The month of June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate the accomplishments of LGBTQ+ individuals in our union family. Pride Month is also an opportunity to reach out to LGBTQ+ workers seeking union representation, and commit to the ongoing pursuit of equal justice and true equity for the LGBTQ+ community.
UFCW OUTreach has many resources available free on their website and by request to help locals celebrate Pride Month, including a new 2023 Union Pride sticker in English, Spanish and French; pronoun pins and stickers; and educational pamphlets in English, Spanish and French.
Many UFCW locals across the U.S. and Canada already participate in Pride Month events, which are another way to show workers who want to organize that the UFCW is LGBTQ+ inclusive. The UFCW OUTreach Pride Guide is available to help locals show their support for all of our LGBTQ+ members during Pride Month and you can get more information here. UFCW OUTreach is also hosting a training session with the UFCW Women’s Network on May 31 and June 6, titled “Bystander Intervention + Conflict De-escalation.” You can find more information about the training session here.
“We urge all local unions to speak out against the anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and hate messages happening across our countries,” said UFCW OUTreach Chair Michele Kessler. “Let’s be loud and proud in our support for our LGBTQ+ members and their families. Our work places must be inclusive and safe for all.”
You can learn more about UFCW OUTreach here. If your local is interested in sharing photos of events or highlighting a member during Pride Month, please submit that information to Julie Anderson at janderson@ufcw.org.