BARDSTOWN, KY — Today, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) the union for over 25,000 Kentucky essential workers statewide as well as 420 Heaven Hill distillery workers, just announced that Heaven Hill workers voted to end a six week strike after a tentative agreement was reached yesterday on a new five-year union contract. 

UFCW Local 23D, the union for these Heaven Hill workers, announced that the new contract achieved key priorities such as preserving affordable healthcare, increasing pay, maintaining overtime provisions, and strengthening retirement security.  

UFCW Local 23D President Matt Aubrey Released the Following Statement: 

“This new Heaven Hill contract is a strong reminder of what is possible when Kentucky workers stand together to protect the good jobs that keep our economy growing and our communities and families strong.

“With the strong support of the Bardstown community, including many local businesses and community leaders, these hardworking men and women at Heaven Hill courageously stood up to fight for what all Kentucky families want – good jobs, affordable health care, and to be treated right by the company they made a success.”

“Together, these hardworking Kentuckians preserved the affordable healthcare, overtime pay, and fair scheduling that enables them to balance work with supporting their families.”

BACKGROUND: 

UFCW has been the leading voice for Kentucky essential workers in distilleries, grocery stores, meatpacking plants, and so many other frontline businesses that have been impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

Key Provision of Today’s New Heaven Hill Union Contract:

Healthcare affordability protected by maintaining industry-leading health benefits and increasing employer contribution by 4.25 percent
Pay increase of up to $3.09 per hour over the life of the contract
Overtime pay protected by maintaining previous number of minimum hours required
Fair scheduling maintained with traditional 40-hour work week on Mondays through Fridays to ensure employees are not forced to work on weekends
Vacation benefits and paid holidays increased to help workers spend more time with family
Retirement savings strengthened by increasing 401(k) match by the company from 7 percent to 8 percent

UFCW Local 23D has been in negotiations withthe $500 million company for over 6 months to reach an agreement for these Kentucky workers. In July 2021, the union called for a federal mediator to join the process to help to advance talks with the company. On September 9, Heaven Hill workers voted on the company’s latest proposal and 96 percent of workers rejected the contract proposal and the strike began on September 11 at midnight. Heaven Hill workers were on strike for six weeks in the push to achieve a strong new union contract.

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UFCW is the largest private sector union in Kentucky, represents over 25,000 Kentucky workers statewide, and is part of UFCW International which represents 1.3 million professionals and their families in healthcare, grocery stores, meatpacking, food processing, retail shops and other industries that serve communities in all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. Learn more about the UFCW at ufcw.org. 

BARDSTOWN, KY — Today, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) the union for over 25,000 Kentucky essential workers statewide as well as 420 Heaven Hill distillery workers still on strike at the company’s main facility in Bardstown, condemned a new move by the distillery to hire non-union workers in an attempt to push longtime employees out of jobs.

UFCW Local 23D, the union for these workers, announced a new #StepUpHH grassroots campaign has already sparked 5,593 emails demanding Heaven Hill executives restore employee healthcare and help end the strike by reaching an agreement on a fair contract that protects good Kentucky jobs.

As part of the campaign, Heaven Hill workers and supporters across Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Texas, Michigan, and nationwide have used the #StepUpHH hashtag to call on the company for action, with at least 1,703 supporters sending emails to Heaven Hill executives with the $500 million company.

As the strike nears seven weeks and Heaven Hill cut off healthcare for workers, the company is also now spending $1 million on a baseball sweepstakes. Heaven Hill workers are part of a national movement of nearly 100,000 workers braving the strike line this month to call for the fair contracts needed to protect good jobs and support their families as the economy recovers.

UFCW Local 23D President Matt Aubrey Released the Following Statement: 

“It is stunning that Heaven Hill is refusing to continue negotiations and is resorting to hiring non-union workers to try to push out the hardworking Kentucky men and women who have worked at the company for generations and made it the success it is today. Heaven Hill should be working around the clock to reach an agreement on a fair contract that invests in its Kentucky workers, but instead it is trying to replace them and even spending $1 million on a flashy baseball sweepstakes to further boost corporate profits.

