Almost 20 years ago , UFCW Local 770 began an effort to improve the way our members are compensated when they are injured at work . Waste and delay in the State-run Workers Compensation system makes it hard for our members to get medical attention , resolve their claims , and return to work . That same waste and delay in the Staterun system also raises Workers Compensation costs for our employers leaving less money for wages and health and welfare benefits at the negotiating table .
Local 770 pushed the State of California to create an Alternative Dispute Resolution ( ADR ) process so unionized companies could opt-out of the State-run Workers Compensation system and negotiate a private system for resolving workplace injury claims with their union-represented workers . Only union-represented companies can take advantage of ADR because only unionized workers have the bargaining power to ensure that the new program will be beneficial to the workers and not just to the company .
During the negotiations that led to the strike and lock-out of 2003 / 2004 , President Icaza proposed an ADR program for Ralphs , Vons and Albertsons as a better way to save money than the devastating cuts to wages , health care and retirement benefits that the companies were proposing . Unfortunately , the companies had no interest in saving money by changing Workers Compensation because they were totally focused on extreme cuts and forcing a strike to get them .
During the negotiations that led to the 2011- 2014 Master Food Agreement , Local 770 again proposed an ADR program and we finally succeeded . The most significant aspect of that deal was that the savings that resulted from the ADR program would be split 50 / 50 between the companies and the members . This was historic because no other union had ever negotiated a deal to share ADR savings with the members .
Once the companies agreed to ADR in principle , we had to work out the details of an ADR system that would be a win-win for the companies and the workers . President Icaza ’ s goal was a program
At the Bargaining Table
UFCW AND VONS ’ ADR PROGRAM HELPS MEMBERS WITH ON-THE-JOB INJURIES AND PAYS OUT PROGRAM SAVINGS
Jose Carillo of Vons 2825 receives his ADR check from Union Rep Bobby Sabedra .
that protected our members and improved their outcomes after a workplace injury . It took almost two years to develop the program . Unfortunately , both Ralphs and Albertsons dropped out of the process because they felt the program favored the members over the companies .
In the end , we negotiated a program with Vons that provides instant access to high quality medical care , prompt compensation for lost wages , a quick and fair resolution to any disputes and multiple resources to help members through the process . Every injured worker gets a phone call from a UFCW nurse advocate within 24 hours of an injury . The nurse ensures prompt medical attention and provides additional information about the process . An ombudsperson is available to help members resolve their claims to their satisfaction through every step of the process .
The ADR program finally started on November 1 , 2013 and we are now in the 4th year of the program . Now that most of the first-year claims have been resolved , we know that the program is a huge success . The most important thing is that member satisfaction with the program is extremely high . Members who have suffered workplace injuries love the prompt medical care and the quick claims resolution process . And , as we expected , the program is also saving Vons money .
Local 770 ’ s 20-year struggle and the dogged persistence of President Icaza have finally paid off . Earlier this year , 50 % of the first year ADR savings was paid out to all current bargaining unit members who worked for Vons from November 1 , 2013 to October 31 , 2014 . We expect second year savings to be paid out before the end of 2017 . The program has been so successful that we are now working to begin the program with Albertsons as well . We hope to eventually get all of our employers to see the benefit of the program both to the workers and to their bottom line .
KATHY FINN Director of Collective Bargaining , Research and Education
5 Issue 1 THE VOICE Spring 2017