December 18, 2017

Growing Our Union Family

In 2017, workers from around the country who work in a variety of industries ranging from food and non-food retail to health care stood together for a better life by joining our union family.

Max Storey, who works a Seward Community Co-op store on Franklin Ave. in south Minneapolis joined his colleagues at two other Seward Co-op stores in the area and voted to join UFCW Local 653 in June. Earlier in June, the workers at the three stores, including the Creamery Café, the Seward Franklin store on Franklin Ave., and the Seward Friendship store at 38th St. and Clinton Ave., held a rally for a voice in the workplace after submitting cards authorizing representation by UFCW Local 653 to the National Labor Relations Board.

“Workers have come together to say yes to UFCW 653, yes to fair wages, yes to negotiating better benefits, and yes to respect and dignity in the workplace,” said Storey.

Tierra Griffith, a Certified Nursing Assistants at Delmar Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Delmar, Delaware, voted to join UFCW Local 27 in September along with 89 of her coworkers.

Griffith and her colleagues were concerned about not receiving any raises over the last several years, unfair treatment by management, not having a voice on the job, understaffing, and questionable PTO calculations. Even though the company hired union busters and tried to intimidate some workers using fear tactics, the workers stood strong and formed a powerful organizing committee.

“It feels awesome to have Local 27 be our representatives. We all feel like it will make a positive difference here at work. We’re now ready for the next step, which is to get a contract that we’re happy with,” said Griffith.

Here’s a list of the organizing victories that appeared in OnPoint this year:

More Rocky Mountain High Workers Join Local 7

Bob’s Discount Furniture and Century 21 Workers Join Local 888

800 Seaboard Triumph Foods Workers Join Our Union Family

Rocky Mountain High Cannabis Workers Join Local 7

Delmar Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Workers Join Local 27

Kaiser Permanente Ergonomics Coordinators Join Local 7

Albertsons Deli Workers Join Local 368A

Safeway Pharmacy Technicians in Colorado and Wyoming Join Local 7

Albertsons Customer Service Workers Join Local 368-A

SBM Management Services Workers Join ICWUC/UFCW Local 94C

QFC ClickList Workers Join Local 21

Fresenius Kidney Care Workers Join RWDSU/UFCW

Pitman Manor Workers Join Local 152

Pleasure Chest Workers Join RWDSU/UFCW

Seward Community Co-op Workers Join UFCW Local 653

Good Samaritan Society’s Comforcare Facility Workers Join Local 1189

Viroqua Food Co-op Workers Join Local 1473

Genesis Woodlands Workers Join RWDSU/UFCW

Carefree Living Workers Join Local 1189

Bon Appétit Food Service Workers Join Local 655

Eastside Food Co-op Workers Join UFCW Local 653

L.T. Services Custodians Join Local 1994 MCGEO

Workers at Nestlé Distribution Center Join the RWDSU/UFCW

Wheaton Industries Workers Join Local 152

Colonial Parking Workers Join Local 27

Linden Hills Co-op Workers Join Local 653

Whole Foods Co-op Workers Join Local 1189

Cristal USA Inc. Workers Join ICWUC

Cannabis Dispensary Workers in Pasadena Join Local 770

People’s Food Co-op Workers Join Local 876

New A.T. Wall Workers in Rhode Island Join RWDSU/UFCW Local 599