Over 180 workers at two Giant Eagle stores in Pittsburgh recently joined UFCW Local 1776 for a voice in the workplace.
These workers are employed as cashiers, grocery clerks, meat cutters, bakers and cake decorators, and in the prepared foods and deli sections. This new unit is made up of a cross-section of generations, including Gen X, Millennials and Gen Z, who pushed forward in their efforts to become a part of UFCW Local 1776, despite challenges with management and difficulty reaching workers on site at the stores during their breaks.
The campaign, which began in February 2025, was led by UFCW Local 1776 Western Division Director Ed Auer and a dedicated team of staff, including Stacia Young, Rick Ruth, Tom Malick, Rich Lenhart, Dan Honecker, Amanda Zawistowski, Jon Lapinsky, Kevin Nau, Vince Merringer, and Jack Tysinger. Their strategy emphasized direct engagement—holding one-on-one conversations with every worker to educate them on the importance of union representation. Organizers also made frequent store visits to introduce themselves, ensuring workers had access to accurate information. To further strengthen the campaign, educational handouts were distributed, highlighting key reasons to unionize and testimonials from workers who had successfully organized their workplaces.
“Having the union organize our Giant Eagle store was a great experience! Stacia and her team were extremely helpful and knowledgeable,” said Melissa Waddell, a Giant Eagle employee. “As a group of employees, I feel as though it brought us to a different level of understanding one another and each other’s values. I am thrilled to be able to work with UFCW 1776 on things within our store! I can already tell the lengths our union will go to achieve the common goal!”
“During my time with the local, I found my passion in organizing and servicing our membership,” said UFCW Local 1776 Representative Stacia Young. “This campaign had minor challenges with management and how we were able to communicate with workers, but we overcame them. I owe all of the success of this campaign to my predecessors who’ve taught me how to dig deep and advocate for workers who need us. This is just the beginning.”
“We are proud to welcome these Giant Eagle workers into our union family,” said UFCW Local 1776 President Wendell Young IV. “Their decision to join Local 1776 is a powerful reminder that when workers stand together, they can create real change in their workplace. I commend their courage and determination. I also want to recognize the work of our staff, who built trust with this unit, helped workers cut through the noise, and showed the true value of union membership.”