Over 80 workers at Festival Foods in Madison, Wis., voted to join UFCW Local 1473 on August 14, marking the first time Festival Foods workers have unionized at the company.
Madison Festival Foods workers filed for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board on July 14 after being denied voluntary recognition by the company. They now join thousands of other grocery workers represented by UFCW Local 1473, and are looking forward to negotiating a first union contract that secures better pay, more reliable scheduling, health insurance for part-time workers, and other benefits.
“My co-workers and I got stronger and stronger throughout our push to organize and create this union,” said Steven Temple, a leader of the organizing committee who works in the deli department at Festival Foods. “We recognized the company’s propaganda for what it was and stayed together and united. We’re thrilled to be joining our union brothers and sisters at UFCW Local 1473.”
“We’re ready to bargain our first contract and secure better store security, fair attendance policies, stable scheduling, benefits for our part-time co-workers, and pay that keeps up with the cost of living,” Temple added. “I look forward to meeting Festival Foods at the bargaining table.”
“I was a union member at my last job for 33 years,” said Gloria Dickman, who works in guest services at Festival Foods and is a member of the organizing committee. “My whole family was, and is, union – my parents and my husband. My younger co-workers were determined to join a union, and they made this happen. I’m union proud and proud of them for achieving this victory for all of us!”
“Workers should never be afraid to push for more,” said May Bishoff, who works in the liquor department at Festival Foods. “When you stick together, you actually have the power to achieve something. ”
“We’re thrilled to welcome workers from Festival Foods into the UFCW family and the thousands of workers represented by UFCW Local 1473 in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan,” said UFCW Local 1473 President Jake Bailey. “These workers should be proud of being the first ones to unionize at Festival Foods. They help families in Madison put food on the table, and their value to the community and the company should be reflected in a strong union contract. We look forward to supporting them as they bargain that first contract.”