Posts Categorized: Member Resources

During “Second Chance Month” this April, the Civil Rights and Community Action Department is helping our members and other hard-working Americans with prior nonviolent convictions clear their records and register to vote.

Since 2016, the Civil Rights and Community Action Department has partnered with locals and allies to expunge the criminal records of some of our members and other workers in communities free of charge so that they can register to vote and have access to other services, such as affordable housing and education. To date, the UFCW has helped hundreds of people navigate their state’s expungement and sealing laws and clear their records. In 2021, the UFCW formalized an agreement with the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) to further assist with our expungement efforts.

The UFCW is proud to partner with the NACDL in support of the following events for Second Chance Month:

The 2nd Annual Second Chance Month Social Media Campaign: This storytelling campaign will highlight the re-entry experiences of returning citizens and defense counsel who have assisted returning citizens.

The RUTH Foundation’s Second Chances Community Cookout: This annual community cookout is held for returning citizens and their family members to enjoy food and community building in the Richmond, Va., area. Public safety state agencies and non-profit service providers are also joining as sponsors. 

Throughout the year, the NACDL will be hosting expungement clinics in the Tidewater, Va., and Louisville, Ky., areas, along with additional clinics in Cumberland, Md.

If your local is interested in working with the UFCW International to help people clear their records and register to vote, contact Civil Rights and Community Action Department Director LaQuita Honeysucker at lhoneysucker@ufcw.org or Confidential Secretary Ben Cassel at bcassel@ufcw.org.

The UFCW has launched a new Spanish language website and expanded the Free Foreign Language Program.

UFCW.org in Spanish

As part of our ongoing efforts to better serve the diverse workforce that makes up our union, the new Spanish language website will ensure that our most vital information, resources, and updates are now more accessible for our membership and the public. Spanish speakers can read about the basics of union organizing, the benefits that come from union membership, and educational programs available for our members and their families. You can access this new website here.

Free Foreign Language Program for UFCW Local Staff

In addition to our new website, the UFCW’s Free Foreign Language Program now offers UFCW Local union staff the ability to learn over 70 languages for free online.  These self-paced classes build on four conversational skills necessary to fully learn a new language: vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, and culture. 

Spots will be available to UFCW Local union staff on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that when you enroll, your profile can add up to five additional users who can also benefit from the program. You can sign up for this program here.