1. – Joe Sestak
for Senate
Vol. 33, Number 3 – October 2010
www.ufcw1776.org
UNITED FOOD AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS
K
If we vote, we WIN!
– Dan Onorato
for Governor

2. Daughter of 1776 Citterio Member
Wins UFCW International Scholarship
F
or the second year in a row, Local 1776 has been
a big winner in the International UFCW’s annual
college scholarship competition.
Scholarship
Alicia Nelson, 21, of Freeland, PA, daughter of Citterio
winner Alicia
USA member Mark Nelson, has won a scholarship toward her Nelson and her
tuition at Albright College in Reading, PA. Mark has worked father, Mark
for 23 years at Citterio – producer of quality Italian meats – Nelson. Mark is
and Alicia is a 2007 graduate of Bishop Hafey High School. a long-time
Alicia is in her senior year at Albright, majoring in 1776 member
at Citterio USA.
elementary education with a minor in special education.
John Rorick Scores Hole
in One in Members’ Outing United Food Commercial Workers Local 1776
3031-A Walton Rd., Suite 201
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
L
ocal 1776 mem-
Visit us on the web: www.ufcw1776.org
ber John Rorick
scored a first in President
Wendell W. Young, IV
the history of the Union’s Secretary-Treasurer
Michele Kessler
golf tournaments – a hole
Recorder
in one! Barbara Johnson
Playing in the annual Main Office:
3031-A Walton Rd., Suite 201
Southeast Pennsylvania Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
610-940-1776 (toll-free: 1-866-329-1776)
member’s outing, John Northeast PA Office:
2007 Highway 315
aced the par 3 17th hole at Pittston, PA 18640
570-655-6886 (toll-free 1-800-635-6994)
the Mainland Golf Course, Central PA Office:
3161 Chambersburg Rd.
just outside of Lansdale, PA. Biglerville, PA 17307
717-334-0064 (toll-free 1- 800-332-9421)
He said it was the first hole- Communications Office:
William Epstein, Director
in-one he had struck in his 610-940-1812 (toll-free: 1-866-329-1776, x-812)
many years of playing. UFCW Local 1776 and Participating
Employers
John, a Norristown, PA Health Welfare Fund:
3031-B Walton Rd.
resident who is a member Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462-2344
610-941-9400 (toll-free:1-800-458-8618)
of the Local 1776 Political UFCW Local 1776 and Participating
Action Committee, has Employers Pension Fund:
Local 1776 President Wendell W. 3031-B Walton Rd.
been with Acme since Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462-2344
610-941-9400 (toll-free:1-800-458-8618)
Young, IV presents a custom-made
1975. He works in the hole-in-one momento to member UFCW Union and Participating
company’s Trooper store. John Rorick. The long-time Acme Food Industry Employers
Tri-State Pension Fund:
To mark the occasion, member tallied his big hit at the 3031-B Walton Rd.
annual outing for Southeast Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462-2344
the Local commissioned 610-941-4282 (toll-free: 1-866-928-8329)
Pennsylvania members at the
Schott Glass member Ron
Waruneke, Sr., of Avoca, PA,
Mainland Golf Course, near October 2010
Landsdale. The prize was designed
to design and craft a crystal and produced by Schott Glass
momento of the event. member Ron Warunek, Sr. C
Printed on recycled paper.
2

3. On November 2nd, It’s Our Choice!
By Wendell W. Young, IV, President
Jobs were disappearing in mass numbers.
P
resident Obama best describes the November
2nd election. It’s our choice, he says. We The housing and banking markets were
can go forward, or we can go backward: collapsing. State budgets were in shambles.
• We can build on the progress that his And things were going to get only worse
administration has achieved in its short time unless the federal government acted boldly.
in office. Even Dick Cheney, in the fall of 2008,
• Or we can return the government to the same pleaded with fellow Republicans in the
people who created the worst economic Senate to act boldly and pass a stimulus plan.
downturn in our lifetime – people who want Now, Republican fearmongers want us to believe
to eliminate Social Security, overturn health that the Obama administration and Congress over-
care reform and protect Wall Street profits reacted. The truth is that the economy was spiraling
more than working men and women. out of control. We had to act.
It’s easy to understand the impatience that many Other spinmeisters want us to believe that the
feel with the way things work in Washington. A Obama administration and Congress didn’t do
clear majority of Americans voted for Barack Obama enough. But they should take that up with the
and Joe Biden because they want change, and they Party of No and those few misguided Democrats
want it now. They’re concerned that we have yet to who help it block further progress.
create enough jobs to replace the more than eight How about the venomous Republican Senators
million jobs we lost thanks to the policies of Dick who within days of Barack Obama’s inauguration
Cheney and his assistant, George Bush. proudly declared that they sought only to inflict
But no matter how hard the U.S. Chamber of political damage on the President? They want to
Commerce tries to spin it, the fact is that Barack reverse the results of the 2008 election, and they
Obama faced a national and world-wide economic have resorted to a record number of filibuster
disaster when he took office in January 2009. threats to block the President’s agenda.
I find especially frustrating the people who say
We were on the brink of a second Great
we shouldn’t go deeper into debt to get our
Depression. Eight years of
economy moving again. Where were these people
Republican rule had
when the Bush Administration was running two
turned a record budget
wars and giving huge tax breaks to millionaires and
surplus into a record
billionaires “off budget” so they wouldn’t have to
budget deficit! When
be responsible for the borrowing they had to do to
George Bush took
fund their policies?
office in 2001 we had
Today, businesses aren’t spending enough to
a $250 billion surplus.
stimulate the economy. State and local governments
When he turned the
are struggling and don’t have the resources to dig
job over to Barack
our nation out of the depths of this recession.
Obama, he handed him
Only the federal government has the weight to
a $1.5 trillion deficit!
underwrite the investments that we need to build a
future for ourselves and our children.
(continued on page 4)
Wendell W. Young, IV
3

