| SERVICES and FAQ
The purpose of this page is to let our members know that we are listening to your questions and your concerns. This page will answer some of the questions asked routinely by the members and will provide a guide of the union benefits and services.
Why should I belong to the union and pay union dues?
When should I obtain a withdrawal card?
What do I do with my withdrawal card?
Grievances & other problems:
Stewards:
Union representatives:
How do I reach a representative?
What is the Voluntary Death Benefit?
How do I join the Voluntary Death Benefit or change my beneficiary?
How can I contribute to COPE?
How do I update my address (or name)?
What are my union dues used for?
Why should I belong to the union and pay union dues? Members ask this question often. This question is best answered in the "Union Security" section of the union contract. Every union member working under a United Food & Commercial Workers contract is guaranteed the benefits and services of that contract which secures the member's position at the work place. Dues are applied toward sustaining these benefits and services provided to you and your co-workers by the union. The more members there are in the union, the stronger your union is. Print an application online
Depending on your contract, benefits provided may include:
Higher wages
Paid Sick Leave
Paid Holidays
Health & Welfare Insurance
Pension
Services provided may include:
Grievance Procedure
Seniority provisions
Job postings
Protection from termination through required disciplinary steps
Arbitration
If you work at a unit under contract with Local 431 and would like to join:
you may print an application online and mail it to:
UFCW Local 431
1401 W. Third Street
Davenport, Iowa 52802
When should I obtain a withdrawal card? If your employment is terminated, you may request a withdrawal card from the union. Your request must include the following information:
- Your name and address
- Your exact termination date
- Your social security number
Your request will be processed after your final dues have been posted to your record. You will then receive your withdrawal card by mail. This may take up to 6-8 weeks. Submit a withdrawal form request ONLINE HERE
ONLY members in good standing at the time of termination of employment are eligible to receive withdrawal cards.
What do I do with my withdrawal card? You should hold onto your withdrawal card until you obtain employment under a union employer. Once you obtain employment with a union employer, you should turn in your withdrawal card to the union you are working under within 30 days of your hire date.
If you have a withdrawal card from another UFCW Local or from another Union and recently obtained employment under an employer having a contract with UFCW Local 431, please deposit your withdrawal card with our Davenport office within 30 days of your hire date.
Grievances & other problems: The Union Contract provides procedures for resolving disagreements with your employer. Never take matters into your own hands. Notify your Steward or your Union Representative when you have a problem. They will instruct you on the best way to resolve your problems.
If you don't know the name of your Union Representative, check our Unit Listing.
Stewards: The Steward is selected by the other union members to represent you with the employer. The Steward maintains communication with the union. The Steward can provide you with information regarding the union contract or answers to some of your questions. It is very important to know who your Steward is.
Union representatives: The Union Representative is a representative from the union who is assigned to service your facility. Your Union Representative negotiates for you and your co-workers regarding benefits that are important to you and your family. Your Union Representative also handles grievances, complaints, and other important issues. Get to know your Union Representative. Please keep in mind that Union Representatives work out in the field. If you call your Union Representative at the office and do not find them in, you may leave a message in their voicemail and they will call you back as soon as possible. If you don't know the name of your Union Representative, check our Unit Listing.
How do I reach a representative? Our Davenport office can be reached by dialing (563) 323-3655 or
(800) 292-7293. Office hours are 8:00 am - 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Voice mail is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
Each facility is assigned to a specific representative. Please contact the representative for your facility. If you don't know who your assigned representative is, please check our unit listing. You may reach representatives at the following extension numbers in the Davenport office:
Gary Damm ext. 305
John Honeycutt ext. 309
Bob Kallenberger ext. 307
Jerry Messer ext. 308
Jim Nunn ext. 312
Lois Taylor ext. 306
Bob Waters ext. 311
Denny Wubker ext. 310
Our Waterloo Office may be reached by calling (319) 233-3397, or
(800) 225-8329. Representatives Tom Moritz and Scott Noyd may be reached in the Waterloo Office. Our Beardstown Office may be reached by calling (217) 323-2358, or
(800) 442-8329. Excel plant representative Duke Walters may be reached in the Beardstown office.
