Letter From UFCW International President Marc Perrone
Welcome to the inaugural edition of UFCW News, a new quarterly newsletter that is designed to update you on what your union is doing to build a better life for our members and workers everywhere.
Last year, the UFCW held its 9th Regular Convention in Las Vegas. Over, 2,500 convention delegates, alternates, and guests from around the world joined us to celebrate what we’ve accomplished as a union over the last five years and to lay out a vision for the UFCW as we continue to organize workers and negotiate contracts in a rapidly changing workforce.
At the convention, delegates came together to pass resolutions on a number of important issues, including cannabis, workplace violence, expanding organizing efforts and trainings, coordinated bargaining, and protecting our defined benefit pension funds.
For the inaugural edition of UFCW News, I wanted to provide members with an update on the progress we’ve made on some of these resolutions so far:
Member Organizers: Delegates voted to commit to mentoring and training members as Special Projects Union Representative (SPUR) organizers. Since the Convention, we have successfully trained over 400 member organizers that reflect the diversity of our union. Additionally, we continue to work with member organizers on organizing Kroger stores in Tidewater, Virginia more than doubling the amount of stores taken to majority since the Convention.
Financial Security: Delegates voted to center bargaining on the financial security of our members. Since the Convention, wages in our contracts have increased 16 percent compared to previous contracts.
Workplace Violence: Delegates voted that the UFCW should expand efforts to protect members from workplace violence. Since the Convention, we have held 12 trainings that prepare members to handle an active shooter or other workplace violence.
Organizing in Core Industries: Delegates voted that the UFCW should aggressively organize workers in key industries, including grocery, retail, meatpacking, and food processing. Since the Convention, we have advanced and won units at Zara, H&M, Patagonia, REI, Lush Cosmetics, Ben & Jerry’s, Kroger, Sodexo, PSSI, and many more, bringing thousands of new members into the UFCW family. We have also launched a statewide retail grocery organizing project where we are working with Local Unions and SPURs to reach out to workers at non-union banners.
Coordinated Bargaining: Delegates voted that the UFCW should continue to work with Local Unions to increase our strength at the table through coordinated bargaining. Since the Convention, the National Bargaining Department has been assisting with coordinated bargaining for REI, Patagonia, Half Price Books, Food 4 Less, and many more.
Cannabis: Delegates voted that the UFCW should aggressively organize workers in the cannabis industry through all available means. Since the Convention, we have organized nearly 100 new units in the cannabis industry.
Pension: Delegates voted that the UFCW should continue to support multiemployer defined benefit pension plans and make sure those funds are efficiently managed and operated. Since the Convention, our agreements with employers included either increases to funding levels or no change to funding.
We will continue to update you on the progress we are making towards these resolutions in future editions. If there is anything you’d like to hear about in this newsletter, please email newsletterideas@ufcw.org.
Thank you for all you do for your union family and your community.
In solidarity,
Marc Perrone
President, UFCW International
Spotlight On
UFCW/RWDSU REI Campaign
In April, REI workers in Santa Cruz became the 10th REI store to win their election to join the REI union movement. Since the Convention, the UFCW and the RWDSU have been busy continuing to organize stores and put pressure on the company to bargain in good faith.
From May 17th to 27th, unionized REI workers across the country rallied, leafleted co-op members, and went on a ULP strike to amplify their continued demands for a fair union contract by the end of 2024.
Hundreds of REI members, shoppers, elected officials, and community supporters stopped by these actions to show solidarity for the “green vests” and their fight for a strong deal.
Read more about a few of these actions below:
REI Castleton Rallies with Community Figures
REI Bellingham Goes on ULP Strike Saturday, May 25th
SoHo Green Vests Stage Rally with Labor Groups Outside Flagship Store REI
Cleveland Workers Rally Alongside Politicians for a Fair Contract
Green Vests in Chicago Walk Out on ULP Strike and Shut Down Store
Spotlight On
UFCW’s Discount College Program
After the Convention, the UFCW launched a new discount college program that is available to members and their families. We are partnering with both EBS Union College Benefit and EDVANCE to help with the selection and admissions process, meaning members and their families have access to programs at TEN colleges.
Each partner offers discounted tuition rates ranging from 30 percent to 50 percent and prospective students can work with school administrators to apply for additional federal financial assistance, which could cover their remaining costs.
Recent Victories
Cannabis Workers in New Jersey Ratify a First Union Contract
Members of UFCW Local 152 who work at the MPX/iAnthus cannabis grow facility in Pleasantville, N.J., recently ratified their first union contract. Members at the facility grow and process cannabis and oversee the entire production process.
Grocery Workers in Oklahoma Join Local 1000
On May 9, workers at Natural Grocers in Norman, Okla., voted to join UFCW Local 1000. The 20 workers joined our union because they were concerned about insufficient health care benefits, including the failure to protect the rights of pregnant women and new mothers.
