Monthly Archives: September 2019

The UFCW is hosting 2020 presidential forums in Michigan on Sept. 29 and in Iowa on Oct. 13 to make sure presidential candidates are addressing issues that matter most to our members and their families. These forums will give presidential candidates the chance to speak to our members about their vision and plans to address critical issues, such as the 36 million American jobs threatened by automation and companies like Amazon.

The Sept. 29 Michigan forum will take place in the Detroit area, and the Oct. 13 Iowa forum will take place in the Des Moines area. Confirmed presidential candidates include Senator Michael Bennet, Senator Cory Booker, Governor Steve Bullock, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Senator Kamala Harris, Senator Bernie Sanders, and Senator Elizabeth Warren. Each of the forums will feature three or more presidential candidates who will answer questions from UFCW members in attendance and via video.

“Hard-working Americans deserve an economy that creates good jobs now, and in the years ahead,” said UFCW International President Marc Perrone. “Every candidate who wants to be president of the United States has a responsibility to share their vision and ideas, and how they will address major threats to the future of work, like automation, and the companies that are pushing this vision, like Amazon.

“Our 1.3 million members and their families will play a major role in the 2020 election, and as we have heard from our members, they want to know exactly where these presidential candidates stand on the issues that matter to them and their families,” Perrone added.

Locals are encouraged to host watch parties during the forums and watch party promotional materials are available by contacting Karen Gasper in the Legislative and Political Action Department at kgasper@ufcw.org.

The forums will be live streamed on Sept. 29 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time and Oct. 13 at 2 p.m. Central Time here.

Taylor Julian, who works at the Central Co-op in Tacoma, recently joined UFCW Local 367.

Region 7 has been growing our union family in Washington state. Recently, workers from the Central Co-op and Fred Meyer joined UFCW Locals 367 and 1439.

In July, the Central Co-op opened a new location in Tacoma, Wash., as their second store in the Puget Sound area. The co-op’s managers originally refused access to union representatives from UFCW Local 367. To help UFCW Local 367 gain access to their coworkers, Seattle Central Co-op workers represented by UFCW Local 21 worked with Region 7 to launch a sticker action and engaged community groups to send emails to Central Co-op’s CEO.

The end result was access to the Central Co-op’s breakroom in Tacoma, where union representatives and Seattle Central Co-op workers signed up 36 of the 41 workers from the Tacoma store in two days. Central Co-op workers from Tacoma are proudly heading into negotiations with a strong majority of support.

“I am 100 percent for the union,” said Taylor Julian, who works at the Central Co-op in Tacoma. “I want to see everyone earn a living wage, have job security and equal pay for equal work.”

In August, UFCW Local 1439 in Spokane, Wash., gained 115 members from ClickList departments at five Fred Meyer locations in Spokane, Yakama and Wenatchee. The Fred Meyer workers joined UFCW Local 1439 for superior medical insurance that costs less and covers more. They also secured a grievance procedure, guaranteed wage increases. and a stronger voice on the job.