4. (Continued from page 3)
How did we get out of the Great Depression? • A tax policy that helps working men and
By borrowing. By investing in the future. Even the women, instead of favoring millionaires and
most conservative critics of the President borrow billionaires who don’t need tax breaks?
money to finance their homes and cars for their • Equal pay for equal work?
families. Are they ready to give up their mortgages
• Greater access to student loans and millions
and car loans?
in savings to make college more affordable to
students and their families?
T
o those who are critical of the Obama
record to date, I ask which of the following • An open, honest discussion of what we’re
do they want to give back? doing in Iraq and Afghanistan and how we’re
funding those wars, and a resumption of
• The federal funds that have helped create more peace talks in the Middle East?
jobs in the last 20 months than the Bush
Administration created in its entire eight years? • The most sweeping reform of Wall Street
since the Great Depression?
• Federal money that has saved police, firefighter
and teacher jobs? True, we have a long way to go on the road to
economic recovery. But the way to reach that goal
• Health care reform that will protect our is to go forward, not backward. As President
families and slow down the increase in the
cost of insurance? (Continued on page 5)
UFCW International President Joe Hansen (left) in Washington, DC with 1776 President Wendell W.
4 Young, IV and U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate.

5. (Continued from page 4)
Obama describes it, Starting on Page 7, a patient and his or her doctor. So what else is
he took office and new, Doc? Then, this doctor says that she
found that the car check out the full list tried to meet with Sestak to talk about health
was in a ditch. He of Local 1776 care reform.
and Congress have endorsements for the What she doesn’t say is that she missed
pulled the car out of three opportunities to have that discussion.
the ditch. But the U.S. Congress and And she doesn’t say that Joe Sestak’s office is
Republicans want the Pennsylvania open seven days a week. Any constituent can
the keys back, and Senate and House of walk in and be heard. So how hard did she
they want them “try” to get an appointment?
back without a Representatives. It’s If Dr. Delaware County had shown up at
single new idea. the same story. If we Sestak’s office, she might have learned that
Why would we vote, we win! the historic health care reform already is
give the keys back making life better for all Americans:
to the same guys who drove the car into the ditch • Insurance companies can’t deny coverage to
in the first place? children because of pre-existing health
If we don’t take the November 2nd election conditions. Soon, this will cover adults, too.
seriously, we’ll wake up the next day and find new
people in charge – people who want to privatize • Insurance companies can’t drop coverage for
Social Security, destroy the labor movement and people who become sick.
restrict women’s rights. • Children will have to be covered by their
These are the same people who want to repeal parents’ policies until they are 26 years old;
Wall Street reform, who apologized to BP when • Limits on annual and lifetime coverage have
President Obama proposed that BP pay for the Gulf been eliminated.
spill, and who want to borrow more money and • Insurance companies must cover checkups
saddle our kids with more debt just so wealthy and preventive treatments – steps that will
people can get more tax breaks! They’re the same make everyone healthier and control costs.
people who use corporate funds – without
disclosing their donors – to run multi-million • Senior citizens who fall into the so-called
advertising campaigns against candidates who “donut hole” gap in Medicare’s prescription
support working families. drug program have received a $250 payment
That’s why your Executive Board enthusiastically to begin to close that gap.
has endorsed Joe Sestak for the U.S. Senate and Dan • And the reform slows the relentless rise in
Onorato for Governor of Pennsylvania, and is proud health care costs and expands coverage for 32
to recommend them to our Pennsylvania members million Americans.
for their vote on November 2nd. Toomey’s slimy ad has been widely condemned
They’ll move us forward. They’ll make a winning by the news media as misleading. It’s a sample of the
team that cares about working families. They’ll barrage of $6 million in television advertising that
represent us in Washington and Harrisburg – not the Toomey unleashed against Sestak during the summer
highly-financed corporate special interests. months – most of it attack, attack and attack.
Joe Sestak had a distinguished 31-year career in
Joe Sestak: The Truth about the U.S. Navy. He’s provided outstanding leadership as
Toomey’s Health Care Smear a Congressman on the issues that matter the most to
working families. The only thing Pat Toomey has led is
The attack on Joe Sestak for his vote for health care the Club for Growth, a radical right-wing Wall Street
reform is typical of the pandering gutter tactics of his operation aimed at purging the Republican Party of its
opponent, former Wall Street executive Pat Toomey.
(Continued on page 6)
One Toomey ad features a doctor from Delaware
County who says that medicine should be between
5

