January 2010 Co-Steward Victor Hernandez
“The safeguards we have against being treated unfairly is one of the most significant benefits of being a union member,” Hernandez said. “But it really hit home when two of my adult daughters, both members of this local, were unfairly suspended from their jobs.
“Kaylee, my youngest daughter, is a clerk at Stater Bros. in Montclair. She was unfairly suspended for being late.
“Tabitha works in the bakery department at Vons in Claremont. She worked for a manager who didn’t like her and most of the other workers, so he tried to prove she wasn’t doing her job and he got her fired.”
Hernandez, who has been a steward for nine years, knew what to do.
“I told them to call their union reps,” he said. “Simone [Tuerlings] was right there for Kaylee and got the suspension rescinded.
“Gerald Singh, who is our union rep here, represented Tabitha. Not only did he get her job back, he showed everyone that the manager was not doing his job. And that manager is gone.”
Hernandez added: “That’s what being a union member is all about. If you don’t have job protection, you have nothing.”
Hernandez became a steward because he believes it is important to have someone at his store who can take care of issues as they arise.
“Stewards are the first line of defense,” Hernandez said. “This job is our livelihood and the union is there for us, so I want to be there for my union.”
Hernandez also appreciates his union-negotiated medical benefits.
“I was in a serious car accident some years ago and lost two front teeth,” he recalled. “I needed titanium bolts and implants, and it was all covered by my medical benefits.”
Hernandez is eight years away from the “Golden 85” and looks forward to retirement, but he takes full advantage of the free time he already gets on weekends and vacations.
He owns a 22-foot Mariah speedboat that he takes out as often as he can on Lake Havasu. He also owns a 2004 Yamaha 1100 motorcycle that he rides to rallies and to all Oakland Raiders’ home games. In addition, he takes one cruise along the Mexican Riviera every year.
“My number one passion is my bike, Hernandez said. “I ride it whenever and wherever I can. When I finally retire, I look forward to indulging in all of my leisure time activities whenever I want. I can’t wait!”
January 2010 Co-Steward Glenn Raad
Like so many other young members, Glenn Raad, co-steward at Stater Bros. 45 in Upland, didn’t think too much about his union-negotiated benefits early on in his 22-year career.
“When you are young, you don’t believe that anything serious will happen to you health-wise,” Raad said, “so you take your health benefits for granted.”
That all changed as Raad got older, married and had children. Between them, he and his wife, Maria, have five sons, ranging in age from 7 to 19.
“Several years ago, my son Andrew, who is now 10, developed leukemia,” he said. “That’s when you think about your health benefits and about how grateful you are that you work at a union job.”
Andrew is now in remission after a couple of relapses.
“He was on chemotherapy for four years,” Raad said. “It was grueling enough emotionally supporting him through that ordeal without having to worry about how we were going to pay for it.”
Raad also appreciates his job security.
“My wife works as a medical biller,” he said. “She tells me about the favoritism she observes on a daily basis. That can’t happen at a union job.
We all have to be treated equally. And if there are any problems, our union is always there to back us up.”
Raad has been a steward for two years. He was also a steward 15 years ago at his old store in La Verne.
“The members at my store knew I had experience and that I studied the contract,” Raad said, “so they would keep coming to me with questions. Gerald Singh, our union representative, knew that too and asked me to make it formal by becoming a steward.”
Raad said he appreciates the opportunity to serve the union and learn more about the contract and all of the things the union does for its members.
“There is so much to learn and to do,” he said, “especially since we are only a year away from negotiating a new contract.”
When he is not at work or when he attends a union event, Raad likes to be with his family.
“My hobby is having a good time with my wife and kids,” Raad said.
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