Posts Categorized: Organizing

On Nov. 12, the International’s Organizing Department launched its second reflective engagement training for certified trainers as part of our union’s ongoing effort to build stronger relationships with our members and potential members. The cohort, which includes 25 participants from the International and Regions 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, will be broken down into three groups so that participants can learn to use reflective engagement in organizing campaigns, at steward trainings, during negotiations, in political or legislative campaigns, and when engaging with current members.

Decades of successful organizing experience and professional studies show that active listening, asking questions and reflecting back the response is the most effective way to connect with people. By using this technique, those who are trained are having measurably more successful and higher quality conversations with workers and members.

The reflective engagement trainings for certified trainers are designed to help participants learn how to improve their ability to listen to what issues workers are concerned about, reflect on the conversation and the issues of importance, and connect workers concerns and stories to each other.

Last year, the Organizing Department hosted its first reflective engagement training for certified coaches in Chicago, where Region 1 General Organizer Anthony Bueno; Region 4 International Representative D.J. Totty; Region 6 Collective Bargaining Representative Georges Tounou; and Region 8 International Representatives Hevily Espinoza and Maricruz Cecena participated. 

“Reflective Engagement helps us hone our craft as UFCW organizers,” said International Vice President and Director of the Organizing Department Todd Crosby. “Meaningful organizing conversations from member to member and worker by worker allows us to build a powerful union.”

“At a time when our members and working people as a whole are struggling, scared and unsure of the future, it’s so important for us to be able to communicate effectively,” said Assistant to the Director of National Bargaining Fallon Ager, who is a member of the new cohort.  

UFCW locals from across the country are continuing to find success as they apply reflective engagement to their organizing and outreach campaigns. If your local is interested in learning more about this innovative approach, contact Jenny Reed at jreed@ufcw.org.

In Fall River, Mass., a group of Cresco Labs workers stood up to join UFCW Local 328 for a better life on Nov. 4. In a powerful victory, an overwhelming majority of the company’s employees were officially certified by the Massachusetts Department of Labor Relations, giving them the legal right to negotiate a union contract.

Cresco Labs is one of the largest multistate cannabis operators in the country and operates a cultivation and processing facility, as well as Sunnyside Dispensary, in Fall River.  The new members of UFCW Local 328 are eager to begin negotiations with the company. 

“We love our jobs and we love working in this industry,” said Molly Balbuena, a Cresco Labs employee. “We decided to form a union to make sure that our needs are considered as the company and industry grows.  We look forward to negotiating a good contract with the company.  I encourage all other cannabis workers to secure their futures in this industry by forming a union, too.”

This latest victory for workers comes as the cannabis industry in Massachusetts exceeds $1 billion in sales since adult-use stores opened two years ago. 

“We applaud cannabis workers for forming unions to make sure that as this industry grows, that workers are able to share in the success,” said UFCW Local 328 President Timothy Melia. “The cannabis industry should be a place where workers earn a living wage, have access to affordable health care, and protection from unfair discipline and discrimination.  The UFCW is excited to welcome the Cresco workers to our union family.”