Monthly Archives: November 2017

Every year, the UFCW scholarship program offers scholarships to UFCW members or their immediate family members who want to further their education and demonstrate a commitment to their communities and to UFCW values.  The fund has distributed more than $2 million in scholarships since 1958.

Past winners have gone on to make significant contributions to society and to the UFCW – entering a range of fields, including public service, medicine, law, business and teaching.  Many have returned to the UFCW as staffers, organizers, and community activists who contribute to our mission.

Here are this year’s winners:

Region 1:

JuliAnna Picardi, Local 328

Region 2:

Melissa Quintero Segura, Local 1208

Region 4:

Rebecca Price, Local 227

Region 5:

Alison Martin, Local 1995

Region 6:

Ellyse Kealy, Local 881

Region 7:

Matthew Moore, Local 555

Region 8:

Chelsea Diaz, Local 1428

Canada:

Michael Piaseczny, Local 175

Pictured left to right: Kim Mitchell (Local 400), Rep. Rosa DeLauro, James from Walmart and Amy Ritter from Making Change at Walmart.

On Nov. 14, UFCW members went to Capitol Hill to meet with Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and other members of Congress to support the Schedules That Work Act and continue the march towards more stable schedules for hard-working families. Just a few weeks ago, members of the UFCW Women’s Network from 11 different states also raised this issue with their representatives and senators with the goal of building a better life for not just our union family, but for all workers who have earned and deserve to be treated with dignity on the job.

The Schedules That Work Act provides retail, food service and cleaning workers with two weeks advanced notice of their schedules, helping them plan their day-to-day lives as parents, students, and caretakers.

James, a Walmart associate from Dallas and advocate for Making Change at Walmart, spoke at a press conference with Rep. DeLauro in support of the Schedules That Work Act. James talked about the high turnover rate at his nonunion, retail store, and made the point that by fighting for fair and predictable schedules, workers can better cultivate a working environment that feels welcoming and empowering.