Page 1 Quick Start Guide
Page 2 Quick Start Guide

Have a question? Need some help? Who do I call?
Start with your steward.

The whole point of being in a union is that you are not alone. So if you have a problem or a question, the place to start is with your Steward. Every UFCW 951 workplace has a network of Stewards in place. There are more than 500 in all and they receive regular training in how to better serve you, the 951 member.

Stewards are there to help with any kind of problem. Some examples are enforcing the rules and standards defined by the contract, resolving a dispute with your supervisor or getting help with a problem beyond the walls of the workplace. Stewards are the backbone of our Union. As you become more familiar with your Union, we hope you will consider becoming a Steward.

Tell me about dues

About a month after you go to work for most UFCW 951 employers, you will notice a deduction for dues on your pay stub. No dues are collected during the first four weeks. However, you will see double your normal dues amount deducted from your paycheck for the next four weeks. This procedure allows UFCW 951 to avoid the large, up-front initiation fee charged by many other local unions. Dues are
calculated according to a monthly formula: two hours at your pay rate plus $11 or the UFCW International minimum (currently $25.08).

Dues provide the income that takes care of the expenses of running UFCW 951 and the International Union. The basic dues amount is set at the convention of the
International Union which takes place every five years. At UFCW 951 we are committed to keeping dues as low as possible.

Member Services

As a member of UFCW 951 you are entitled to many services. The UFCW Local 951 Foundation and the International Union offer accessible scholarship opportunities for members and their dependents. As a member you also become eligible for the Union Plus program which offers a credit card and mortgage loans with attractive rates and policies.

UFCW 951 offers opportunities to obtain a PerksCard which provides access to a wide range of discounts at restaurants as well as national and local retail and service providers. You are also eligible for discounts with AAA of Michigan.

UFCW has two full-time Community Service Reps who can assist you with
understanding and obtaining member services. Your Steward and your Union Rep can also give you more information about how to obtain these benefits.

How do I find my Steward?

Each workplace has a Union bulletin board. That is a good place to look for news and updates. And the Stewards for your workplace are listed there too.

The name of your Union Rep is there too. Union Rep? What’s that? A Union Rep is a full-time staff member of UFCW 951. They work for the 951 membership and they are there to help. You can reach them by calling the office. If you are not connected immediately, we assure you that you will get a timely return call. (Be sure to leave a telephone number and convenient times to reach you.) You can also find out who your Union Rep is on the UFCW 951 website.

Your Union Contract

Every UFCW 951 member is covered by a contract that has been negotiated with member input and voted on by those protected by it. The contract sets wages, seniority guarantees, benefits such as health care, pensions and paid time off. It addresses working conditions such as scheduling and job classifications. The contract also establishes a means of resolving disputes known as the grievance procedure.

Copies of the contract that cover your workplace are available from your Steward, your Union Rep or, in some cases, at the UFCW 951 website.

How do I know what is going on?

UFCW 951 makes every effort to keep members informed. We publish a quarterly newsletter that you will receive in the mail. Our website www.UFCW951.com offers frequently updated information on new developments. It also has a FAQ section, a place to e-mail questions to your Union and archived material including contracts, past newsletters and other information. UFCW 951 bulletin boards at your workplace also provide important current information.

We also hold regular and special meetings. The schedule for 2008 is listed on the back of this Guide.

Who runs my union?

You do. UFCW 951 is a democratic organization. Members elected the current Executive Board and Officers to three year terms in September 2007. The Board oversees and approves the Union’s activities. The officers and more than fifty rank-and-file members like you serve on the Board.

Officers
Marv Russow, President
Larry Radke, Secretary/Treasurer
Karin Hopman, Recorder
John Cakmakci, Executive Vice President
Tamara Vander Ark, Executive Vice President