Posts Categorized: Legislation and Politics

From getting out the vote during this important election year to supporting worker-friendly legislation, the UFCW continued to elevate the voices of our members in local and national politics.

In May, the UFCW’s Legislative and Political Action Department hosted a Legislative and Political Action Conference in Detroit to discuss the federal, state, and political issues that impact our members. UFCW leaders from across the country attended the conference and were joined by Vice President Kamala Harris; Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su; Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer; U.S. Representatives Debbie Dingell, Haley Stevens, Shri Thanedar, Hillary Scholten and Rashida Tlaib; and other officials.

Leading up to Election Day, the UFCW updated The “UFCW Votes” site to help our members navigate state voting policies and deadlines, and created get out the vote videos featuring UFCW Local 400 members to underscore the importance of voting. In addition, the UFCW Women’s Network and UFCW OUTreach hosted “The Power of Your Vote” webinar in October, which featured Maya Harris, who is a lawyer, public policy advocate, and Vice President Harris’s sister, as the guest speaker.

Throughout the year, the UFCW supported legislation that protects and strengthens the rights of workers, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) final ruling regarding worker representation during OSHA inspections and a proposed federal safety standard addressing excessive heat in the workplace. The UFCW also advocated for a Farm Bill that increases vital economic aid to America’s essential food and farmworkers; creates badly needed labor standards for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program delivery drivers; and ensures that federal money goes towards good jobs.

Here are the political articles that appeared in OnPoint this year:

Measure 119 Passes in Oregon – For Local Unions

Make Your UFCW Voices Heard This Election Day – For Local Unions

UFCW Hosts “The Power of Your Vote” Webinar – For Local Unions

Navigate the 2024 Election With UFCW Votes – For Local Unions

UFCW Applauds Selection of Walz as Harris’s Running Mate – For Local Unions

UFCW Endorses Kamala Harris for President – For Local Unions

UFCW Applauds New Heat Safety Standard – For Local Unions

UFCW Opposes House GOP Farm Bill – For Local Unions

LAPAD Holds Political Conference in Detroit – For Local Unions

UFCW Responds to Rescheduling of Cannabis to a Schedule III Drug – For Local Unions

UFCW Applauds Senate Farm Bill – For Local Unions

UFCW Responds to Biden Administration’s Final Rule on Nursing Home Staffing Standards – For Local Unions

UFCW Responds to OSHA Worker Representation Ruling – For Local Unions

UFCW Praises New USDA Product Labeling Rule – For Local Unions

UFCW Responds to State of the Union Address – For Local Unions

UFCW Praises the Introduction of Food and Nutrition Delivery Safety Act – For Local Unions

UFCW Responds to FTC’s Kroger-Albertsons Decision – For Local Unions

UFCW Responds to NLRB Complaint Against Trader Joe’s – For Local Unions

UFCW Applauds DOL Ruling on Independent Contractors – For Local Unions

UFCW Local 555 passed Measure 119 in Oregon on Nov. 5, which makes it easier for cannabis workers in the state to unionize. After similar bill failed to pass in the Oregon Legislature in 2023, UFCW Local 555 took the fight for cannabis worker labor rights to voters.

Measure 119 requires cannabis businesses to submit a signed labor peace agreement to the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission with its licensure or renewal application. It also requires the business to remain neutral and provide reasonable access when labor organizations communicate with and attempt to organize and represent employees. In addition, Measure 119 provides direction for cannabis employers to enter into a new labor peace agreement if an agreement is terminated, and establishes penalties if a new agreement is not reached.

“With the passage of Measure 119, we’ve taken a major step forward in ensuring fair wages, better working conditions, and a stronger voice for workers across Oregon,” said Miles Eshaia, the communications lead for UFCW Local 555. “We are thankful to see our state come together to support a future where workers are valued and respected. This is just the beginning, and we will continue to push for policies that lift up all Oregonians.”

You can find more information about Measure 119 here.