Local 3 Members Health and Safety Notice
Dear RWDSU Local 3 Members,
We hope you are all doing well and are all safe and healthy. As you may know, The CDC has modified their recommendations to relax mandatory mask rules and New York State and NYC has now adopted those recommendations as well. This is very concerning to Local 3, along with other labor organizations, because it leaves the decision for customers to wear masks in the hands of the individual employers. Unfortunately, Bloomingdales has chosen to allow vaccinated customers to not wear masks but requires unvaccinated customers to wear masks. This policy does not put our members health and safety first because the mask wearing is now left to the honor system whether the customer is vaccinated or not. Wearing a mask is to keep others safe and by customers not wearing masks it puts our members at risk.
Fortunately, we have recently negotiated a new collective bargaining agreement with language that addresses this issue if any of our members feel uncomfortable being with or in a close vicinity to unmasked customers. Please see the Article below that is in our current collective bargaining agreement. As always, if anyone has any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Local 3.Remember……. We are STRONGER TOGETHER!!!!Article XXIX, Section 20
In the event a colleague is uncomfortable with servicing a customer who is not wearing a mask, as per our established practice, the colleague should politely step away and contact the appropriate people leader for customer assistance such colleague will not be disciplined for politely stepping away and contacting the appropriate People Leader to service the customer.
In Solidarity,Cassandra A. Berrocal, President
Shaun Kavanagh, Secretary Treasurer
Contract Ratified
Dear Local 3 Members,
Congratulations to all Local 3 RWDSU/UFCW members working at Bloomingdales on ratifying a new three year collective bargaining agreement. We would like to thank the Local Officers as well as the negotiating committee for their hard work and dedication.
Always remember……we are STRONGER TOGETHER!!!
Cassandra A Berrocal, President
Shaun Kavanagh, Secretary Treasurer
CONTRACT RATIFICATION VOTE NOTICE
LOCAL 3 CONTRACT RATIFICATION VOTE NOTICE
GREAT NEWS! Local 3’s Officers and Executive Board/Bargaining Committee are proud to announce that we have reached a tentative agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement with Bloomingdales/Macys Inc. This tentative agreement comes after months of very difficult and challenging negotiations during a very challenging and unprecedented time that we are going through not only in NYC but across this nation.
We are happy to announce that we have been able to not only maintain what we currently enjoy within our contract, but we have made many improvements. This did not come easily but the committee remained steadfast and focused.
The members of Local 3 will now have the opportunity to vote and ratify this agreement. Please see the voting information below.
The Local 3 leadership and Executive Board/ Negotiating Committees strongly recommends that we vote YES for this agreement.
Remember…We are STRONGER TOGETHER!
Cassandra A Berrocal, President
Shaun Kavanagh, Secretary TreasurerLocal 3 Executive
Board/Negotiating Committee
VOTING INFORMATION
WHEN - WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021
WHERE - Bloomingdales 9TH CONFERENCE ROOM
TIME - 7AM, 9AM, 11AM, 1PM, 3PM, 5PM, 7PM
Local 3 Union Elections Are Scheduled
This will serve to notify you that the Local 3 Union Elections are scheduled for this year. Read the full notice below, click to enlarge.
Women's History Month!
A woman’s place is in her union! Women have always been vital leaders in our unions and in our movement. We draw strength from the women workers who organized and picketed and struck before us, and carry on their legacy as we continue to fight for justice and dignity at work for all.
Ranked Choice Voting, What You Need to Know!
Ranked Choice Voting Information from RWDSU
Click the images below to enlarge.
COVID-19 Vaccine Information
COVID-19 Vaccine Information from RWDSU
Click to view our COVID-10 Vaccine Handout in English, Spanish and French click the images below to enlarge.
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COVID-19 Vaccine Information from External Sources
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences:
COVID-19 Vaccine Information for Workers, Protect Yourself and Others (Click to read)
Local 3 Commemorates Martin Luther King Jr. Day
This month, Americans everywhere salute the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
For members of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), Dr. King's legacy has special meaning.
We take special pride that, in 1968, the RWDSU was the first union anywhere to negotiate a contract guaranteeing Dr. King's birthday as a paid holiday.
The RWDSU was among the earliest supporters of Dr. King's grassroots drive to challenge racial injustice in the South.
In Chicago during the 1960s, RWDSU provided an important forum for Dr. King to speak out against poverty in America's cities. Later, thousands of RWDSU members stood shoulder to shoulder with other Civil Rights Activists during the historic 1963 March on Washington.
Dr. King saw the Civil Rights struggle and the labor movement as closely linked. He was a constant ally of Union Activists and most have forgotten that Dr. King was in Tennessee to support a Living Wage for Sanitation Strikers on that terrible April day in 1968 when he was slain at the age of 39.
Dr. King spoke about the importance of the labor movement on many occasions, some of which you can read about below. In reflecting on the life and work of Dr. King, the RWDSU recognizes the fight he began is not over until equality for all is a reality, and it is up to our generation of RWDSU members to complete his mission. Below is our 2021 commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. (Click to enlarge)
Seasons Greetings 2020
SEASON’S GREETINGS!
The Year 2020 has been challenging for millions of American unionized workers. We have faced many obstacles due to COVID-19 Coronavirus and because it is not recommended to gather in groups, there will not be a Local 3 RWDSU Holiday Open House held this year.
We will start the Year 2021 with Knowledge, Understanding and Hard Lessons Learned. May the Year 2021 be filled with New Beginnings, Opportunities and Hope.
LET US ALL PAUSE – Remember our Blessings – Family – Employment – Good Health – The Protections of Union Membership – Good Friends.
We wish You and your Families a Peaceful, Healthy and Happy New Year!
Please stay – Safe – stay -Healthy – stay Strong!
In Union Solidarity,
WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER
President, Cassandra A. Berrocal
Secretary-Treasurer, Shaun Kavanagh
Recorder, Costello Dash