

President Whille would like to thank all of our members and their families who partici-pated in the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive sponsored by the UFCW and the National Association of Letter Carriers on May 14. People all over the country left bags of non-perishable foods for their mail carriers to collect. Approximately 1 in 6 Americans, many of whom are in households with at least one person working, do not have an adequate supply of food for them or their families. As workers in the food industry we are in a unique position to help our friends and neighbors by joining together with our brothers and sisters of the Letter Carriers Union in this food drive.