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U.S. Supreme Court Decision Blocks Wisconsin Voter Photo ID Law

Late Thursday, October 9, 2014, the United States Supreme Court issued an order blocking implementation of Wisconsin’s voter photo ID law for the November 4, 2014 General Election.

More information about the impact of this decision will be posted as soon as it becomes available.

Any information on this website stating that voter photo ID is in effect for the November 4, 2014 General Election should be disregarded.
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How to Get a Free State ID Card for Voting

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is providing free state ID cards for voting. To learn about getting a free Wisconsin ID card, please visit the Wisconsin Department of Transportation website: http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/drivers/drivers/apply/idcard.htm.

New Free State ID Card Policy for People without Birth Certificates

The Wisconsin Division of Motor Vehicles has a new policy starting September 15, 2014 to help people who need a free state ID card for voting.

No photo ID is required for voting in the November 4, 2014 General Election.

Congratulations to the Winners of the UFCW Local 538 Scholarship Drawings

Jones Dairy Farm:
1. Cora Musgrove Father: Bruce Musgrove
2. (Alternate) Only 1 application
Oscar Mayer:
1. Jenna Ford Mother: Nancy Ford
2. Sara Farnsworth Mother: Stephanie Durgin
3. Andrew Kohler (Alternate) Father: John Kohler
Tyson Foods
1. Ashley Hacthel Father: Jeff Hachtel
2. Sierra Rose Father: Michael Mayer
3. Austin Moehling (Alternate) Father: Chuck Moehling

Congratulations to Drawing Winner!

Corey-PicCongratulations to Corey Bournes!!   $120 winner of the July membership drawing. You can win too. Just attend the monthly membership meeting on the the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 500pm or the following Wednesday morning meeting at 630am. If your name is drawn and you are in attendance, you win.

New Kraft Contract Ratified

After 7 months of negotiations with Kraft, Local 538 Union members voted to ratify a new four-year contract by a strong majority on June 30th. The contract took effect immediately and is retroactive to December 8, 2013, when the last contract expired.

Union members will receive a $1.40-an-hour increase over the next four years. The current average pay is $16.35 for factory production and sanitation workers and more than $20 an hour for maintenance staff. With the raise, these are higher wages than we have seen in the last 3 decades.

Pension benefits will change. Union members currently get both a company-funded pension and a 401K retirement account, part of which the company matches. With the new contract, monthly payments to pension accounts for current employees will increase but new employees will not be eligible for the pension, only the 401K.

Employees will get two $500 bonuses in January 2015 — one for ratifying the contract, the other because the employee cafeteria will close Jan. 1. The current hot entrees, made-to-order sandwiches and salad bar will be replaced by a 24-hour-a-day, self-service Market Cafe, with packaged foods from Aramark.

Fifteen employees of parent company Kraft Foods will lose their jobs in the cafeteria but will be eligible for bumping rights for other union-represented positions or will get enhanced retirement benefits.

From The Adviser Newsletter

Most recent injuries occurring at our plant have been sprains or strains.

Stretching exercises will help to prevent these accidents. It is important to do this before we start our job each day. People from all walks of life do stretching exercises each day. this includes professional athletes, movie stars, NASCAR drivers, and all of our armed forces.The muscles we use everyday are the ones most likely to tighten up.

Ergonomics is another important factor with our jobs. You may have a good chance of injuring yourself if you have an awkward posture, excessive repetition, elevated elbows, improper seating or support, keeping one position too long or pushing heavy objects by yourself. Take a look at your workstation and fit it to your body for comfort and safetyyour workstation should be two inches above your waist, keep elbows below shoulder level, avoid long reaches,and avoid using the first four inches of the work table. Keep your tools and supplies close,change position and stretch out.

If you need assistance, call Mike Valentine, union safety representative @ext. 254, or 608-285-3034.