Solis Confirmed as labor Secretary

Working Americans are celebrating the Senate’s confirmation of former U.S. Rep. Hilda L. Solis (D-Calif.) as Secretary of Labor. The 80-17 vote for confirmation on Feb. 24 followed the withdrawal of a filibuster threat by opponents of Solis’

UFCW 8 Accepts Third Organizing Award in Three years                               UFCW 8 President Jacques Loveall, left, is congratulated by UFCW International Union President Joe Hansen upon accepting an award for innovative organizing. This is the third year in a row in which UFCW 8 was honored for its organizing successes. Loveall was recognized for using the bargaining process to explain to employers the advantages of including all of their workers under the same collective bargaining agreement. “Everybody wins,” Loveall said. “The workers get a good, strong Union contract and the employers get a stable, professional and loyal work force.”

nomination.As a representative from Southern California, Solis had one of the strongest prowor ker voting records in Congress.

She was a sponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act. Solis replaces Elaine L. Chao, an appointee of George W. Bush who, among other things,

 “Congresswoman Solis will be a refreshing change in Washington,” UFCW 8 President Jacques Loveall.

Wal-mart Cancels Supercenter Project in Santa Rosa

almart announced on Feb. 24 that it has cancelled its plans to build a Supercenter in southwest Santa Rosa. The store would have been the third Walmart in Sonoma County.

“Due to the economics of the project, as well as delays, we’re simply no longer able to move forward,” a Wal-Mart spokesperson said. The delays were caused by litigation overthe proposed store’s Environmental Impact Report.

 After five years of planning and hundreds thousands of dollars in development costs, the decision to halt the project was cheered by opponents who objected to Wal-Mart’s low wages and stingy bene

fits. Others were concerned that local businesses would be forced to close if a Supercenter was allowed to open. One factor in Walmart’s decision could be a recent shift in the political balance of Santa Rosa’s city council.

The council now has a solid majority of members who are in favor of limiting the proliferation of “big box” stores in the city.

Salinas Council Passes Ordinance Restricting Big-Box Stores

The Salinas City Council voted 5-2 to approve an ordinance to regulate big-box stores in the city. The vote on March 10 — the same day the Employee Free Choice Act was introduced in Congress — is being hailed as a victory for activists, including Union members, who want to stop Wal-Mart from building a Supercenter in Salinas.

Under the new ordinance, stores with more than 90,000 square feet of retail space are prohibited from dedicating more than 5 percent of their space to the sale of non-taxable items such as groceries. Membership stores like Costco are exempt from the limit. A UFCW spokesperson praised the vote, saying it would protect good Union jobs in Salinas.

Official publication of UFCW 8-Golden State Jacques Loveall, President