“The reality is that Heaven Hill negotiations are not at an impasse. UFCW 23D and Heaven Hill workers are ready and willing to meet with the company to continue talks so that we can reach a fair contract. Good faith bargaining by the company with its workers and their union can succeed. Unfortunately, Heaven Hill is refusing to bargain in good faith with its workers. For this reason, the union has filed Unfair Labor Practices charges against Heaven Hill with the National Labor Relations Board to address this conduct.

“Heaven Hill workers launched a new grassroots campaign to show the company that Kentucky families and Americans across the country are calling for action on a fair contract to protect these good Kentucky jobs. In less than a week, support has poured in from the Bardstown community and so many others with nearly 2,000 supporters sending a total of over 5,000 emails to Max Shapira and other company executives. 

“Heaven Hill immediately cut the healthcare of its workers and retirees when they spoke out for a stronger contract and went on strike. The contract proposed by the company threatens good jobs in our community by cutting overtime and trying to divide workers with unclear and potentially unfair scheduling. 

“As the union for Heaven Hill workers, UFCW Local 23D is calling on the company to end the delays and work together with us to finally reach an agreement on a fair contract so that we can end this strike and get these hardworking Kentucky men and women back on the job.”

BACKGROUND: 

UFCW has been the leading voice for Kentucky essential workers in distilleries, grocery stores, meatpacking plants, and so many other frontline businesses that have been impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

UFCW Local 23D is the and has been in negotiations with the $500 million company for 6 months to reach an agreement for these Kentucky workers. In July 2021, the union called for a federal mediator to join the process to help to advance talks with the company. On September 9, Heaven Hill workers voted on the company’s latest proposal and 96 percent of workers rejected the contract proposal and the strike began on September 11 at midnight. Heaven Hill workers have now been on strike for nearly five weeks as the company continues to stall negotiations on a new contract.

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UFCW is the largest private sector union in Kentucky, represents over 25,000 Kentucky workers statewide, and is part of UFCW International which represents 1.3 million professionals and their families in healthcare, grocery stores, meatpacking, food processing, retail shops and other industries that serve communities in all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. Learn more about the UFCW at ufcw.org. 

BARDSTOWN, KY — Today, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) the union for over 25,000 Kentucky essential workers statewide as well as 420 Heaven Hill distillery workers still on strike at the company’s main facility in Bardstown, condemned the actions of a non-union delivery driver who eyewitnesses said overturned a truck with flammable cargo while driving at an unsafe speed and making a threatening gesture to striking workers calling for a fair agreement on a five-year contract. The union confirmed that thankfully, there were no injuries.

UFCW Local 23D President Matt Aubrey Released the Following Statement: 

“Heaven Hill distillery workers faced danger today when a non-union delivery driver hired by the company to operate a tanker truck carrying flammable cargo took their hands off the steering wheel to make a threatening gesture to a UFCW Local 23D member on strike, and the truck veered out of control and flipped over.

“Heaven Hill is putting profits over the health and safety of its workers and the Bardstown community and today’s dangerous tanker truck incident is sadly just the latest example. Heaven Hill also cut the healthcare of its workers and retirees immediately after they spoke out for a stronger contract and went on strike this past month. 

“Heaven Hill is threatening good jobs in our community by proposing a contract that makes cuts to overtime and threatens to divide its workers with unclear and potentially unfair scheduling. For nearly five weeks these hardworking Kentuckians have been speaking out to stop these cuts and protect these Kentucky distillery jobs that have supported our families for generations.”

“As the union for Heaven Hill workers, UFCW Local 23D is calling on the company to ensure the driver of the overturned tanker truck today is immediately dismissed and no longer permitted to return to the Bardstown facility. Heaven Hill must put safety first and take responsibility for this incident which could have seriously injured many who were onsite. We urge Heaven Hill to work with UFCW Local 23D to reach an agreement on a fair contract to end this strike and resume safe operations as soon as possible.”

BACKGROUND: 

UFCW has been the leading voice for Kentucky essential workers in distilleries, grocery stores, meatpacking plants, and so many other frontline businesses that have been impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

In late September 2021, a federal mediator urged the company to rejoin talks with UFCW Local 23D, the union for Heaven Hill Bardstown workers and met with workers and the union on Monday, September 27. 

