June 25, 2018

UFCW Members Take Over D.C. for Poor People’s Campaign

Over 500 UFCW members representing 20 locals from across the country poured into Washington, D.C., for the Poor People’s Campaign “Global Day of Solidarity” rally on June 23 to demand economic and social justice for the nation’s poor. Over the past few weeks, UFCW members rallied at their state capitols as part of the campaign’s “40 Days of Moral Action.”

“The Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival,” was founded by Rev. Dr. William Barber II and Rev. Liz Theoharis, the Kairos Center for Religions, Rights and Social Justice at Union Theological Seminary, and hundreds of local and national grassroots groups. This campaign builds on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others, who organized actions in 1968 to demand economic and human rights for poor Americans of all backgrounds.

UFCW International Marc Perrone spoke at the “Global Day of Solidarity” rally, and introduced activist Cortne Lee Roché, who works as a food service employee at Earth Fare in North Carolina.

“The UFCW union family believes, as the Poor People’s Campaign does, as all of you do, that America can and must work better for all hard-working families,” Perrone said. “And I mean all hard-working families. Right now, broken policies are tearing parents apart from their children at the border and in places like Ohio and Tennessee too…. Make no mistake – the only way for us to stop this and other pains is to stand up, speak out, and stand together.”

“I work at Earth Fare, where together with my coworkers, we are organizing together to build a more inclusive and empowering environment inside our stores,” said Roché. “Faced with the reality of being a trans woman in a transphobic world, I chose to organize with the UFCW union to bring a better life to my family at work as we stand against corporate greed and immorality. It’s hard work, but it’s worth it. Everyone’s got a struggle, but no one should struggle alone. It doesn’t matter where you come from. All that matters is that you are here with us now. Nothing can stop us when we stand as one.”

Here are a few images from the Poor People’s Campaign “Global Day of Solidarity” rally in Washington, D.C.:

June 18, 2018

Poor People’s Campaign: Week 6

UFCW locals across the country are gearing up for the sixth week of the Poor People’s Campaign, which will conclude its “40 Days of Moral Action” at a “Global Day of Solidarity” rally in Washington, D.C., on June 23.

“The Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival,” was founded by Rev. Dr. William Barber II and Rev. Liz Theoharis, the Kairos Center for Religions, Rights and Social Justice at Union Theological Seminary, and hundreds of local and national grassroots groups. This campaign builds on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others, who organized actions in 1968 to demand economic and human rights for poor Americans of all backgrounds.

UFCW locals helped to launch the campaign on May 14, and have been participating in events at state capitols across the country as part of the campaign’s “40 Days of Moral Action” for the purpose of challenging systemic racism, poverty, the war economy, ecological devastation, and the nation’s distorted morality. On June 11, UFCW locals turned out in full force for the fifth week of the campaign’s events in state capitols across the county, which revolved around the theme “Everybody’s Got the Right to Live: Jobs, Income and Housing.”

For more information about the Poor People’s Campaign, contact the UFCW’s Civil Rights and Community Action Department at (202) 223-3111.

June 4, 2018

Poor People’s Campaign: Week 5

UFCW locals are gearing up for the fifth week of the revival of the Poor People’s Campaign, which will focus on jobs, the economy, and housing. This campaign builds on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others, who organized actions in 1968 to demand economic and human rights for poor Americans of all backgrounds.

“The Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival,” was founded by Rev. Dr. William Barber II and Rev. Liz Theoharis, the Kairos Center for Religions, Rights and Social Justice at Union Theological Seminary, and hundreds of local and national grassroots groups. The campaign launched on May 13, and has held events across the country since that time as part of its “40 Days of Moral Action” for the purpose of challenging systemic racism, poverty, the war economy, ecological devastation, and the nation’s distorted morality.

On June 11, the campaign is holding events at state capitols across the country around the theme “Everybody’s Got the Right to Live: Jobs, Economy and Housing.” The campaign will conclude its “40 Days of Moral Action” on June 23 with a “Global Day of Solidarity” rally in Washington, D.C.

“The Poor People’s Campaign believes, as our union family does, that our economy can and should work better for everyone,” said UFCW International President Marc Perrone. “Wage inequality, the assault on voting rights, underemployment, and the attacks on immigrant and refugee communities are all part of a systemic effort to disenfranchise poor communities. We’re proud to support the Poor People’s Campaign because, if successful, it will bring hard-working families more power to build better lives.”

For more information about the Poor People’s Campaign, contact the UFCW’s Civil Rights and Community Action Department at (202) 223-3111.

