UFCW 21 President Dave Schmitz in the Port Orchard Independent: Keep liquor sales in the state's capable hands

June 23, 2009: The June 18th Port Orchard Independent includes a piece from UFCW 21 President Dave Schmitz on the importance of state control of liquor sales:

Keep liquor sales in the state’s capable hands

Jun 18 2009, 2:16 PM · UPDATED
RE: “Last call: Get the state out of the booze business,” Michael Reitz, Guest Opinion, May 29.

State control over the sale of hard liquor has served the people of Washington well for more than 70 years. Instead of letting any grocery or corner mini-mart sell hard liquor, we wisely sell this product at an appropriate number of state controlled stores, with limited hours and experienced staff.

These state stores have no advertising and no incentive to sell more liquor. And they have employees with an average 17 years of experience — just one reason why there are far less alcohol sales to minors than other stores.

I wholeheartedly agree the private sector is the place for most merchandise to be sold – be it tires or loaves of bread. But I think we can all agree hard liquor is not like a tire or a loaf of bread.

It is a product that, in the wrong hands, can be dangerous and cause serious health and public safety concerns, especially if sold to minors.

And the public benefits from the $100 million in profit each year from controlled liquor sales.

Certainly there are some who would benefit if those profits went to a private retailer. But the taxpayers would be the loser.

This money currently goes to support all sorts of state and local programs for the people of the state.

Despite claims the state should dismantle the system of liquor control, there is no outcry from the public.

Those who claim we should deregulate the state liquor control have the same mindset as those who pushed for deregulation of Wall Street and the banking systems that helped lead to our current economic crisis.

The fact is, some things are good to regulate — mortgages, buying and selling of stocks, and liquor are three of them.

Selling liquor at the local corner convenience store is not a new idea, just a bad one. The public is not clamoring for selling hard liquor next to Cheerios or in every mini mart - and for good reason.

In some cases it is better to have some level of government control. The sale of liquor is not something that should be deregulated.

This question has been studied, researched and rejected by former Republican and Democratic governors alike.

The answer is the same today. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Keep the system running that works to protect public safety and works to curb alcohol abuse.

DAVE SCHMITZ

president, United Food & Commercial Workers Local 21

Renton Reporter: "Workers, union rally in Renton about worker rights at Wal-Mart stores nationwide"

June 5, 2009: The Renton Reporter carried an article about Wal-Mart workers in Renton speaking out for their rights on the job:

Workers, union rally in Renton about worker rights at Wal-Mart stores nationwide

By DEAN RADFORD
Renton Reporter Editor
Jun 04 2009, 4:32 PM

A nationwide effort to give workers at the nation’s Wal-Mart stores a stronger voice in the workplace came to Renton Thursday morning, with workers, supporters and union members rallying next to busy Rainier Avenue South.

Click here to read the full story online at the Renton Reporter’s website

Bellingham Herald: Two labor unions for grocery, retail workers agree to merger

June 2, 2009: The Bellingham Herald reports on the membership vote to approve the merger of UFCW Local 44 into UFCW Local 21:

Two labor unions for grocery, retail workers agree to merger

DAVE GALLAGHER - THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

After membership approval last week, two labor unions officially became one on Monday, June 1.
Members of UFCW 21 and 44, both Locals in the United Food and Commercial Workers, agreed to a merger and are now part of UFCW 21. In addition to grocery and retail workers, Local 44 brings meat cutters and processors into UFCW 21.

The new UFCW now has membership of more than 35,000. In Whatcom County, the number of members joining from the Local 44 is 1,465 from 21 different work sites.

For the Local 44, much will remain the same, said Tom Geiger, communications director for UFCW 21. The Mount Vernon office will remain open with the same union representatives and office staff. The purpose was to create a stronger voice for the union, said Mike Hatfield, who has led Local 44 for decades and will now be semi-retired.

“This will increase our bargaining power with employers,” Hatfield said in a press release.

US Senator Murray To Speak at May 30th Seattle March

May 21, 2009: Momentum Building: “Health Care For All in 2009”

Seattle, WA – In accord with a growing national sentiment that health care needs to be fixed this year a planned march in Seattle has just received confirmation that US Senator Murray will be a speaker. Senator Murray will be joined by thousands calling on Congress to make national health care for all a reality this year.

