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Monthly Archives: December 2023

Displaying 2 of 8 Total Records

December 11, 2023

Growing Our Union Family

This year, workers from around the country in a variety of industries made history by joining our union family for a better life.

In January, over 300 grocery workers at two Meijer stores in Lake Orion and Macomb Township, Mich., joined UFCW 951 for the better wages and benefits that come with a union contract.

“Having a union at the new Meijer stores means that everyone comes together as a whole to support one another and work as a team,” said Jenny Hayton, who works at the deli at the Meijer store in Macomb Township. “We all play a role by signing up for the union to be recognized and joining together to advance common interests like wages, benefits, and scheduling rights.”

In September, workers at the Rainbow Blossom Natural Food Markets store in Louisville, Ky., joined UFCW Local 227 for a union voice in the workplace.

“We are so excited about our win and to have the UCFW represent Rainbow Blossom Gardiner Lane! We love Rainbow, our customers, and our products, and we want to be able to make livelihoods here,” said Eleri Steele, who is a wellness department manager. “Unfortunately, the current wages and management practices are unsustainable for us workers. We put so much love and energy into our positions and still don’t earn enough to put food on the table, let alone the expensive organic food we sell. We have tried for years to get management to hear us, but our concerns have been falling on deaf ears for too long. We’re so grateful to the UCFW for helping us get to this point and can’t wait to see our siblings at our other four locations win their own campaigns.”

Workers at the Dragonfly Wellness cannabis dispensary in Salt Lake City, Utah, also joined our union family in September and became the first cannabis workers in the state to form a union by joining UFCW Local 99.

“Today, my co-workers and I voted to stand together and secure our collective futures by joining the UFCW Local 99 family,” said Kimberly Mason, a Dragonfly Wellness worker who was part of the organizing process. “We look forward to our next fight for a union contract that actually reflects the hard work and value we bring to the job every day. We formed this union to ensure workers get the wages, benefits, and respect on the job that we deserve.”

In November, workers at five Vertical Endeavors climbing gyms voted to join UFCW Locals 663 and 1189, becoming the first climbing gym unit to organize with the UFCW in Minnesota.

“We unionized because we want better pay and health care, and a voice in the decisions that are going to affect employees and customers,” said Hailey Jarmon (she/they), who is a team coach/counter rush at Vertical Endeavors in Bloomington. “I hope that more rock climbing gyms unionize so standards are raised for how employees are treated. We deserve it.”

Here are the organizing victories that appeared in OnPoint this year:

Vertical Endeavors Workers in Minnesota Join Locals 663 and 1189

Barnes & Noble Workers in California Join Local 5

Conagra Maintenance Workers in Indiana Join Local 700

Rainbow Blossom Natural Food Markets Workers in Kentucky Join Local 227

PSSI Workers in Kansas Join Local 2

More Cannabis Workers in Maryland Join Local 400

Half Price Books Workers in Ohio Join Local 1059

Sodexo Workers in Iowa Join Local 431

Laurel City Department of Public Works Employees in Maryland Join Local 1994 MCGEO

More Cannabis Workers in New Jersey Join Local 152

Lush Cosmetics Workers in Texas Make History by Joining Local 455

More Cannabis Workers in Nevada Join Local 711

More Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits Workers in New York Join Local 2D