6. (Continued from page 5)
last voices of moderation. Before that Toomey worked office to subpoena Twitter records from
on Wall Street selling derivatives and other deregulated individuals who had criticized his work as
gimmicks that helped create the financial mess we’re Attorney General.
in. He helped ship American manufacturing jobs to He showed a similar insensitivity to people
China. He says that corporations shouldn’t pay taxes – who are out of work when he said – more
and he thinks we should trust him as a U.S. Senator? than once – that unemployed Pennsylvanians
The good news is that in spite of Toomey’s lies don’t look for jobs because they’d rather get
and his advertising barrage, this race is a dead heat unemployment payments.
as we head to Nov. 2nd. If we turn out to vote for And he’s politicized his office in so many
Joe Sestak, we win! ways that leading newspapers have called for his
Dan Onorato – resignation.
The national Democratic Governors Association
Best for Pennsylvania!
(DGA) has invested heavily in Dan Onorato’s
The further good news is that Democrats can be campaign because it’s convinced that he’s a strong,
equally as proud of their candidate for Governor of effective candidate, that the Republicans have a
Pennsylvania – Dan Onorato. weak, gaffe-prone candidate, and that we’re heading
Perhaps he’s less well-known to those of us in to November 2nd with a significant Democratic
Local 1776 because his career has been in Western state-wide registration and performance advantage.
Pennsylvania – most recently in the elected post of The DGA – and Local 1776’s Executive Board –
Allegheny County Executive. But Onorato will know that with Joe Sestak and Dan Onorato, if we
bring to Harrisburg a solid record running the vote we win!
state’s second-largest county for the last six years
without raising property taxes. At the same time,
he reformed the county’s government and led a Know the Facts:
successful job creation drive.
A
Onorato has run a successful campaign since poll by CBS News and the NY Times
the May primary election, raising the funds he’ll found that 64 percent of Tea Party
need to carry him through to November 2nd. He’s supporters believe that President
put forth a thoughtful plan of action to move Obama has increased taxes. In fact, he’s cut
Pennsylvania forward, and has taken the time to them for 95 percent of all Americans.
visit the Local 1776 office and to assure us of his
commitment to a state government that represents
working men and women – including his support
for the Pennsylvania Wine and Spirits Shops and
the role they play in protecting public health and
safety and the contribution they make to the
Commonwealth’s budget.
Onorato’s opponent, on the other hand – Tom
Corbett – is widely viewed as not ready for prime time.
He showed a shocking disregard for our First
Amendment rights when he used his state
NOV. 2ND
6

7. Local 1776 Endorsements for Nov. 2nd
I
n deciding on endorsements, Local 1776’s Executive Board considers a candidate’s voting record
and statements on issues of direct interest to the Union’s members – including health care, jobs
and the economy, the Pennsylvania Wine and Spirits Shops, equal pay for equal work, workers’
compensation and fair tax and budget policies.
Every vote counts on November 2, 2010. Please share this list with your family and friends, and
help elect candidates who care about working families.
Joe Sestak (D) Dan Onorato (D)
U.S. Senate, PA Governor of PA
K
K Scott Conklin (D)
Lt. Governor, PA
K
K
Paul Kanjorski (D) Chaka Fattah (D) Manan Trivedi (D) Allyson Schwartz (D)
U.S. House U.S. House U.S. House U.S. House
7

8. #
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
Local 1776 Endorsements for Nov. 2nd
#
U.S. CONGRESS
Cedarbrook
#
1 Robert Brady (D)
2 Chaka Fattah (D)
Members Kick Off
#
6 Manan Trivedi (D)
Campaign With
#
7 Bryan Lentz (D)
8 Patrick J. Murphy (D)
Dan Onorato at
#
9 Tom Conners (D)
Rally in Easton
#
10 Christopher Carney (D)
11 Paul Kanjorski (D)
#
12 Mark Critz (D)
K
#
13 Allyson Schwartz (D)
15 John Callahan (D)
#
16 Lois Herr (D)
#
17 No endorsement
#
#
C
edarbrook members Ron Leikel (left) and
#
Betty Krause (right), both members of the
Local 1776 Political Action Committee, join
#
Democratic candidate for Governor Dan Onorato at a
rally to launch the 2010 campaign in Easton, PA.
#
Also taking part was Democratic candidate for the
U.S. House of Representatives in Pennsylvania’s 15th
#
District, Dan Callahan.
#
#
#
#
#
Tina Tartaglione (D) John Rafferty (R) Steward Greenleaf (R) Phyllis Mundy (D)
#
PA State Senate PA State Senate PA State Senate PA State House
8 # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #

9. # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
#
47 Eric Wolfgang (D)
#
PENNSYLVANIA SENATE
53 Robert Godshall (R)
2 Christine Tartaglione (D)
#
61 Mary Lou Readinger (D)
4 Leanna Washington (D)
#
68 Matthew Baker (R)
6 Robert Tomlinson (R)
70 Matt Bradford (D)
#
8 Anthony Hardy Williams (D)
71 Bryan Barbin (D)
10 Cynthia Philo (D)
#
72 Frank Burns (D)
12 Stewart Greenleaf (R)
73 Gary Haluska (D)
#
14 John Yudichak (D)
74 Camille George (D)
16 Pat Browne (R)
#
76 Mike Hanna (D)
18 Lisa Boscola (D)
77 Scott Conklin (D)
#
20 Lisa Baker (R)
79 No endorsement
22 John Blake (D)
#
80 No endorsement
24 Bill Wallace (D)
81 No endorsement
#
26 Edwin Erickson (R)
82 No endorsement
44 John Rafferty (R)
#
83 Rick Mirabito (D)
48 Jo Ellen Litz (D)
84 No endorsement
#
PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE 85 No endorsement
#
OF REPRESENTATIVES 86 No endorsement
87 Angela West (D)
#
13 Tom Houghton (D)
88 No endorsement
18 Gene Digirolamo (R)
#
89 No endorsement
26 Fern Kaufman (D)
#
90 No endorsement
31 Steve Santarsiero (D)
91 No endorsement
#
41 Gerald Policoff (D)
43 No endorsement (continued on page 10)
#
#
#
#
#
John Taylor (R) Jewell Williams (D) Dwight Evans (D) Gene Digirolamo (R)
#
PA State House PA State House PA State House PA State House
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # 9

10. #
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
Local 1776 Endorsements for Nov. 2nd
#
PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE 108 No endorsement
OF REPRESENTATIVES 109 No endorsement
#
(continued from page 9) 110 No endorsement
#
92 No endorsement 111 Jim Knapp (D)
112 Ken Smith (D)
#
93 Linda Small (D)
94 Metta Barbour (D) 113 Kevin Murphy (D)
#
95 Eugene Depasquale (D) 114 Sid Michaels Kavulich (D)
#
96 Mike Sturla (D) 115 Edward Staback (D)
97 Patrick O’Keeffe (D) 116 Todd Eachus (D)
#
98 No endorsement 117 No endorsement
#
99 No endorsement 118 Mike Carroll (D)
100 No endorsement 119 No endorsement
#
101 No endorsement 120 Phyllis Mundy (D)
#
102 No endorsement 121 Eddie Day Pashinski (D)
103 Ron Buxton (D) 122 No endorsement
#
104 No endorsement 123 Neal Goodman (D)
#
105 No endorsement 124 Jerry Knowles (R)
106 John Payne (R) 125 Tim Seip (D)
#
107 George Zalar (D) 126 Dante Santoni (D)
#
#
1776 Steps Up to Help
#
Pocono Medical Workers
#
L
ocal 1776 members stepped up in
#
support of members of SEIU Local
1199 PA at the Pocono Medical
#
Center in East Stroudsburg, PA as they
kicked off contract negotiations. Joining the
#
1776 delegation was Pennsylvania State
Rep. John J. Siptroth (D-Monroe and Pike
#
Counties) and 1776 Union Representatives
Cathy Paninski and Chris Snyder.
#
10 # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #

11. # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
#
#
PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE 137 Charles Dertinger (D)
OF REPRESENTATIVES 138 No endorsement
#
127 Thomas Caltagirone (D) 139 No endorsement
#
128 Bryan Boughter (D) 140 John Galloway (D)
129 No endorsement 141 Tina Davis (D)
#
130 David Kessler (D) 142 No endorsement
#
131 Mike Horton (D) 143 Kathy McQuarrie (D)
144 Katharine Watson (R)
#
132 Jennifer Mann (D)
133 Joseph Brennan (D) 145 Mary Whitesell (D)
#
134 Patrick Slattery (D) 146 No endorsement
147 No endorsement
#
135 Steve Samuelson (D)
(continued on page 12)
136 Robert Freeman (D)
#
Northeast Leads at Kanjorski Kickoff
#
#
T
he Local 1776 Northeast Division team – members and staff – joined U.S. Rep. Paul
Kanjorski to launch the kickoff of his reelection campaign. From left are Michele Kessler,
#
1776 Secretary-Treasurer and Director of the Local’s Northeast PA and Central PA
Divisions; Joey Alphabet, Charlie Francis, Tom McLean, Ken Warabak and Mike Kepich, all 1776
#
members at Schott Glass USA; John Rusak, 1776 Lead Agent; Congressman Kanjorski; Rich
Aston, of Schott; Mike Kepich’s wife, Anne; Don Nelson and Stanley Budzilek, of Schott; John
#
Chernesky, 1776 PA Wine and Spirits member; and Ken Karasek, 1776 Union Representative.
McLean, Kepich and Chernesky are members of 1776’s Executive Board.
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # 11

12. # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
#
#
Local 1776 Endorsements for Nov. 2nd
#
#
#
PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE 164 Margo Davidson (D)
OF REPRESENTATIVES 165 William Adolph Jr. (R)
#
#
(continued from page 11) 166 Greg Vitali (D)
#
#
148 Mike Gerber (D) 167 Bill Holmes (D)
149 Tim Briggs (D) 168 Thomas Killion (R)
#
#
150 Mike Vereb (R) 169 Dennis O’Brien (R)
#
#
151 Rick Taylor (D) 170 Brendan Boyle (D)
152 Thomas Murt (R) 171 No endorsement
#
#
153 Josh Shapiro (D) 172 John Perzel (R)
#
#
154 Lawrence Curry (D) 173 Mike McGeehan (D)
155 Barbara Bergeron (D)
#
174 John Sabatina Jr. (D)
#
156 Barbara McIlvaine Smith (D) 175 Michael O’Brien (D)
#
#
157 Paul Drucker (D) 176 Mario Scavello (R)
#
158 Susan Rzucidlo (D)
#
177 John Taylor (R)
159 Thaddeus Kirkland (D) 178 Scott Petr (R)
#
#
160 Stephen Barrar (R) 179 Tony Payton Jr. (D)
#
#
161 Walter Waite (D) 180 Angel Cruz (D)
162 Nick Miccarelli (R) 181 Curtis Thomas (D)
#
#
163 Nicholas Micozzie (R) 182 Babette Josephs (D)
#
#
Patrick Murphy and 1776
#
#
Keynote Jobs Rally
#
#
#
#
U
.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-
Bucks County and NE Phila.)
#
#
and members of Local 1776
keynoted a rally for jobs in Center City
#
#
Philadelphia. From left are SuperFresh
member Kass Reilly, Leslie Meyerson,
#
#
Rep. Murphy, 1776 Director of
Legislative and Political Action John
#
#
Meyerson and Pathmark member
Debbie Paladino.
#
#
12 # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #

13. PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE 198 Rosita Youngblood (D)
OF REPRESENTATIVES 199 No endorsement
183 No endorsement 200 Cherelle Parker (D)
184 William Kelle (D) 201 John Myers (D)
185 Robert Donatucci (D) 202 Mark Cohen (D)
186 Kenyatta Johnson (D) 203 Dwight Evans (D)
187 No endorsement
188 James Roebuck (D) NEW YORK STATE
189 John Siptroth (D)
FOR GOVERNOR:
190 Vanessa Brown (D)
Andrew Cuomo (D)
191 Ronald Waters (D)
192 Louise Bishop (D) FOR U.S SENATE
(TWO TO BE ELECTED):
193 Mike Strausbaugh (D)
Charles E. Schumer (D)
194 Hugh Giordano (Green Party)
Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D)
195 Michelle Brownlee (D)
FOR U.S. HOUSE:
196 Curtis Kann (D)
Maurice D. Hinchey (D-NY 22nd)
197 Jewell Williams (D)
Sen. Casey Helps Launch
Labor 2010 Campaign
U
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey met with Local 1776
to help launch the Labor 2010 campaign
leading up to Election Day, November 2.
Standing, from left, are John Werkheiser, 1776 Zone
Coordinator in the Lehigh Valley; Kevin Drew, Zone
Coordinator in suburban Philadelphia; Sen. Casey;
1776 President Wendell W. Young, IV; and John
Meyerson, Director of Legislation and Political Action
for the Local. Seated, from left, are Cathy Paninski,
Zone Coordinator for Northeast Pennsylvania; Peggy
Rhodes, Zone Coordinator for Central Pennsylvania;
and Liz McElroy, Labor 2010 State Coordinator for the AFL-CIO.
13

14. 1776 Leads Fight
For a Fair State Budget
U
FCW Local 1776 is playing a leading role in the fight
for a fair and sustainable Pennsylvania budget – a
budget not balanced on the backs of working families.
As a founding member of the Coalition for Labor Engagement
and Accountable Revenues (CLEAR), the Local continues to
take part in actions across the state to call for a series of steps,
including those to ensure that big oil, big tobacco and big cor-
porations pay their fair share of taxes:
• A fair tax on the Marcellus Shale drilling revenues;
• Closing the “Delaware loophole” that lets corporations
earn their profits in PA but avoid taxes by reporting
them in other low-tax states;
• Ending the tax provision that lets vendors keep one
percentage point of the sales taxes they collect; and,
• Taxing smokeless tobacco, making Pennsylvania one of
the last states to tax this product.
At left, 1776 President Wendell W. Young, IV addresses a
CLEAR rally in Harrisburg, laying out the agenda for a
lobbying day in the state capitol. Below, speaking at a CLEAR
rally in Media, PA in support of funding for education and
social services are (from left) State Sen. Stewart J. Greenleaf
(R-Bucks and Montgomery Counties); PENNaction Director
Marc Stier; John Meyerson, Director of Legislation and
Political Action for Local 1776; and State Sen. Edwin B.(Ted)
Erickson (R-Chester and Delaware Counties.)
14

15. Members OK New Contract at Wise Foods
L
ocal 1776’s members at Wise Foods in Negotiator; Michele Kessler, Secretary-Treasurer of
Berwick, PA have ratified a new three-year the Local and Director of its Northeast and Central
contract with the company. Leading the Pennsylvania Divisions; Mary Ellen Jones, of
negotiations for the members were bargaining com- Berwick; Eugene Caporaletti, of Nescopek; and
mittee members (from left) Chris Fish, of Berwick; Jim Cooper, of Berwick. Not pictured are
Cathy Paninski, 1776 Union Representative; Scott committee members Fred Thomas and Barb Odell,
Sitler, of Berwick; John Werkheiser, 1776 Union both of Berwick.
ACME’s Paul Ludwig
Wins PAC Drawing
W
inning Local 1776’s ABC
Political Action Committee
(PAC) raffle for a new IPod
Touch was Acme member Paul Ludwig,
of Upper Darby, PA. Paul handles
receiving in Acme’s Wayne, PA store,
where he is a long-time 1776 member
and member of the Local’s PAC.
A second IPod was won by PAC
member Don Marcellino, at the Acme
store in Lansdale, and a package of
Phillies tickets was won by PAC
member Bob Paczewski, at the
Chestnut Hill Pathmark.
15

