Monthly Archives: February 2024

UFCW OUTreach scholarship winners who are members of UFCW Locals 7, 324, 663, 1189 and 1518 recently attended the Creating Change Conference in New Orleans.

This is the seventh year that UFCW OUTreach has provided scholarships to the Creating Change Conference, which is the foremost political, leadership and skills building conference for the LGBTQ+ social justice movement. Providing scholarships to UFCW members helps to strengthen new member recruitment and develop new leaders within our union and the broader LGBTQ+ movement.

The UFCW OUTreach scholarships were awarded to UFCW Local 7 member Marie Watson, who is a shop steward at Mission Foods; UFCW Local 324 member Pio Figueroa, who is a SPUR and representative; UFCW Local 663 member Demetri Shada, who is a shop steward at Cub Foods; UFCW Local 1189 member Lee Cutler, who is a shop steward at the North East Area Labor Council; and UFCW Canada Local 1518 member Joe Bustin, who is a shop steward at Save-On-Foods.

UFCW OUTreach also hosted a workshop on “How to Unionize Your Workplace” at the conference’s first-ever Labor Institute. You can learn more about the Creating Change Conference here.

“It’s so important for the UFCW to show our union pride in queer spaces,” said UFCW OUTreach Chair Michele Kessler. “Non-union workers need to be aware where inclusive safe workplaces can be found. Lifting up UFCW 2SLGBTQ+ rank and file members within their union is part of our mission.”

You can get more information about UFCW OUTreach here.

The UFCW Charity Foundation is now accepting scholarship applications for 2024.

Every year, the UFCW Charity Foundation’s scholarship program offers scholarships to UFCW members or their immediate family members who want to further their education and demonstrate a commitment to their communities and UFCW values. Since 1958, the fund has distributed more than $2 million in scholarships.

Past winners have gone on to make significant contributions to their communities and the UFCW – entering a range of fields, including public service, medicine, law, business, and teaching. Many have returned to the UFCW as staffers, organizers, and community activists who contribute to our mission.

This year’s scholarship program application deadline is May 12. The “Part B” of the application is due by May 26. You can get more information about the UFCW Charity Foundation’s scholarship program here.

The International’s Communications Department has created graphics and flyers for locals to promote the UFCW Charity Foundation’s scholarship program and you can find the materials here.