Letter from a Reformer
On August 17, a grassroots meeting was held in Modesto, California to discuss reforming UFCW Local 588.
There were approximately 20 people in attendance, including several people from other union locals who support our cause.
Our main subject was holding an election in 2006-- to run against President Jacques Loveall and what has become the Loveall dynasty. The Loveall family has run the union, uncontested, since 1986. As a result, we at store level are not only battling corporate greed, but union officials’ greed also.
Wages for these union people seems to be going up, even though they can't even get their members a 25 cent an hour raise over a three year period.
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I think the point that really hit home to the members at the meeting was that our union rep, who we might see about four or five times a year, has gone from $50,000 a year in 2001 to a staggering $80,000+ a year in income. Is this where our union dues are going?
Everyone was introduced to Doug Slaydon, who is going to run against our current union president.
We know this will be an uphill battle, especially because our local is so large and spread out. It includes 35 counties. But we got commitments from the members of the meeting to spread the word.
We feel that it's time to take our union back and give it to the workers, so they can once again have a voice in decisions that are being made.
Also, we need to unite all union workers and support each other. The day has come to start organizing, and to put corporate America on notice: “We are mad as Hell and we're not going to take it anymore!"
