UFCW 1116 & FirstSolutions Ratify Contract (12-11-07)

Contract ratification has been reached between UFCW 1116 and FirstSolutions. Some of the highlights include a 40-cent wage increase in years one and three, a 3.5% pay increase in year two, longevity pay, inclusion of dental benefits, a 10 cent increase in contribution by the Employer to the pension fund and a new PTO program. Congratulations to the negotiating committee, President Steve Gilbertson and FirstSolutions!

UFCW 1116 & Chisholm Heritage Ratify Contract (11-27-07)

Contract agreement has been reached between UFCW 1116 and Chisholm Heritage. Some of the highlights include all employees receiving an 18 cent raise per hour and employees with 20 years of service receiving an additional 23 cents an hour! Congratulations to Business Representative Tom Cvar and Chisholm Heritage!

UFCW 1116 & The Bootery Agree to Contract (10-25-07)

Contract agreement has been reached between UFCW 1116 and The Bootery in International Falls. New in the contract was an agreement for the Employer to increase their contribution to the employee pension fund to $1.20 by January 2010. Congratulations to Business Representative Tom Cvar and The Bootery for their success!

UFCW Leukemia Fundraiser Announces Winners (10-25-07)

UFCW 1116's "Balloons For A Cure" fundraiser with area grocery stores raised over $20,000 to help fight leukemia! This annual campaign is conducted through paper balloon sales at area grocery stores and healthy competition is encouraged between stores.

This year's individual store winners were: (click here for photos!)

• 1st Grand Prize - JVC 27" Flat Screen TV - Anne Hiti, #576 Miller Hill
• 2nd Grand Prize - JVC Digital Video Camcorder - Barb Brooks, #459 North Virginia
• 3rd Grand Prize - Magellan MRM 2000 Navigation System - Joann Leimer #507 Cloquet
• Top Seller #1 - Slim Line Portable DVD Player/Swivel Screen - Gina Pietila #576 Miller Hill
• Top Seller #2 - RCA CD System - Leslie Solseth #507 Cloquet
• Top Seller #3 - JVC DVD-VCR Combination System - Lana Morkemo #454 East End Superior

Update (11-13-07): The final total number of dollars raised by all participating grocery stores was $22,008! Wow!

Congratulations to all who participated and thank you!

Gary Morgan and Tamara Jones Join UFCW 1116 Staff (10-17-07)

Welcome to our newest staff members, Gary Morgan and Tamara Jones.

Although Gary has been with UFCW 1116 since January 2, 2006, he was so quiet we didn't even realize he was here until now! (Only kidding, Gary!) Gary is a longtime union member from Lyle, Minnesota.  He worked for Hormel for many years and was part of the 1985 strike that lasted over six months. He comes to us from UFCW Local 9 where he was a shop floor steward, a member of the Executive Board and then the President. He is married with two grown children and a grandchild. Gary joined our staff as a business representative.

Tamara is a union member from Duluth, Minnesota. She grew up in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and moved to the Twin Ports right after high school. She worked for Viewcrest Health Center for several years before coming on staff. She is also a member of the UFCW 1116 Executive Board. She has a fiancé and a toddler- one of which is more work than the other! She joined the staff as the assistant to the President on October 15, 2007.

Please join us in welcoming them to UFCW 1116.

Local 1116 Elections Held (10-01-07)

By widespread acclamation of UFCW 1116 members, President Steve Gilbertson and Secretary-Treasurer Joyce Berglund were reelected to their respective offices.

Also by widespread acclamation, the UFCW 1116 Executive Board was reelected, consisting of longtime members Carol Agurkis, Lou Ann Fox, Connie Salakka and Richard Walsh. Two new members, Tamara Jones and Stephen Moen, were also elected to the Executive Board.

Congratulations to all!