Secretary Treasurer's Report
by Tim Hamann

South Bay Labor Council Remembers Needy During Holidays and Year Round

The efforts of the South Bay Labor Council to assist those in need during the holidays and throughout the year are simply outstanding. The labor council’s community services department, headed up by Steve Preminger, has over the years distributed hundreds of thousands of dollars in in kind payments and services to assist members on the brink of catastrophe. They have saved families who were hours away from foreclosure or having their lights, gas or water turned off or any other number of calamities. Why do they do it? Because it’s the right thing to do and they’re union!

The South Bay Labor Council is in the news all the time when political questions come up or a strike is taking place. The council’s community services department tends to operate at lower profile, though its mission is no less critical. The Council’s job is to assist affiliates (Local 5 is the largest private sector union affiliated with the Council) with politics, negotiations and strike support. They also coordinate bargaining when more than one is union involved like at Safeway or at hospitals. The community services department’s job is to help members of the council’s unions when they are in crisis situations. Whether the member is facing financial hardship because of a strike, layoff or any other number of factors the department is there. 4 The department also helps members with referrals to housing agencies and drug and alcohol counseling services (Local 5 members have access to a full range of drug, alcohol and psychiatric counseling services through the trust fund).

The department is funded by the council’s affiliates, the United Way of the Bay Area and grants. This time of year the department is particularly busy making sure people make it through the holidays. If you are having difficulties that you think the Community Services Department of the South Bay Labor Council could help with please contact your union representative or Local 5 office. I hope you and yours had a great holiday and have a fantastic New Year.

UFCW Local 101: Born Through Merger

Local 101 is a result of some thoughtful mergers put together by visionary leadership and an active membership several years back. Local 775, the San Mateo retail clerks, Local 1119, the Marin County clerks, Local 115 meat cutters and Local 1100, the San Francisco department store local, came together in 1992, in a groundbreaking merger. A short time later the sausage makers union, Local 203, joined in. 203 was a small but important addition since they’re responsible for making the hot dogs sold at SF Giants games.

UFCW Local 101 has a proud history of service to its members which will not diminish as a result of the merger with Local 5. In fact, the resources that will become available and the personnel on staff after the merger takes effect will enhance the representation of the former 101 membership.

Until the 2007 merger that formed Local 5 the Local 101 merger was one of the largest in the UFCW international in terms of members and local unions involved. As new members of the Local 5 family these workers are still making history.