Monthly Archives: October 2023

UFCW locals are encouraged to attend, sponsor and support the UFCW Minority Coalition’s Educational Conference and Recognition Awards and annual ball, which will be held on Nov. 10 and 11 in Washington, D.C.

The UFCW Minority Coalition’s conference holds special significance as this year marks the 50^th anniversary of the group’s formation at the Retail Clerks Convention in 1972. This year’s conference will provide an opportunity to reflect on the journey, accomplishments and growth of the UFCW Minority Coalition over the years. This year’s conference also provides an opportunity to network and share ideas with our allies in labor, community and faith-based organizations. These relationships are key to fighting for social justice, workers’ rights and human dignity. The annual ball is the main fundraising event for the UFCW Minority Coalition’s charity, and will benefit Faces of Our Children, which raises awareness, support and funding for the fight against sickle cell disease.

The deadline for registration and sponsorship tickets for these events is Friday, Oct. 13. You can find more information about the UFCW Minority Coalition’s Educational Conference and Recognition Awards and annual ball here.

On Oct. 2, about 180 members of UFCW Local 663 who work at three Seward Community Co-op stores in Minneapolis unanimously ratified an industry leading contract that provides livable wages, pay equity and benefits.

The three-year contract includes wage increases for full- and part-time workers at the top or above the wage scale, who will now receive at least $5.00 an hour more over three years. Full- and part-time workers in the wage scale will receive a minimum of $6.50 over the life of the agreement. Some members will gain upwards of $8.00 more by the end of the contract. The starting wage is now $17.65 an hour, which is among the highest starting wages for co-ops nationwide.

Additional contract gains include paid time off, and sick time will now be combined. The contract also increases parental leave and establishes a pay equity process. The new contract is retroactive to August 21, 2023.

“We were able to win substantial raises for every single union member at Seward,” said Anthony Taylor-Gouge, a grocery shift lead. “These are life changing raises that make a real difference in peoples’ daily lives. It gives us as workers a real future at the co-op because the majority of workers will be getting over $4.00 in raises in the first year of the contract alone. We’re excited to help pave the way for retail workers in Minnesota and around the country.”

“We unanimously passed a contract which works to benefit all of our workers in significant ways,” said Whitney Peterson, a multi-department clerk. “This wasn’t accomplished by a couple, a few, or even a dozen union members, it was everyone’s effort for everyone’s benefit. We won together.”