UFCW Local 23D is the and has been in negotiations with the $500 million company for 6 months to reach an agreement for these Kentucky workers. In July 2021, the union called for a federal mediator to join the process to help to advance talks with the company. On September 9, Heaven Hill workers voted on the company’s latest proposal and 96 percent of workers rejected the contract proposal and the strike began on September 11 at midnight. Heaven Hill workers have now been on strike for nearly five weeks as the company continues to stall negotiations on a new contract.

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UFCW is the largest private sector union in Kentucky, represents over 25,000 Kentucky workers statewide, and is part of UFCW International which represents 1.3 million professionals and their families in healthcare, grocery stores, meatpacking, food processing, retail shops and other industries that serve communities in all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. Learn more about the UFCW at ufcw.org. 

BARDSTOWN, KY — Today, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) the union for over 25,000 Kentucky essential workers statewide as well as 420 Heaven Hill distillery workers still b at the company’s main facility in Bardstown, called on the company to return to the negotiating table to continue efforts to reach an agreement on a five-year contract. 

A federal mediator urged the company to rejoin talks with UFCW Local 23D, the union for Heaven Hill Bardstown workers and the $500 million company met with workers and the union on Monday, September 27. However, despite the federal mediator calling for Heaven Hill to continue negotiations tomorrow, September 29, the company has not agreed to return to the table. 

UFCW Local 23D President Matt Aubrey Released the Following Statement:

“Heaven Hill distillery workers are standing up for a fair contract that protects good-paying Kentucky jobs and keeps our economy and community strong. Heaven Hill is threatening good jobs in our community by proposing a contract that makes cuts to overtime and threatens to divide its workers with unclear and potentially unfair scheduling. For nearly three weeks these hardworking Kentuckians have been speaking out to stop these cuts and protect these Kentucky distillery jobs that have supported our families for generations.

“We have been overwhelmed by the strong support from local business owners taking Heaven Hill products off their shelves until the strike is over and are grateful to everyone standing with these Kentucky workers and their families. 

“As the union for Heaven Hill workers, UFCW Local 23D has been eager to reach an agreement on a fair contract that supports good Kentucky jobs. We were pleased that Heaven Hill responded to the federal mediator’s call to return to the negotiating table and encouraged by the progress we made in discussions on Monday. We were disappointed to hear that Heaven Hill is refusing to continue negotiations tomorrow and urge them to reconsider. 

“Our first priority is delivering a strong contract for these Kentucky workers. We are calling on Heaven Hill to work together with us now to help end this strike and make the critical investments needed to support good Kentucky jobs and keep our economy and community strong.”

BACKGROUND:

UFCW has been the leading voice for Kentucky essential workers in distilleries, grocery stores, meatpacking plants, and so many other frontline businesses that have been impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

UFCW Local 23D is the union for these Heaven Hill workers in Bardstown and has been in negotiations with the company for 6 months to reach an agreement for these Kentucky workers. In July 2021, the union called for a federal mediator to join the process to help to advance talks with the company. On September 9, Heaven Hill workers voted on the company’s latest proposal and 96 percent of workers rejected the contract proposal and the strike began on September 11 at midnight. Heaven Hill workers have now been on strike for nearly three weeks as the company continues to stall negotiations on a new contract.

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UFCW is the largest private sector union in the United States, representing 1.3 million professionals and their families in healthcare, grocery stores, meatpacking, food processing, retail shops and other industries. Our members serve our communities in all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. Learn more about the UFCW at ufcw.org. 

MILWAUKEE, WI – Today, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), the union for over 11,500 Wisconsin essential workers in meatpacking, food processing, and other frontline industries, announced that U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin joined a virtual roundtable with Wisconsin workers calling on Congress to pass President Biden’s Build Back Better Agenda and highlighting how it helps Wisconsin working families.

Wisconsin frontline workers at the roundtable are union members of UFCW Local 1473 in Milwaukee.Wisconsin workers urged Congress to pass Biden’s plan to create good Wisconsin jobs and address issues like paid sick leave, the Child Tax Credit, and protecting the right of workers to unionize for better working conditions as the pandemic continues.