May 21, 2018

Local 653 Highlights the Need for Living Wages, Affordable Housing in Minnesota

In April, members of UFCW Local 653, in partnership with the Northwest Suburbs Community and Labor Coalition, took part in a community canvassing event in Hennepin County, Minnesota, to talk about the need for living wages and affordable housing. Hennepin County is the most populous county in the state of Minnesota, and includes the cities of Minneapolis, St. Paul and Bloomington. Other labor, community, and faith based groups also participated in the event.

According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Living Wage Calculator, a living wage for a family of two adults and two children in Hennepin County is $69,759 per year before taxes. However, many working families in the area earn less than the MIT living wage threshold, and are struggling with the rising cost of housing.

“People working 40 hours a week should be able to afford a decent place to live and food to feed their families without working multiple jobs. I believe livable wages and affordable housing should be basic rights,” said Alex Kunau, a member of UFCW Local 653 who works as a deli manager at Silver Lake Road Cub Foods.

February 26, 2018

Local 1208 Marches in HKonJ Rally in North Carolina

Members of UFCW Local 1208 joined thousands of allies at the Historic Thousands on Jones Street (HKonJ) People’s Assembly Coalition rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Feb. 10. The march focused on voting rights, equal rights and other social justice issues. UFCW Local 1208 has joined this march numerous times, beginning with the Smithfield campaign.

The HKonJ People’s Assembly Coalition is made up of more than 125 North Carolina NAACP branches, youth councils and college chapters from across the state, as well as members of over 200 other social justice organizations.

January 22, 2018

Local 1149 and JBS Donate to Local Schools in Iowa

UFCW Local 1149 Vice President and Walking Steward Mike Graves (left) and JBS Human Resources Director Stacey Santillan (right) present a check to Fisher Elementary School Principal Mark Lee.

UFCW Local 1149 and JBS USA gave back to the Marshalltown, Iowa, community by providing $1,000 donations to six local elementary schools on Jan. 3. This is the second year that UFCW Local 1149 and JBS USA have donated to elementary schools in the Marshalltown Community School District.

The donations, which come from a multicultural fund created by the UFCW and JBS USA, will be used to fund technology, literacy curriculum, playground equipment and other items for local elementary school children.

Mike Graves, UFCW Local 1149 vice president and walking steward at JBS, and Stacey Santillan, director of Human Resources at JBS USA, delivered the checks to all six elementary school principals.

“It’s something we wanted to do for the community,” Graves said.

“We’re proud that our good union jobs allow us to partner with JBS to help kids in our community,” said UFCW Local 1149 President Roger Kail.

December 4, 2017

UFCW Locals Give Back to Their Communities

From hosting “giving trees” to organizing food drives, UFCW locals are kicking into high gear to help make the holidays a little brighter for those in need in communities across the country.

In the northeast, UFCW Local 1500 is organizing a Toy Drive for the John Theissen Children’s Foundation. Since 1992, the foundation has collected over 920,000 new toys and donated them to sick and underprivileged children in hospitals and child care facilities.

UFCW Local 152’s annual Teddy Bear Drive collects stuffed animals for Santa to give away at the holiday dinner dance for ARC of Burlington County, which provides a variety of disability services that include adult day care and in home supportive services.

In November, RWDSU/UFCW Local 338 delivered 200 turkeys donated by its members to several food pantries and charitable organizations throughout New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County as part of the union’s annual “Turkey Drive.”

RWDSU/UFCW Local 338 members weren’t the only ones out making sure everyone could have a nice holiday feast. On the other side of the country, UFCW Local 1428 members in California held a turkey giveaway over the Thanksgiving holiday.

Are you a UFCW member with a story of how union members in your area are giving back this holiday season? If so, please drop us a line at submissions@ufcw.org or send us your story on our Facebook page and let us know how you are making a difference in your community.

August 7, 2017

Local 365 Member Honored for Helping Local Farm Workers

Photo courtesy of The Stand

On July 19, WPEA /UFCW Local 365 member Jason Holland was honored with the Mother Jones Award from the Washington State Labor Council for his efforts to help local farm workers at Sakuma Brothers Farms in Burlington and Mt. Vernon, Wash., organize and secure a strong union contract. Holland works as an organizer and researcher at WPEA/UFCW Local 365.

The farm workers, from Oaxaca, Mexico, realized that there was strength in numbers and formed the first new farm worker union in the country in over 20 years—Familias Unidas por la Justicia (FUJ). Using his law degree from Vanderbilt University, Holland supported FUJ’s efforts by writing the contract the workers would bring to the negotiating table. He also marched and protested alongside FUJ members in solidarity, receiving no compensation for his work – besides knowing he stepped up to help fellow hard-working men and women in need of a strong union family.

As he accepted the Mother Jones Award, Holland reflected on his work with members of FUJ and how the experience changed his life. “When you see injustice, don’t just stand there and let it happen,” he said. “Take action.”

You can see Holland accept the Mother Jones Award here.