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2007 - 2008 |
The United Food and
Commercial Workers represent approximately 50,000 workers in
Work For Less: Representatives Hoogendyk (R-Portage) and Elsenheimer (R-Bellaire) introduced House Bills 4454 and 4455 which would make Michigan a “right to work” (or “work for less”) state. HB 4454 would pass “work for less” legislation for private employees, while HB 4455 proposes such legislation for public employees. In the Senate, Senator Nancy Cassis (R – Novi) introduced identical bills- SB 607 for private sector employees and 608 for public sector employees. UFCW opposes HB 4454 and HB 4455, as well as SB 607 and SB 608.
It’s clear this legislation will not move in the Democratic-controlled house, nor will it ever have the support of Governor Granholm. However, there remains a threat this issue will appear on the ballot this November. Despite our anticipation, there were no petition circulators at the polls for the presidential primary. It is possible this issue might not be on the ballot this November, but in 2010.
MI-OSHA Standards: The Michigan State Senate Committee on Economic Development and Regulatory Reform recently met to discuss a potentially dangerous bill, SB 843. This proposed bill would ban MiOSHA from passing standards, practices, or guidelines that address the issue of musculoskeletal disorders that are caused by repetitive motion or stress. UFCW opposes SB 843, as such a ban would have a harmful effect on our membership.
Social Welfare Act/ Food Stamp Distribution:
Sen. Martha Scott (D – Detroit) introduced SB 120, also called the
“Social Welfare Act,” which would allow the Department of Human Services
to distribute food stamp funds electronically twice a month, rather than
once a month. In the State House, Rep. Andy Meisner (D – Ferndale)
introduced an identical bill. UFCW supports SB 120 and HB 4923,
as it would provide relief for members who work in stores with a high
volume of food-stamp sales, by spreading out shopper foot traffic and
volume over the course of a month.
The passage of this law will, in part, depend on legislation
pending on the Federal level. Currently, Congress is reauthorizing the
Farm Bill, a law that would do many things (from regulating farm
subsidies to planning rural development as well as providing for the
distribution of food stamps) and give the Department of Agriculture
direction for the next four years. Included in the proposed bill are
possible changes that may include a ban on states from implementing a
bimonthly food stamp distribution system. The UFCW International Union
is fighting with their allies to remove this language on a national
level. We urge you to contact your
representative in Congress and urge them to oppose a ban on a state’s
right to enact a bimonthly food stamp distribution system!
Grocery Stores in Urban Areas:
The Senate unanimously passed SB 294, a bill that will give tax breaks
to a “qualified retail food establishment” if it is built or opens in an
“underserved area.” A “qualified retail food establishment” is defined
as “…a retail supermarket, grocery store, produce market, or
delicatessen that offers USDA-inspected meat and poultry products, fresh
fruits and vegetables, and dairy products for sale to the public.”
UFCW supports SB 294.
An “underserved area” is defined as “an
area that contains a low or moderate income census tract and a below
average supermarket density or an area that has a supermarket customer
base with more than 50% living in a low income census tract or that has
demonstrated significant access limitations due to travel distance as
determined be the Michigan Department of Agriculture.” This bill
could be important in helping attract union supermarkets in underserved,
urban areas such as Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Saginaw. Such
supermarkets might not only lead to increased membership, but more
importantly improve access to quality, healthy food in these areas.
HB 4443: On 11/27, the House Labor Committee held a hearing on HB 4443, a bill that would ban companies from using state money for anti-union campaigns. Included in the definition of state money, would be any sort of reimbursement from the state including fees retailers and grocers receive for collecting sales tax, lotto sales, bottle deposits, etc. UFCW supports HB 4443, as it would ensure that tax money- including tax money from our own members- is not used in an anti-union matter. The bill has yet to be voted out of committee, as some of the language needs to be modified in order to comply with Federal law.
Item Pricing: Rep. Hilldenbrand (R – Lowell) introduced HB 4023, a bill that would severely weaken our Item Pricing law, harming Michigan’s consumers as well as UFCW members. UFCW opposes HB 4023. The bill was referred to the Commerce Committee and hasn’t moved, nor are there any plans to do so.
This is a summary of issues important to UFCW, though this list is not
inclusive of all of our issues.
If you have any questions, you can reach UFCW’s Legislative Director,