VIDEO: Click here for a video of the Wisconsin worker roundtable.

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin: “Our Build Back Better Budget is focused on lowering costs for families and creating jobs. This legislation is focused on the economic security of working families and moving our economy forward. United Food and Commercial Worker members have been on the front lines this whole pandemic and you essential workers have not been treated as essential. I hope that stops now, as we begin our work to Build Back Better. I will continue pressing for workplace safety and fairness moving forward, and my door is always open.”

Ramsses Lopez, a OSI worker in Fort Atkinson and member of UFCW Local 1473: “I recently became a parent for the first time to my precious daughter, Emery. Earlier this year, Congress passed the Child Tax Credit which provides up to $3,600 for families with children. This funding allows my family to make sure that we have everything we need to take care of our daughter, from nutritious food to clothing. If this middle-class tax cut could be extended, that would make a big impact on so many working families’ lives, including mine. Congress should make the Child Tax Credit permanent to help all Wisconsin working families.”

Emmett Cannon, a Hormel Foods plant worker in Beloit and member of UFCW Local 1473: “Working on the frontline in food production has been difficult throughout the pandemic and this pandemic is not over. We wear masks and face shields; we socially distance as much as possible; we have sanitation stations. With my union’s support, we were able to negotiate with Hormel to provide these safety measures to help slow down the spread of COVID-19 in our plant. It is heartbreaking knowing that other food production plants that are not unionized won’t get this opportunity. I am asking Congress to ensure that the final budget reconciliation bill strengthens the right of Wisconsin workers to unionize.”

Elaine McCarty, a cake decorator at Metro Market in Brookfield and member of UFCW Local 1473: “My coworkers and I have shown up to work every day throughout the pandemic not knowing if the customer we are helping is COVID positive or vaccinated. In all honesty, I come to work every day to serve our community while being afraid of catching COVID-19 and passing it on to any of my 13 grandchildren. I know that many of my coworkers feel the stress I am feeling every day and we’re all continuing to deal with more out-of-pocket expenses because of the pandemic. I hope Congress does the right thing by passing the grant program for food workers to help us with the continued expenses we have had during the pandemic.”

BACKGROUND:

United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) has been a leading voice for Wisconsin essential workers in meatpacking plants, food processing facilities, and many more frontline businesses throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. UFCW has helped to enact policies like the Child Tax Credit and strengthened pay and protections for essential workers across Wisconsin.

COVID WORKER IMPACT: UFCW recently confirmed that the COVID-19 Delta surge continues to impact essential workers in Ohio and across the country. Among the union’s members nationwide, there have now been at least:

• 483 frontline worker deaths and at least 93, 900 frontline workers infected or exposed
• 198 grocery worker deaths and at least 43,900 grocery workers infected or exposed
• 132 meatpacking worker deaths and 22,400 meatpacking workers infected or exposed
• 67 food processing worker deaths and 13,100 food processing workers infected or exposed

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United Food and Commercial Workers is the union for over 11,500 Wisconsin essential workers in food processing, meatpacking plants, and other frontline industries. To learn more about UFCW, go to www.ufcw.org/about.

CLEVELAND, OH – Today, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), the union for over 80,000 Ohio essential workers in grocery, meatpacking, and other frontline industries, joined U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown and U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty (OH-03) for a virtual roundtable with Ohio workers calling on Congress to pass President Biden’s Build Back Better Agenda and highlighting how it helps Ohio working families. 

Ohio frontline workers at today’s roundtable are union members of UFCW Local 1059 in Columbus, UFCW Local 880 in the Greater Cleveland area, and UFCW Local 75 in Dayton. Ohio workers urged Congress to pass Biden’s plan to create good Ohio jobs and address issues like paid sick leave, the Child Tax Credit, and protecting the right of workers to unionize for better working conditions as the pandemic continues.

