Posts Categorized: Member Resources

Last week, 11 UFCW members from across the country gathered in Minneapolis with staff from the Legislative and Political Action Department (LAPAD) for a Political Member Organizer Leads training ahead of the 2022 midterm elections. These newly trained members will anchor the 2022 political program by directing and supporting Political Member Organizers as they work to engage UFCW members to vote in the midterm elections.

The week-long training focused on preparing Political Member Organizer Leads to train and manage teams of Political Member Organizers in their respective states who will conduct voter registration drives door to door, over the phone, and at worksites. Political Member Organizer Leads learned how to conduct worksite visits, have effective conversations with members about issues, and utilize a variety of tools to complete these tasks.

The energy and enthusiasm in the room was high and our Political Member Organizer Leads left motivated and equipped to make sure their fellow members understand what is at stake in the upcoming midterm elections and have the information they need to make their voices heard in November. The UFCW Political Member Program is in great hands with this group of leaders, and we applaud them for stepping up to lead our work in 2022.

If your local is interested in learning more about LAPAD trainings for members, contact International Vice President and Director of the LAPAD Ademola Oyefeso at aoyefeso@ufcw.org.

ICWUC / UFCW Local 94C and Merck & Co. Inc. recently opened a multi-million dollar training facility for workers at the company’s plant in Elkton, Va. The facility, staffed by a union and management team of instructors, will provide workers with the skills required for jobs at the site.

Elkton is one of Merck`s manufacturing facilities in the North American network that produces medicines and vaccines for the global sales team at Merck, and ICWUC / UFCW Local 94C represents over 470 members at the site. The local also represents members who work at SBM Management Services, which is a subcontractor at the Merck plant in Elkton. 

ICWUC/ UFCW Local 94C has been in the forefront of keeping its members trained to a level of expertise and flexibility to make Elkton a strong site in the Merck manufacturing network. The local has also reestablished a Maintenance Training Program, affording members a chance to move into trades that previously might have been outsourced or hired from outside the unit first. The Maintenance Training Program has received VA DOL Certification and will begin to train the first class of maintenance trainees at the facility shortly.

“I want to commend Local 94C President Matt Dean, ICWUC Vice President Gerry Setley, and the representatives of Merck for their vision in making this training center a reality,” said ICWUC President Lance E. Heasley. “This is not only a win for Merck and the members of 94C, but also for those in the community of Elkton, who may someday be employed there.”