Posts Categorized: Legislation and Politics

With Congress voting on the new U.S. trade deal with Canada and Mexico, UFCW International President Marc Perrone came out with a strong statement calling out the agreement’s failure to include strong country-of-origin food labeling that keeps families safe and supports American jobs.

“The UFCW is extremely disappointed that the agreement fails to require strong country-of-origin labeling needed to strengthen food safety and invest in the millions of American jobs that produce our food. Consumers have a right to know where their food is from, whether it’s safe, and if it’s produced by American workers. Without strong country-of-origin labeling, consumers will be kept in the dark and America’s food workers will continue to face unfair competition from foreign companies not playing by the same rules.

In the national media, the UFCW highlighted the need for a stronger trade deal that supports our members and invests in American workers. President Perrone’s statement was included in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CNBC, and POLITICO. In addition to reaching members of Congress voting on the deal, this media coverage is also sending a strong message to UFCW employers and business leaders that we need to do more to support American jobs.

“No single trade deal is enough to fix an economy that’s not working for millions of Americans,” President Perrone added. “Our members will continue to call on Congress and the White House to put hard-working families first by pushing for strong country-of-origin labeling for food and passing legislation like the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act that strengthens protections for all workers.”

Lost-timers from Local 227.

On Nov. 5, UFCW members and hard-working families across the state of Kentucky helped elect a pro-worker champion, Andy Beshear, to the governor’s office while rejecting incumbent Governor Matt Bevin. During his four-year term in office, Bevin signed a work for less law, ended the prevailing wage, and tried to eliminate public worker pensions.

For the benefit of our over 25,000 Kentucky members and working people across the commonwealth, the International worked closely with UFCW Locals 227 and 75 to make the 2019 Kentucky gubernatorial race a top priority with a robust member-to-member outreach program.

For seven weeks, 20 state-based, lost-time members educated, persuaded and mobilized their fellow UFCW members throughout Kentucky to vote for Beshear, talking to 5,045 UFCW members. And Beshear only beat Bevin by 5,189 votes.

“Our lost-time members were a powerful force throughout the state in helping push Andy Beshear to victory,” said UFCW Local 227 President Bob Blair. “In helping to defeat Matt Bevin, Local 227 sent a clear message to anti-worker politicians: Those that attack labor will be held to account. UFCW Local 227 stands at the ready to advocate for and protect the rights of our members and their families.”

This was a hard-fought election that was based on Beshear’s tireless efforts as Kentucky’s attorney general to stand up for working people.

Lost-timers from Local 75.

“We’re honored to have participated in helping put a governor in office who will advocate for our members and their families. As the Beshear administration plans to take office, UFCW Local 75 members share in this victory and look forward to collaborating with the new governor,” said UFCW Local 75 President Kevin Garvey.

Beshear was sworn into office on Dec. 10.