Posts Categorized: Grocery

The UFCW praised the recent passage of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement’s (LCLAA) resolution regarding the Kroger Albertsons mega-merger. The resolution calls on Kroger and Albertsons to protect union jobs and food access in communities of color, and was passed during LCLAA’s 24th National Membership Convention, which was held on August 2 to 6 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, under the resonating theme “Together Towards Tomorrow: Trabajadores para un Futuro Justo.” 

The UFCW’s Civil Rights and Community Action Department worked with LCLAA’s Deputy Executive Director and policy staff to introduce this resolution, and UFCW Local 888 Secretary-Treasurer and newly elected LCLAA Executive Board Member Rosalba Perez spoke in support of the resolution from the convention floor. The convention was attended by a UFCW delegation made up of International and local union staff.

“The UFCW applauds the LCLAA for taking a bold stand against the Kroger Albertsons mega-merger that threatens our essential workers and local communities,” said UFCW International President Marc Perrone in a statement. “If allowed to go through, a merger of this size could lead to lower wages for grocery store workers, higher food prices for hard-working families, less competition, and less access to food for underserved, minority, and rural communities across the country. Right now, the Federal Trade Commission has the ability to take action to attempt to block this merger because of its direct threat to competition and we firmly believe it should take the necessary steps to stop it from coming to fruition.” 

“Throughout the pandemic, our nation witnessed a remarkable acknowledgment of the vital role played by our workforce,” said LCLLA National President Yanira Merino. “They were hailed as heroes, deemed indispensable and essential. Yet, because of current working conditions, these very workers still struggle to meet the escalating cost of living in our country. The merger of Kroger and Albertsons will only worsen the food insecurity our community already faces and make it more difficult for Latino workers to exercise their bargaining rights. As a movement, we must come together and ask our Administration to prioritize the welfare of our workers, who have been the backbone of our economy. We call upon them to ensure that all workers are granted access to essential benefits, bargaining rights, and stable, long-term employment opportunities.”

You can read the LCLAA resolution in its entirety here.

Grocery workers who are employed at the Organic Garage in Toronto, Canada, joined UFCW Local 1006A on July 5. Organic Garage is one of Canada’s leading independent organic grocers.

The new bargaining unit includes 20 workers who work in a wide variety of roles, including as cashiers, grocery clerks and produce clerks. They joined our union family because they were concerned about insufficient working conditions, compensation and scheduling.

“UFCW 1006A has a strong record of helping grocery workers across Ontario achieve fairness at work and improve their rights and livelihoods,” said UFCW Local 1006A President Wayne Hanley. “We are proud to congratulate and welcome our newest members from Organic Garage to the union family. The members’ determination and unity in winning union representation was truly inspiring. UFCW 1006A is proud to be the best union in Ontario for grocery workers seeking to secure fairness, respect and dignity in the workplace.”

“This is an incredible victory for our newest members from Organic Garage,” said UFCW Local 1006A Organizing Director Lesley Prince. “They knew what they wanted and worked together to take the steps needed to build a better workplace. With union representation, these grocery workers will gain a voice in the workplace, and an ability to improve their wages, working conditions and rights.”