Monthly Archives: July 2018

On July 19, UFCW International President Marc Perrone issued a statement in opposition to the AG and Legal Workforce Act (H.R. 6417), which creates a new H-2C visa program that will expand the definition of an agricultural guestworker to include meat, poultry, shellfish and other food processing jobs.

Perrone’s statement reads as follows:

“The so-called AG and Legal Workforce Act will destroy American jobs and put the safety of our food supply at significant risk.

“The hard-working people who work in the meat and food processing sectors are highly trained professionals who serve as an extra layer of protection for consumers when it comes to food safety.

“These are vital roles that protect all American families regardless of where they live.

“Allowing untrained visa holders to take on these jobs with zero experience will cut wages and increase the odds of consumers eating contaminated meat.

“This is a bill that both Republicans and Democrats should strongly oppose.”

Kelly Crone, a Region 2 intern who worked at Local 27, is pictured on the right.

This summer, Region 2 hosted a six-week internship program to introduce a new generation to the UFCW and cultivate new labor activists and leaders. Thirteen interns participated in the program, which began on June 4 and ended on July 13. The interns worked with staff at UFCW Locals  27, 38, 400, 1208, 1776 and 1994 to learn about the fundamentals of organizing and how to engage union and nonunion members. The interns also learned about the value unions bring to hard-working families.

“I’ve enjoyed every aspect of this internship,” said Kelly Crone, who interned at UFCW Local 27. “I was able to experience many aspects of the union organization. One thing I learned, which I feel is important, is how to have a grievance meeting with a company when an employee is terminated. It was a great learning experience for me every time we fought to get someone’s job back. I was also able to be part of two new hire orientations and introduce employees to the union.”

Region 2 interns at UFCW Local 1776.