16. Shop Stewards Are Key
To Organizing Victory in Chester
By Len Purnell
Local 1776 Union Representative
F
or at least two Local 1776 Shop Stewards,
the summer of 2010 meant more than
enjoying fun in the sun.
Jerome “Moon” Belo and Jermaine James, both
long-time Stewards at the Wells Fargo Center (formerly
known as the Wachovia Center), played a key role in
the Union’s most recent organizing victory. The win
came at the new PPL Park Stadium, in Chester, PA –
home of the Philadelphia Union men’s professional
soccer team, which made its debut this year.
Belo and James joined Local 1776 Union
Representative Ervin Cofield and myself in
introducing Local 1776 to the approximately 120
housekeeping and event workers at the new stadium.
The employer of these 120 workers at PPL Park
happens to be the same employer – Global Spectrum –
for our approximately 500 Local 1776 housekeeping
and event members who work at the Citizens Bank Ball
Park and the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia
and at Temple University’s Liacouras Center.
After several discussions with the early PPL Park
employees in the months leading up to the opening
of the new stadium, the four of us showed up on a
very hot and humid opening day in late June to begin
talking with the full roster of the facility’s workers.
Nearly every worker with whom we spoke was very
enthusiastic about forming a union to improve their
wages, benefits, and working conditions. Especially
helpful was that the workers very much appreciated
the fact that both of our stewards cared enough to be
present and remain engaged in the numerous
worker-to-worker conversations.
16

17. In the days that followed these conversations were
substantive, and usually dealt with how Belo and James
wanted to use their experience to help their non-union
counterparts who work in the same industry achieve
more at the bargaining table as they have already as
members of Local 1776 for many years.
After many hot days and long nights, on August
27th Global Spectrum agreed to recognize Local
1776 for the purposes of collective bargaining as
was requested by a majority of the housekeeping
and event employees at PPL Park. As Local 1776
begins contract negotiations for this newly
organized unit, all of us at Local 1776 extend a large
“thank you” to Shop Stewards Jermaine James and
Jerome “Moon” Belo for all of their help. Their
assistance played a key role in the success of this
latest organizing victory for workers – and this is yet
another example of how much stronger, more
effective, and more successful our Union is when
our members get involved in the Union’s work.
PPL Park in Chester, PA is home to the Philadelphia Union major league soccer team – and a newly organized
shop for Local 1776. From left are Joseph Walker, Wells Fargo Center shop steward Jermaine Jones, Artrice
Paramore, Dwayne Briscoe, 1776 Union Representative Len Purnell and Jamir Stinney. At top is Scott Green.
17

18. Union Wins Reinstatement and Full Back
Pay For Cedarbrook’s Mary Ann Boone
By Ed Chew
Assistant to the President/Legal Director
A
t UFCW Local 1776 we’re fortunate to
have hundreds of dedicated men and
women who serve all of our members by
performing the essential job of being a Shop Steward
in our many hundreds of work places.
One such person has not only dedicated her time
and energy to helping to represent members at the
Cedarbrook Lehigh County Nursing Facility, but also
had the courage and drive to help in our hard-fought
campaign to organize the workplace several years ago.
For those who regularly follow our Dialogue and
are involved in Union activities, you know how
difficult it is to organize workers in our country
today. At Cedarbrook, in spite of this difficulty,
Mary Ann and many of her co-workers dedicated
themselves to the effort. In 2007, working with the
staff of Local 1776, they were able to do what had
been tried unsuccessfully many times before – to
organize Cedarbrook’s nearly 600 workers.
They faced the fears that many workers do in an
organizing campaign – the strongest of which is fear
of an economic disaster if the union can’t protect its
prospective members should they lose their jobs
because they have tried to organize. But they
overcame that fear, and won!
One year later, Mary Ann, however – a 22-year
veteran at Cedarbrook – was terminated for an
action that the Union felt was totally unjust.
The County disagreed, and decided to fight to
enforce Mary Ann’s termination in any legal manner
it could. This consumed her, through the worker’s
compensation process, the unemployment process
18