What is the Voluntary Death Benefit?
The Voluntary Death Benefit program was established in 1947 for the purpose of providing available cash to the families of members upon their respective deaths. The plan provides benefits to the families through a system of contributions made by those members who agreed to participate in the plan. Participating members are billed for a $1.00 contribution upon joining the Death Benefit program. Thereafter, participating members are billed monthly in accordance with the number of deaths which occur among the members at a rate of $1.00 per death. All UFCW Local 431 members in good standing who are under the age of 60 are eligible to make application for membership in this program and may remain in the program for as long they remain a member in good standing. The current benefit amount for active members is $2500.00.
How do I join the Voluntary Death Benefit or change my beneficiary? If you would like to join the Death Benefit program, you may obtain an application from your union steward, your union representative, or the Davenport union office. Or you may print the DB application form online. Please remember to update your beneficiary following marriage, divorce, or the death of your named beneficiary. To change your beneficiary, you may request a Change of Beneficiary form from the Davenport office, or print the
DB Beneficiary Change form online. Please remember that beneficiary designations need to be signed, witnessed (by someone other than the named beneficiary), and dated.
To cancel your participation in the Voluntary Death Benefit Program, you will need to sign a cancellation form. You may print the Cancel DB form online.
RETURN APPLICATIONS AND CHANGE FORMS TO OUR DAVENPORT OFFICE:
1401 W. Third Street
Davenport, Iowa 52802
How can I contribute to COPE?
Member wishing to contribute an amount to be used toward political campaigns on a per-pay-period basis may do so by completing the form for Political checkoff. You may contribute any amount of your choosing per pay period. If you wish to discontinue your COPE contribution, you simply need to complete another form for Political checkoff indicating a zero amount. Be sure to date the form and send it to our Davenport office. To join, change, or cancel a COPE deduction, you may print a COPE form online.
How do I update my address (or name)? To update your address (or name) with the Union:
Contact the Davenport Office Location by phone, mail, or complete this online form CLICK HERE PLEASE BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR SS# AND PHONE #.
What are my union dues used for? Perhaps you have wondered just what the money you pay to the union is used for. First, about a third of the dues money goes to our International Union. In return, the International Union provides needed resources for research, organizing, health & safety programs, strike funds, and other programs to benefit UFCW members. The remaining portion of your union dues is used by the Local Union in serving our members. The primary function of your union dues is to pay for the cost of negotiating contracts and enforcing contract issues. Our staff members spend much time in negotiating the best contracts possible for our members. Once your contract is in place, experienced, qualified representatives work with members and employers in enforcing contract issues, grievance handling, and arbitrating grievances. Another vital role in the union is the education and training of stewards. To that end, union dues are used to fund labor education classes and conferences that educate our stewards in the workings of labor organizations and in their role as steward. In addition to servicing our members, it is vital to organize new ones. As the union grows in numbers, it also grows in strength. A portion of your union dues funds organizing drives to ensure the growth and strength of the Local which benefits each and every member of Local 431. A portion of your union dues must be used to pay for the technology needed to maintain the records of our members and to maintain the office buildings of Local 431. Due to the size of our jurisdiction, Local 431 maintains offices in 4 different cities for the convenience of our members. Communicating with our members through newsletters, bulletins, mailings, meetings, our 800 numbers, and our web site, is another way your union dues are put to work.
What is the benefit of all of this to you? Your union serves you in providing job security, a grievance procedure, fairness at work, a voice on the job, wage increases, and other negotiated benefits (such as a pension or 401k plan, health insurance, paid vacations and holidays, sick leave, etc.) The sum of all that you gain from the union dues you pay is without question far more than the cost of your union dues. It’d be hard to find a better bargain.
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