A Message from President Bruny
Dear UFCW Local 888 Members:
Let me start by saying that these are very unprecedented times we are facing. I will not pretend these last few weeks have been easy. It has been incredibly difficult and stressful. You are concerned about your health and safety; and that of your loved ones. You also worry, as we all do, how long will this last
You are not alone. Please know that your Local 888 UFCW family is here for you during these difficult and challenging times. We are standing together, and we have your back. We are one union family, and we are in this together.
While some of our members have unfortunately been furloughed, others are still working and risking their lives during this crisis. I would like to sincerely thank all of you; especially our Healthcare Division members—for their hard work and dedication. We are grateful for everything you are doing to help your individuals through this unprecedented health crisis. You are on the frontlines of this crisis, and you are proving how invaluable your work is, and the vital role our union members play in times like these.
To help you and all our members, we have mobilized our emergency operations to ensure that member concerns and services are being addressed as quickly as possible. In addition, we will be providing you regular updates, such as those noted below, on what actions your local union and the International are taking to protect all our members.
Among the actions we wanted you to know about include:
- Local 888 Representatives are in constant communication with your individual employers regarding any COVID-19 cases that are identified and their responses to each, ensuring that our members are always safe. Also, your Union representative will be calling you starting next week to make sure you and your family are OK. If you do not receive a call, please contact the office at 1-800-223-1503 to update your contact information
- Under the recently passed CARES Act, employees who have been laid off due to COVID-19, are entitled to unemployment benefits. Local 888 Representatives are available to any member who may need help filing for unemployment and who may not have access to internet or a computer at home. If you do not qualify for Unemployment please contact the Union office for advice.
- A Healthcare Division Sector has been added to our UFCW Local 888 website for the most up-to-date information on our OPWDD members on the frontlines, resources and how this pandemic has affected their lives. You may also access this through the link on our Instagram bio. (@ufcw888)
- To ensure that all our members are aware of any critical updates about this coronavirus pandemic, we are asking you to please text “Prepared” to 83071. These alerts will provide you invaluable updates throughout this crisis, so we will be encouraging all our members to sign up as quickly as possible.
- To help ensure your safety, we are strongly encouraging all our members to reach out to us at 914-668-8881 if they have any workplace concerns about their personal health or workplace safety. It is essential that we hear of these concerns from you so we can address them with your employer as quickly as possible.
It is important for you to know that several legislations have been passed recently that benefit our members during this time. Please visit our website at www.ufcw888.org/covid-19-relief/ for the most important highlights of the Acts recently passed that may pertain to you or your loved ones.
For your health, and the health of your loved ones, it is essential that we all take smart steps to protect ourselves. For example, if you show any symptoms of the coronavirus, which include fever, dry cough, and shortness of breath, you should immediately call your healthcare provider. To find out additional information of what you can and should do to protect yourself, please visit the CDC.
On a more personal level, I know that these are incredibly stressful days for you and all members of our union family. During such trying moments, we want you to know that your union will be here for you. As difficult as the days ahead may be, if we stick together, we will come out of this stronger than before.
Thank you again for all the work you are doing, and please do not forget to sign up for text alerts by texting “Prepared” to 83071.
Stay safe. Stay healthy.
In Solidarity,
Max Bruny
President