19. and eventually the arbitration process. After many to agree to bring Mary Ann back to work. We pointed
months of no income, no job and no benefits, the out the fallacy of their case, yet the County would not
Local finally was able to help Mary Ann get her budge. County officials told us that they had never lost
unemployment compensation started. The county an arbitration in all of their years of defending against
appealed even this decision! them, unless they wanted to lose. But we were
Finally the arbitration date arrived. With the confident of our case, and felt that they were no longer
testimony of Mary Ann and many of her co- going to be able to boast about that record. And we
workers who put themselves on the line by were right! They can no longer brag about their record.
testifying on her behalf, the Union was able to Further, after this case we won yet another arbitration
prove that Mary Ann was unjustly terminated. The this year against Cedarbrook.
arbitrator gave Mary Ann and Local 1776 a Mary Ann Boone is an advocate of Unions. She
complete victory. Mary Ann not only was ordered knew everyone in the work place would benefit by
back to her job, but she was also awarded full back having a contract and the protection that it gives
pay, benefits and seniority as though she had never workers, and she knew that her Union would stand
left! While this did not take away the pain and up for her and fight for her rights at work. She stood
stress of an unjust termination, especially the up for herself, her co-workers stood up for her and
many months of financial strain, it did bring Mary Local 1776 stood up for her. We all won. It was
Ann complete vindication. another very important victory for workers rights, one
The Union tried for months to get County officials won by workers for workers through their Union.
55 Years
and
Still Going
Strong!
A
cme member Dave
Larson (right) and 1776
President Wendell W.
Young, IV at celebration of Dave’s
55 years of service with Acme
Markets. Dave handles receiving
at the Woodhaven Road store. He
is a resident of Bensalem, and is a
member of the Local’s Political
Action Committee.
19

20. Standing Tall in Solidarity
With Wyoming Valley Nurses
D
emonstrating their solidarity with members of the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses Allied
Professionals (PASNAP) – Wyoming Valley Nurses Association at the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital
are, from left, PA State Representative Ed Pashinski (D-Luzerne County); PA State Rep. Phyllis
Mundy (D-Luzerne County); Omeed Firouz, a volunteer with Rep. Mundy; Roxanne Pauline, staff member
with the Northeast Pennsylvania Area Labor Federation; Michele Kessler, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 1776
and Director of the Local’s Northeast and Central Pennsylvania Divisions; Ken Karasek, 1776 Union
Representative; and John Rusak, 1776 Lead Agent.
The members of PASNAP are involved in an intense struggle with the hospital’s new owner over wages
and the quality of patient care.
( JBS Win, continued from back cover) “We achieved our victory because we stood
and benefits for all workers in the meatpacking and together and that’s what made us strong,” said
poultry industries. Melina Martinez, who has worked at the plant for
“The outcome of this election shows that when the last six years. “Now that we have a union, we
workers get a free and fair process, they choose union want to get right to work on a contract that protects
representation,” said Local 1776 President Wendell our rights and improves our working conditions.”
Young, IV. Young, also a UFCW International Vice By choosing UFCW Local 1776 as their bargaining
President, added: “The UFCW applauds JBS for taking representative, workers at the JBS plant in Souderton
the high road to allow the workers to have a free and fair will join 27,000 JBS workers and 250,000
process. Having a union makes it better for everyone – meatpacking and poultry workers across the country
workers, the company, and the larger community.” who already enjoy the benefits of union representation
The Brazilian firm JBS, S.A. acquired the with the UFCW.
former Moyer Packing Company’s Souderton Local 1776 represents thousands of packinghouse
facility with the purchase of the Smithfield Beef and food processing workers in Pennsylvania at plants
Group in 2008. JBS, out of respect for its workers, such as Empire Kosher Poultry in Mifflintown, Cargill
allowed a free and fair process for workers to in Hazelton, BC Natural Chicken in Fredericksburg
decide about union representation. and Citterio USA in Freeland.
20

21. Wine Spirits Rules the Course
In Northeast Golf Outing
T
opping the field in the Local 1776 Northeast Division’s annu-
al membership golf tournament was a threesome of mem-
bers from the PA Wine and Spirits Shops, from left: Andy
Nolan, of Carbondale, PA; Mike Ciuccoli, from Scott Township, PA;
tournament chair John Rusak, lead agent in 1776’s Northeast
Division; and Tommy Evans, of Childs, PA. The tournament was held
at the Sugarloaf Golf Club.
1776 on the Line in NY to Help
Striking Motts Plant Workers
L
ocal 1776 was in the middle of the action as main product. The issues were wages, affordable
its brothers and sisters in RWDSU/UFCW health care and the workers’ pension program.
Local 220 battled through a nearly four- “The strike became a national symbol for working
month strike at the Mott’s Plant in Williamson, NY. people who want only to maintain their middle class jobs
The Local helped staff the picket line and delivered and build strong communities,” Kessler said. The Dr.
strike aid and Local 1776-produced snacks from Wise Pepper Snapple Group had sought to impose a $1.50-per-
Food and water from Pocono Springs. It stood with the hour wage cut, in addition to other reductions. UFCW
Local 220 members until their strike was settled in mid- members and community allies engaged in more than
September with ratification of a three-year contract. 600 actions across the nation in the course of the strike,
Michele Kessler, Secretary-Treasurer of Local including handbilling shoppers at grocery stores in
1776 and Director of the Union’s Northeast and support of Local 220’s members.
Central Pennsylvania Divisions, said that the strike “We’re glad we were able to extend a helping Local
took place at the Motts Plant owned by the Dr. 1776 hand to our brothers and sisters in Local 220 and
Pepper Snapple Group, where applesauce is the help them achieve a fair contract,” Kessler said.
21

