On July 1, over 2,500 members of UFCW Local 663 who work at 22 Lunds & Byerlys stores throughout the western metro Minneapolis area ratified a new contract that provides historic wage gains and pay equity.
The two-year contract includes average raises of $3.00 to $4.00 an hour by spring of 2024. Part- time courtesy and custodial positions will also see significant wage gains. All courtesy and custodial workers with five-plus years of service before ratification will receive wage increases of $3.00 an hour. Traditionally, this position had no wage scale, and the gains won will bring them closer to the regular part-time scale.
Workers were also able to win steps towards pay equity, including a joint labor management committee to set parameters and implement the first phase of pay equity adjustments by this fall to impacted employees with at least five years of service.
“I’ve never seen so many part-time wage increases and I’m excited for them! They work hard and they deserve it,” said Anita Pitcher, a 45-year union member who works full time at the Maple Grove Lunds & Byerlys in the deli. “They are a major part of this team–from deli, bakery, online, up front, you name it.”
“We’re excited to expand the courtesy and custodial scale and bring it closer to the regular part- time scale,” said Charlie Mullen, who is an assistant produce manager at Nokomis Lunds & Byerlys. “When I talked with courtesy and custodial members at my store, they were relieved to hear that they’ll have more opportunity to build better lives with this increase.”
“It was great to see the smiles on my co-workers’ faces when they read the agreement today,” said Rosemary Luoma from the St. Louis Park Lunds & Byerlys location. “This contract is truly historic. In the 35 years I’ve been in the retail grocery industry, I’ve never seen such a rich contract. Cub paved the way for us. They set the standard for wages. Lunds & Byerlys has now set the new standard for the grocery industry.”