FAQ

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 a $1.00 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 join this program and may remain in the program for as long they remain a member in good standing.

For the current benefit amount, check our Death Benefit Program page.

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. It is vitally important that your beneficiary be up to date. If you are unsure who your current beneficiary is, call the Davenport office.

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 OTHER FORMS TO OUR DAVENPORT OFFICE:

UFCW Local 431

2411 West Central Park Avenue

Davenport, Iowa 52804

How can I contribute to COPE?

Members wishing to contribute 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 or mail.

What are my union dues used for?

First, about one third of the dues money goes to our International Union. In return, the International Union provides needed resources for research, organization, 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 a lot of time negotiating the best contracts possible for our members. Once your contract is in place, our representatives work with union members and employers to enforce contract issues and grievance handling. 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 current members, it is vital to organize new members. As the union grows in number, it also grows in strength. A portion of your union dues organizes drives to ensure the growth and strength of the Local which benefits each and every member. Some 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 multiple locations for the convenience of our members. Your union dues are also put to work so that we can better communicate with our members through various means like newsletters, bulletins, mailings, meetings, and our website.

What is the benefit of all of this to you? Your union serves you in providing job security, grievance procedures, 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 greater than the cost of your union dues. It would be hard to find a better bargain.