22. 1776 Helps Create Labor Monument
T
he City of Philadelphia’s central role in the In addition to the UFW, the buttons commemorate
development of the U.S. labor movement has Eugene Debs and his role in organizing the American
been commemorated in a monument dedi- Railway Union; the 1903 march of children from
cated last month in a neighborhood rich in working Philadelphia to President Theodore Roosevelt’s summer
class labor history, with Local 1776 playing a key role. home on Long Island, NY that sparked the drive for the
Philadelphia’s Tribute to the American Worker is first child labor laws; the convening of the Continental
located in the middle of Elmwood Park at 71st Congress of the Working Class in 1905; the “bread and
Street and Buist Ave. in the southwest section of the roses” strike in1912 by Massachusetts textile workers
that brought early attention to women in the workplace;
city. It’s an imposing a seven-piece set of bronze
the key role of labor in the U.S. civil rights movement;
artwork that celebrates the contributions of
and the fight of labor heroine Karen Silkwood to call
organized labor nationwide.
attention to worker and community health in the 1970’s.
The Local is one of seven major Pennsylvania
unions that sponsored the seven
large “button tables” that make up
the monument – literally an
outdoor history lesson.
The Local’s bronze button
represents the United Farm Workers
(UFW), formed in1966 under the
leadership of Cesar E. Chavez and
his rallying cry, “¡Si, Se Puede!,” or
“Yes, We Can!” The artwork by
Belfast, Ireland artist John Kindness
honors the UFW’s role in organizing
thousands of immigrant farm
workers and calling attention to
their poor working conditions.
The buttons are arranged in a
circle surrounded by benches in
the center of the park, with the
names of Local 1776 and the other
six supporting unions inscribed in
a granite band on the ground
encircling the monument.
The creation of the monument
played a pivotal role in transforming
the long-neglected park into an
attractive, broad, green open area.
The neighborhood historically was Unveiling the bronze Labor Monument table honoring the United
inhabited by families whose workers Farm Workers are, from left, 1776 President Wendell W. Young, IV; the
Local’s Director of Legislative and Political Action, John Meyerson;
manned the nearby industrial plants
1776 President Emeritus Wendell W. Young, III; PA State Rep. Ron
in the area and nearby Delaware Waters; PA State Sen. Vincent Hughes; PA State Sen. Christine M.
River waterfront. Tartaglione; and Fairmount Park trustee Gregory M. Harvey.
22

23. Local 1776 Calendar
General Membership Meetings Northeast Division Area Meetings
Tuesday, November 9, 2010, 3 pm Tuesday, October 26, 2010, 6 pm
UFCW Local 1776 Pittston Office Comfort Inn
2007 Highway 315 58 State Rt. 93
Pittston, PA 18640 West Hazleton, PA 18201
Tuesday, November 9, 2010, 6 pm
Troy Vets Club
Southeast Division Area Meetings 1 Veterans Dr. (off Prospect St.)
Troy, NY
Monday, November 15, 2010, 6 pm
Plumbers’ Union, Local 690
2791 Southampton Rd.
Philadelphia, PA 19154 Central Division Area Meetings
Thursday, December 9, 2010, 6 pm Monday, November 8, 2010, 6 pm
Seafarers’ International Union AFSCME Conference Center
2604 South 4th Street 150 S. 43rd St.
Philadelphia, PA 19148 Harrisburg, PA 17111
Rooting the Phillies to Victory!
M
ore than 100 Local 1776 members, families and friends
were on hand for a group night at Citizens Bank Park as
the Phillies charged to their fourth consecutive year in
the National League playoffs. Among those cheering the Fightins
on to victory over the Washington Nationals was a full contingent
of Local 1776 Political Action Committee members from the Acme
Warminster store: Wanda Curtis, from Hatboro, PA, and her grand-
daughter, Kaia; and (from left) Anne Koza, of North Wales, PA; Sue
Keller, of Bensalem, PA; Judy Corwell of UFCW Local 152; Gina
Pasceri, of Ambler, PA; and Debbie Coonelly, of Southampton, PA.
23

24. UFCW Local 1776 Non-Profit
3031-A Walton Road Organization
Suite 201 U.S. Postage Paid
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462 Phila., PA
Permit No. 3088
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
asd
Big Win at JBS!
N
early 1,200 workers at the JBS meatpack- to speak with representatives of the UFCW about the
ing plant in Souderton, PA have voted to benefits of having a voice at work and were able to
join UFCW Local 1776. make an informed choice about forming a union.”
“I am delighted that we stood together and made The workers’ vote was the successful conclusion
the right choice to form a union,” said Bernard of a months-long campaign designed to give a voice
Coneghen, who has worked at the Montgomery to the men and women at JBS. It also was part of a
County facility for 27 years. “We had the opportunity nationwide UFCW-led effort aimed at raising wages
(continued on page 20)
A winning Vote: Workers from JBS and staff from UFCW International, Local 1776 and UFCW locals
who helped on the drive to win recognition at the Souderton, PA plant celebrate the vote at Local
1776’s Union Hall on Walton Rd. in Plymouth Meeting, PA.