“Access to quality, affordable health care for all is critical to keeping families healthy and our economy strong,” Senator Murray said. “I’m looking forward to joining with Washingtonians from communities across our state to send the message back to D.C. that health care reform is both needed and wanted this year.”

The May 30th march is endorsed by more than 150 organizations, including small businesses, community groups, labor unions, health providers, people of color and immigrant rights groups, and faith-based institutions. Bus trips are planned from Bellingham, Mt. Vernon, Everett, Vancouver, Olympia, Tacoma, Tri-Cities Yakima, and Spokane.

“The level of excitement and promise for change around health care is extremely high,” said Deana Knutsen, board president of Washington Community Action Network and a mother of three. “It is wonderful to have Senator Murray’s leadership in Washington DC and it will be wonderful to have her at the march on May 30th.”

The senior senator from Washington is scheduled to address the crowd at Edwin Pratt Park in Seattle (20th Ave S and E Yesler Way) at a rally beginning at 12:30 before the march. US Representative McDermott will be addressing the crowd at Westlake Center where the march will finish. Additional speakers include:

• Deana Knutsen, Board Chair, Washington Community Action Network
• Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director, MomsRising.org
• Dr. Ben Danielson, Medical Director, Odessa Brown Clinic
• Angela Ying, Senior Pastor, Bethany United Church of Christ
• Lynne Dodson, President, AFT Seattle Community Colleges, Local 1789

Emcees will be King County Council Member Larry Gossett, Rocio Luquero of Univision Seattle, and Teresita Batayola, Executive Director, International Community Health Services. The rally will have live entertainment at the beginning and end featuring Total Experience Gospel Choir and Big World Breaks.

WHAT:
March and Rally: Health Care for All in 2009 – Mothers Leading the Way

WHERE:
Planned to start: at Edwin Pratt Park (20th Ave. S. & E. Yesler Way)
End at Westlake Center (4th Ave. & Pine St.)
Seattle, WA

WHEN:
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Event will run from 12:30 – 3:30
March will start at Edwin Pratt Park in Seattle’s Central District and conclude with a rally at Westlake Center in Downtown.

PUBLIC CONTACT
lynne@washingtoncan.org
206-389-0050

MEDIA CONTACT
christine@teamsoapbox.com
206-528-2550 ext 1

WEBSITE:
For updated information on the plans for the march, to sign up your organization as an endorser, or to see how you can get involved to help, visit:
http://may30march.org/

FACEBOOK:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=76914032791

ADDTL INFO:
The event is a result of national, state and local organizations seizing the historic opportunity for health care reform in this nation. More than 150 organizations and countless individuals have already joined in the excitement. This event will build toward health care reform efforts on the national scale. States around the nation will be holding events to build to a June 25th national event with tens of thousands of people in Washington D.C

A full list of endorsers are listed below. More information is available at: www.may30march.org

