Posts Tagged: UFCW Local 1059

Members from UFCW Locals 75 and 1059 from Ohio traveled to the Capitol in Columbus last week to speak with legislators about passing laws that will make life better for workers and the communities they live in. UFCW members the state overwhelmingly support a bill that would increase the state minimum wage to $10.10. They also took time to talk to legislators about how harmful “right-to-work” laws are to working families.

“I’m here to support working people everywhere who need a voice,” said Matthew Brooks, a UFCW Local 75 member who works at Kroger. “ Raising the minimum wage matters to everyone I know. We see too many working people in Ohio who are struggling to pay rent and put food on the table. Politicians don’t pay attention to these problems unless we bring it directly to them.”

From SB-5, which would have curbed collective bargaining rights for public workers to the possibility of a right to work law, members in Ohio were aware how important it is to lobby.

“We have to take an active role in supporting elected officials who support us,” said Jeremy Clark, a UFCW Local 1059 member who works at Kroger. “I’m here to hold them accountable and tell them what our goals are. Nothing speaks louder than a face-to-face interaction.”

“Lobbying has become a necessity for workers,” said Whitney Williams, a member of UFCW Local 75 who works at Kroger. “What goes on in this building affects my insurance, my wages, and my future. People need to be involved and informed. If we don’t take the time to lobby, no one will take our concerns seriously.”

The vast majority of UFCW members in Ohio work at grocery stores. Their experience hearing daily about what people in their communities are going through gave their conversations with lawmakers’ added weight.

“I see so many hard working people not getting by and rather than just gripe about it I decided to be here so I could get involved in making life better for working people,” said Todd Ludwig, a UFCW Local 75 member who works at Kroger. “I want to see the minimum wage go past $10.10, $12 seems more reasonable to me. I challenged the legislators I spoke with to try to live on minimum wage to help further their understanding of how inadequately low it is.”

Another UFCW Local 75 member, Letitia Finley, who works at who works at Kroger, echoed Ludwig’s feelings about UFCW members advocating for every worker in Ohio.

“We are here to represent every worker, not just UFCW members,” Finley said. “Decisions that happen inside the Capitol affect so many people. We have to be here to make sure those decisions benefit us.”

As the day came to a close, UFCW members were looking forward to going home and sharing their lobbying experience with coworkers.

“When it comes to making our lives better, politics is an important piece of the puzzle,” said Josh Greenlee, a UFCW Local 1059 member who works at Kroger. “From right to work to the minimum wage, we need to make sure legislators know where we stand. I’m here to fight for my community and make life better for everyone in it. I can’t wait to go back to my store and tell my coworkers all about today.”

“This was my first lobby day and it was a lot better than I thought it would be,” said Local 75 member Whitney McKelton who works at Kroger. “I got to speak with my Senator about what’s important to me and my family. Being here made me realize how much legislators affect our lives. If they hear from workers it will make it more likely that the laws they pass will work for us.”

Last week, more than 1,000 young workers and union activists headed to the AFL-CIO’s Next Up Young Worker Summit in Chicago, eager to share and learn more about how workers can band together for economic and social justice.

More than 70 UFCW and RWDSU members were in attendance, including many of the 2014 GOLD internship program participants.

UFCW member and former GOLD intern Erica Clemmons proudly introduced AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka at the conference.

Clemmons joined UFCW Local 1059 as a cashier at Kroger, and is now an organizer with UFCW Local 881. She also sits on the AFL-CIO’s Young Workers Advisory Council. Clemmons’ dedication to economic and racial equality has inspired many other young workers.

Clemmons was also one of the many UFCW and RWDSU activists who led workshops at the conference. Workshops focused on issues such as empowering different minority groups, raising the minimum wage, and gender equality. There were also workshops dedicated to sharing skills and tips for things such as digital organizing and collective bargaining.

Attendees of the conference also participated in two local actions to show solidarity for workers fighting for justice. RWDSU members hosted an action in support of Guitar Center workers, who have been fighting for a voice on the job. UFCW members hosted another action which began at a local McDonalds, where workers have been calling for a living wage of $15 an hour, and then marched on to a Food 4 Less location. Employees at Food 4 Less have been standing together for better wages and benefits, respect on the job, and union representation. Kroger Company, which owns Food 4 Less, pays its other brand employees more than it does its Food 4 Less workers.  Many AFL-CIO affiliated unions joined these actions in solidarity with the workers, in addition to 18 UFCW locals unions.

Read more and watch a clip from the rally here.

Other highlights of the summit included speakers such as labor ally Danny Glover, who spoke about the importance of activism, and Liz Shuler from the AFL-CIO, who emphasized why young workers are so important to the labor movement.