On August 10, members of UFCW Local 227 who work at the Lush Cosmetics stores in Louisville and Lexington, Ky., ratified their first union contract. The workers at the Louisville store became the first Lush Cosmetics unit in the U.S. to unionize when they joined UFCW Local 227 last April. The workers at the Lexington store voted to join our union a few months later.
Lush Cosmetics workers at both stores joined our union family because they were concerned about insufficient wages and working conditions. The one-year contract addresses those issues and includes wage increases, holiday pay, and promotions determined by seniority. The contract also negates management’s ability to discipline employees without “just cause,” and establishes a fair scheduling process.
“Words genuinely cannot express how proud I am of all my fellow co-workers who made this possible. We would not have a contract in place right now without y’all,” said Lush Cosmetics employee Gwen Benton, who served on the bargaining committee. “I hope this can be the start of a movement across other Lush stores all over the world. I am so grateful for the immense support and dedication that the members of Local 227 have shown me and my co-workers to ensure we get a strong contract.”
Lush Cosmetics is owned by British cosmetics retailer Lush Retail Ltd., which operates over 950 stores globally, including over 200 stores in the U.S. and Canada.