This year, workers from around the country in a variety of industries joined our union family for a better life.
In 2022, our union celebrated a few “first ever” organizing wins, including bookstore workers at Politics and Prose in Washington, D.C. and Half Price Books in Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and Minnesota, which is part of the national Half Price Books Workers United campaign. Cannabis workers in Ohio, Michigan and Missouri made history by being the first cannabis workers in their respective states to unionize, and REI workers in New York City and Berkeley Calif., made history by becoming the first and second REI stores to unionize as part of the UFCW’s national REI campaign. We also organized more workers outside of our traditional industries, including transportation workers in Maryland, nonprofit workers in Massachusetts, and animal welfare workers in Delaware.
In March, Claire Chang and her colleagues at the REI SoHo Co-op store in New York City made history by joining the RWDSU/UFCW and becoming the first unionized REI store in the country.
These new members, who are employed as full- and part-time sales, technical, visual presentation, and shipping and receiving specialists, as well as certified technicians, and operations, sales, and shipping and receiving leads, were subjected to a union busting campaign that included captive audience meetings, a halt on promotional opportunities, and a union busting podcast. In spite of these tactics, these workers stood together to make REI the inclusive, progressive workplace it claims to be by joining the RWDSU/UFCW.
“I am proud to be here in this moment with my coworkers at REI SoHo as a part of this new wave of unionization efforts that is sweeping the nation,” said Chang. “As members of the RWDSU, we know we will be able to harness our collective strength to advocate for a more equitable, safe, and enriching work environment.”
Michael and his colleagues at the Lume Cannabis Co. dispensary in Monroe, Mich., joined UFCW Local 876 in August. Lume Cannabis Co. is the largest cannabis company in Michigan, and workers at this store were the first unit of Lume workers to unionize.
“Unions built southeast Michigan and we’re honored to be the newest part of the rebuilding effort,” said Michael, who is a “luminary” at the dispensary. “A unionized Lume means better working conditions for employees, better relationships between the store and corporate management, and an improved experience for cannabis enthusiasts.”
In September, Mary Condon, along with her colleagues at Half Price Books east Louisville, Ky., joined UFCW Local 227. This organizing win is part of the national Half Price Books Workers United campaign.
These new members of our union family understand the benefits of unionizing and are looking forward to negotiating their first union contract.
“I wanted a union for my co-workers and myself to have a say in the business we work so hard for every day,” said Condon. “We deserve a seat at the table, and a place for our ideas not only to be heard, but for us to negotiate their implementation.”
Here are the organizing victories that appeared in OnPoint this year:
Public School Workers in Massachusetts Join Local 1459
CBI Health Workers in Canada Join Local 832
College Advisors and Fellows in Massachusetts Join Local 1459
Cannabis Workers in Nevada Join Local 711
Grocery Maintenance Workers in New Jersey Join Local 1262
Ohio Hotel Workers Join Local 75
Regular and Seasonal Farmworkers Form Their Union with UFCW Local 888
Indiana Smoke Shop Workers Form Their Union With Local 700
Animal Welfare Workers in Delaware Join Local 27
Delaware Wine Merchandisers Join Local 2D
More Disney Workers in Florida Join Local 1625
Zara Workers in New York Join Local One
New Jersey Health Care Workers Join Local 152
Half Price Books Workers in Kentucky Join Local 227
Delaware Cannabis Workers Join Local 27
More Health and Rehabilitation Workers in New Jersey Join Local 152
More Michigan Cannabis Workers Join Local 876
REI Workers in California Join Local 5
Maryland Transportation Workers Continue to Join Local 1994
Fred Meyer General Merchandise Workers in Washington Join Local 367
Grocery Workers in Alaska Join Local 1496
Massachusetts Nonprofit Workers Join Local 1445
Washington Cannabis Workers Join Local 3000 for a Better Life
Petee’s Pie Company Workers in New York City Join Local 1500
West Virginia Chemical Workers Join ICWUC for a Better Life
Bakery Workers in Rhode Island Join Local 328
Safeway Pharmacy Technicians in Colorado Join Local 7
Union Kitchen Workers in Washington, D.C. and Virginia Join Local 400
CVS Workers in California Continue to Join Local 324
New Jersey Clerical Workers Join Local 152
Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits Workers in Florida Join Local 1625
Chicken Processing Workers Join Local 431
Ohio Cannabis Workers Join Local 1059
More Kaiser Permanente Workers Join Our Union Family
Bay Area Walgreens Pharmacists Join Local 5
More CVS Workers in California Join Local 324
Michigan Cannabis Workers Join Local 951
Half Price Books Workers in Indiana Join Local 700
Consignment Store Workers in Washington Join Local 3000
Cannabis Workers Make History in Missouri by Joining Local 655
Michigan Cannabis Workers Make History by Joining Local 876
More Wine Sales Representatives Join Local 2D
Maryland Bus Drivers Join Local 1994
CVS Workers in San Francisco Join Local 648
More Illinois Cannabis Workers Join Local 881
REI Workers in New York City Join RWDSU/UFCW
Health Care Workers in New Jersey Join Local 152
Coffee Baristas in Pennsylvania Join Local 1776
Ohio Cannabis Workers Join Local 75 for a Better Life
Ohio Cannabis Workers Make History by Joining Local 1059
More CVS Workers in California Join Local 1167
Curaleaf Cannabis Workers Join Local 1776 for a Better Life
Politics and Prose Becomes First Unionized Bookstore in DC
Minnesota Bookstore Workers Join Our Union Family
Cannabis Workers in Illinois Continue to Join Local 881
CVS Workers in California Join Local 5