Endorsers as of May 10th

• 32nd Legislative District Democrats
• 37th Legislative District Democrats
• 43rd Legislative District Democrats
• 65th Street Change Gang
• AARP Washington
• AARTH Ministry
• Aerospace Machinist Industrial District Lodge 751
• Allyship
• Alternative Healing Network
• Amalgamated Transit Union Legislative Council
• Amalgamated Transit Union Local 587
• American Federation of Government Employees Local 3937
• American Federation of Teachers, Seattle Local 1789
• American Federation of Television and Radio Artists - Seattle Chapter
• American Friends Service Committee
• AnakBayan Seattle
• Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, Seattle Chapter
• Bethany United Church of Christ
• CAIR Project
• Campaña Quetzal
• Casa Latina
• Children’s Alliance
• Chinese Information and Service Center
• Clark, Skamania and West Kicklitat County Labor Council, AFL-CIO
• Coalition of Labor Union Women
• Community Health Care
• Community Health Network of Washington
• Community to Community Development
• Consejo Counseling and Referral Service
• Country Doctor Community Health Centers
• Debra Wilde, Development Coordinator of the Community Health Association of Spokane
• Dunshee House - Home of Seattle AIDS Support Group
• El Centro de la Raza
• El Comité Pro-Reforma Migratoria y Justicia Social
• Entre Hermanos
• For the Grandchildren
• Freedom Socialist Party, Seattle
• Fremont Community Therapy Project
• Fuse Washington
• Gay City Health Project
• Greater Seattle Business Association
• Green Party of Whatcom County
• Greenwood Senior Center
• Health Care for All - Washington
• Health Care for America Now - WA
• HealthPoint
• Healthy Washington Coalition
• Hepatitis Education Project
• Industrial Workers of the World, Seattle
• Interfaith Community Health Center, Bellingham
• International Community Health Services
• International Association of Machinists Local 751, AFL-CIO
• International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers Local 17
• Islamic Civic Engagement Coalition
• Issues Committee of the First District Democrats
• Jconnect Seattle
• Jobs with Justice
• Justice Works!
• Khmer In Action
• Latino HEAT
• Leadership Academy
• League of Women Voters of Washington
• Legal Voice
• LELO
• Lifelong AIDS Alliance
• Lutheran Public Policy Office for Washington State
• MAMAs Unidas
• Martin Luther King, Jr. County Labor Council, AFL-CIO
• Midwives’ Association of Washington State
• MomsRising
• National Council of Jewish Women Seattle Section
• National Physicians Alliance, Puget Sound
• Nonprofit Assistance Center
• Northwest Federation of Community Organizations
• Northwest Health Law Advocates
• Northwest Network
• Northwest Washington Central Labor Council
• Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic
• Office & Professional Employees International Union
• Older Women’s League
• OneAmerica
• Para Los Niños
• People Of Color Against Aids Network
• Phinney Neighborhood Association
• Physicians for a National Health Program, Western Washington Chapter
• Pierce County Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO
• Pinay sa Seattle
• Planned Parenthood Votes! Washington
• Pride at Work, Seattle
• Progressive Democrats of America
• Progressive Party of Washington
• Puget Sound Alliance for Retired Americans
• Puget Sound Sage
• Rabbi David Fine, Regional Director, Union for Reform Judaism
• Radical Women
• Rainier Valley Unitarian-Universalist Congregation Social Justice Committee
• Raising Women’s Voices
• Real Change News
• Refugee Women’s Alliance
• Retired Public Employees of Washington, Chapter 3
• Rosehedge
• Sahngnoksoo
• Sailors’ Union of the Pacific
• SeaMar Community Health Center
• SEAPAX
• Seattle Education Association
• Seattle Chapter of the National Organization for Women
• Seattle Senior Housing Program Advocates
• Seattle Young People’s Project
• Service Employees International Union Healthcare 1199NW
• Service Employees International Union Healthcare 775NW
• Service Employees International Union Local 925
• Service Employees International Union Local 6
• Skagit County Democrats
• Snohomish County Labor Council, AFL-CIO
• Social Justice Fund
• Sound Alliance
• Southeast Washington County Labor Council, AFL-CIO
• Spokane Labor Council, AFL-CIO
• Statewide Poverty Action Network
• Teamsters Local 117
• Temple Beth Am
• Thurston-Lewis-Mason Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO
• Trusted Advocates Association
• UNITE HERE! Local 8
• United Association Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 32 Seattle
• United Food & Commercial Workers Local 141
• United Food & Commercial Workers Local 1439
• United Food & Commercial Workers Local 21
• United Food & Commercial Workers Local 365
• United Food & Commercial Workers Local 367
• United Food & Commercial Workers Local 81
• United Food & Commercial Workers Local 44
• United for National Health Care
• United Steel Workers Local 12-590
• VOICES, Spokane
• Washington Association of Churches
• Washington Association of Community and Migrant Health Centers
• Washington Bus
• Washington CAN
• Washington Communist Party USA
• Washington Federation of State Employees
• Washington Health Security Coalition
• Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility
• Washington Public Campaigns
• Washington Small Business for Secure Health Care Coalition
• Washington State Alliance for Retired Americans
• Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO
• Washington State Nurses Association
• Washington State Senior Citizen’s Lobby
• Washington State Society for Clinical Social Work
• Washington State Unitarian Universalist Voices for Justice
• Western Washington Fellowship of Reconciliation
• Women’s Funding Alliance
• Yakima Neighborhood Health Services
• Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic

"Yes: Our system protects minors"; Op-Ed on State Liquor Sales

May 18, 2009: UFCW 21 President Dave Schmitz had an op-ed in Sunday’s edition of the Tacoma News Tribune. He makes the case for preserving state regulation of liquor sales in order to protect public safety and curb alcohol abuse.

Read the complete op-ed online at the TNT’s website