Cannabis Workers in Nevada Join Local 711 for a Better Life

Cannabis Workers in Massachusetts Join Local 1459

Home Chef Workers in Illinois Join Local 1546

Cannabis Workers in Utah Make History by Joining Local 99

School Bus Drivers in Manitoba Join UFCW Canada

Zara Workers in Rhode Island Join Local 328

New Jersey Truck Drivers Join Local 152

Massage Therapists in Florida Join Local 1625

Cannabis Workers in Nevada Join Local 711

Poultry Workers in California Join Local 8GS

GrowNYC Workers in New York Join RWDSU

Grocery Workers in Toronto Join UFCW Canada

Cannabis Workers in Connecticut Continue to Join Local 919

Cannabis Workers in Pennsylvania Join Local 1776KS

PSSI Workers in Texas Join Local 540

Fred Meyer Workers in Washington Stand Together for a Better Life

More Cannabis Workers in Connecticut Join Local 919

New Jersey Fire Commission Workers Join Local 152

More Cannabis Workers in Maryland Join Local 27

Cannabis Workers in Massachusetts Join Local 1445

Cannabis Workers in Maryland Join Local 27

More Barnes & Noble Workers in New York Join RWDSU/UFCW

Cannabis Workers in New Jersey Continue to Join Local 360

Cannabis Delivery Workers in California Continue to Join Local 770

Barnes & Noble Workers in Massachusetts Join Local 1459

REI Workers in Minnesota Join Local 663

Cannabis Workers in New Jersey Join Local 360

Barnes & Noble Workers in New York Join RWDSU/UFCW

Giant Eagle Workers in Pennsylvania Join Local 1776KS

REI Workers in Massachusetts Join Local 1445

Bob’s Discount Furniture Workers in Michigan Join Local 876

Cannabis Workers in Connecticut Make History by Joining Local 919

Co-op Workers in Kentucky Join Local 227

Lush Cosmetics Workers in Kentucky Make History by Joining Local 227

Century 21 Workers in New York Join Local 888

Bob’s Discount Furniture Workers in New York Join Local 888

Cannabis Workers in Minnesota Join Local 1189

Solid State Books Workers in DC Join Local 400

Cannabis Workers in Massachusetts Join Local 1445

Cannabis Workers in New Jersey Join Local 152

More Bob’s Discount Furniture Workers Join Local 328

La Colombe Coffee Roasters Workers in Chicago Stand Together for a Better Life

Cannabis Delivery Workers in California Join Local 770

More Cannabis Workers in New Jersey Join Local 360

REI Workers in Ohio Join RWDSU/UFCW

Keurig Dr Pepper Workers in West Virginia Join Local 400

Coffee Shop Workers in New York Join Local 1500

More Meijer Grocery Workers in Michigan Join Local 951

Cannabis Workers in New Jersey Join Local 360

Farmers Markets Workers in the DMV Area Join Local 400

Transportation Workers in Massachusetts Join Local 1459

Gourmet Garage Grocery Workers in New York City Join Local 1500

Cannabis Workers in Maryland Join Local 400

Half Price Books Workers in Kansas Join Local 2

Cannabis Workers in Massachusetts Join Local 328

MOM’s Organic Market Workers in Maryland Join Local 400

La Colombe Coffee Roasters Workers in DC Make History by Joining Local 400

Daily’s Premium Meats Workers in Missouri Stand Together for a Better Life

Savoy Bookshop & Cafe Workers in Rhode Island Join Local 328

December 11, 2023

Negotiating a Better Life for Our Members

UFCW members continued to stand together and negotiate strong, new contracts this year, and many members had the benefit of having a first union contract.

Members of UFCW Local 7 who work at the Green Dragon cannabis grow house in Denver ratified a first union contract in November.

In January, over 100 members of UFCW Local 328 at five Seven Stars Bakery locations in Providence, Rumford and Cranston, R.I., voted unanimously to approve their first union contract. These retail cafe workers are the first in the state to have a union contract that strengthens wages, increases benefits, and creates new workplace protections.

“I’m so proud of what we have accomplished and so grateful for the support of our community. I’m excited for how this first contract benefits everyone at my workplace!” said Stephanie Walker, a keyholder at the Cranston Seven Stars location.

Members of UFCW Local 400 who work at Solid State Books in Washington, D.C., ratified a first union contract in July that improves wages, benefits and workplace protections. The Solid State Books contract was modeled off the collective bargaining agreement reached with Politics and Prose, so while most first union contracts take well over a year to reach an agreement, in this case, negotiations were completed in only 17 days.

“We got here quickly, and we owe that in large part to our union siblings at Politics and Prose,” said Kiara Martinez, who works as a bookseller at Solid State Books and served on the committee that negotiated the contract. “While we are incredibly proud of the work we’ve done, our journey is only just beginning. It’s our hope that we inspire others to begin theirs.”

In November, members of UFCW Local 7 who work at the Green Dragon cannabis grow house in Denver overwhelmingly voted to ratify a first union contract that increases wages and benefits. The ratification was a significant victory for the workers, who are the first grow house unit to unionize under the new Colorado law that allows agriculture workers to form a union.

“I joined the union to make a positive impact on Green Dragon for all of my co-workers,” said Green Dragon employee Anthony Sykes.

Here are the negotiating articles that appeared in OnPoint this year:

Cannabis Workers in Ohio Ratify a First Contract

Giant and Safeway Workers in the DMV Area Ratify Strong, New Contracts

Cannabis Workers in Colorado Ratify a First Contract

Kaiser Permanente Workers in the DMV Area Stand Together for a Better Life

RWDSU Quaker Oats Workers in Iowa Ratify a New Contract

Hormel Foods Workers Ratify Historic Contract

Co-op Workers in Minnesota Ratify a New Contract

Cannabis Workers in Maryland Ratify a First Contract

Cannabis Workers in Pennsylvania Ratify a First Contract

TGTHR’s Chase House Ratifies First UFCW Local 7 Union Contract

Arizona Workers at Fry’s, Safeway, and Smith’s Supermarket Chains Ratify New Contract

Airport Retail Workers in California Secure Improved Contract

Produce Workers in Canada Ratify a New Contract

Rite Aid Workers in California Stand Together for a Better Contract

Grocery Workers in Minnesota Stand Together for a Better Contract

Solid State Books Workers in D.C. Ratify a First Union Contract

Health Care Workers in Washington Ratify First Contract

Grocery Workers in Minnesota Stand Together for a Better Contract

Health Care Workers in Delaware Ratify a New Contract

RAPA Scrapple Workers in Delaware Stand Together for a Better Contract

Poultry Workers in New Jersey Ratify a New Contract

Local 75 Kroger Workers Gain Better Wages With Contract Modification

Ocean Harvesters in Virginia Stand Together for a Better Contract

UNFI Cub Foods Workers in Minnesota Stand Together for a Better Contract

Food Processing Workers in Michigan Gain Better Wages With New Contract

Cannabis Workers in California Ratify a First Contract

Food Processing Workers in Delaware Ratify a New Contract

Workers at Voilà by IGA in Canada Ratify First Contracts

Grocery Workers in Alaska Stand Together for a Better Life

New Jersey Custodial Workers Stand Together for a Better Contract

Macy’s Workers in California Ratify a New Contract

Health Care Workers in New Jersey Gain Better Wages With New Contract

Meat Processing Workers in Colorado Ratify a New Contract

Nursing Home Workers in New York Stand Together for a Better Contract

Seven Stars Bakery Workers in Rhode Island Ratify First Contract

Food Processing Workers in New Jersey Gain Better Wages and Benefits With New Contract

Michigan Pickle Producers Ratify New Contract

Daily’s Premium Meats Workers in Missouri Stand Together for a Better Life

CVS Workers in California Ratify First Contract

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