VIDEO: Click here for a video of today’s Ohio worker roundtable

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown: “So many of you have been on the front lines of this pandemic, risking your lives so that Americans can keep food on their table and get their medicine and all their essentials. Corporations try to get positive press off of their workers, while paying them poverty wages and in too many cases, failing to protect their safety. Workers don’t need a PR campaign – they need fair pay and protections on the job, and a union like UFCW to fight for them and be their voice.”

U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty (OH-03): “Unions like UFCW, and the essential workers they represent, have held this nation together through a year and a half of COVID recovery. It was an honor to join my union brothers and sisters, and my dear colleague Senator Sherrod Brown for this roundtable, and to share everything we are doing in Washington to push for safer, fairer workplaces, livable wages, and everything else the UFCW fights for.”

Dawn Bowen, a Kroger grocery worker in Galloway and member of UFCW Local 1059: “As a mother and essential worker, I’ve faced so many challenges during this pandemic. My managers tried to get me to go to work, although my son tested positive for COVID-19, but my union had my back and helped me deal with the added stress of having to fight for the benefits I have earned. I urge Congress to pass the grant program for food workers in the reconciliation package to help us with the continued out-of-pocket expenses we have had during the pandemic.”

Melinda Edwards, a Kroger grocery worker in Cincinnati and a member of UFCW Local 75, said, “So many Ohio essential workers live paycheck to paycheck and they cannot afford to lose a day’s pay when they are sick. Many Ohio workers have been forced to take unpaid time off during the pandemic to care for a loved one. Working people like me face a real challenge when having to take unpaid leave to care for those we love. I am asking Congress to help Ohio working families by making sure the Build Back Better bill includes paid time off work in order to take care of our family during this ongoing pandemic.”

Christine Darrow, an Acme grocery worker in Parma and a member of UFCW Local 880, said, “As a single mom, I have to be very careful about how and where we spend our money. The Child Tax Credit has had a huge impact on my family, helping me provide more for my son. And I know the Child Tax Credit is helping families across Ohio provide for their children the life that they deserve. If this essential lifeline could be extended, that could make a big impact on our lives. Congress should make the Child Tax Credit permanent in order to help all Ohio working families.”

Bill Finnegan, a Campbell’s Soup plant worker in Napoleon and member of UFCW Local 75: “This past year has been an eye-opening experience as UFCW Local 75 has met with Ohio essential workers across the state. People need workplace protections, good wages, and fair schedules. I am asking Congress to ensure that the final budget reconciliation bill strengthens the right of Ohio workers to unionize so that worker voices can be heard and we can help make work better for all of America’s workers.”

BACKGROUND:

United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) has been a leading voice for Ohio essential workers in grocery stores, meatpacking plants, and many more frontline businesses throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. UFCW has helped to enact policies like the Child Tax Credit and strengthened pay and protections for essential workers across Ohio.

COVID WORKER IMPACT: UFCW recently confirmed that the COVID-19 Delta surge continues to impact essential workers in Ohio and across the country. Among the union’s members nationwide, there have now been at least: 

• 483 frontline worker deaths and at least 93, 900 frontline workers infected or exposed 
• 198 grocery worker deaths and at least 43,900 grocery workers infected or exposed 
• 132 meatpacking worker deaths and 22,400 meatpacking workers infected or exposed 
• 67 food processing worker deaths and 13,100 food processing workers infected or exposed

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United Food and Commercial Workers is the union for over 80,000 Ohio essential workers in food processing, grocery stores, meatpacking plants, and other frontline industries. To learn more about UFCW, go to www.ufcw.org/about. 

UFCW Local 663 and UFCW Local 9, the union for 3,100 Minnesota essential workers in the Austin area have been working together to advocate for frontline worker pay at the state capital to include food, retail and healthcare workers as well as meatpacking workers safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The following are excerpts of remarks by Minnesota meatpacking worker member Antonio Jimenez, a UFCW Local 663 member at the JBS pork processing plant in Worthington:

“In the spring of 2020, a COVID outbreak tore through my plant and I was one of the workers who got sick. I was out sick for weeks. I worried the whole time about passing the infection on to my children, family, and friends. My union provided me with information and resources so I could go on short-term disability. Most people I know have at least a couple friends who got COVID. In my plant, more than 50 percent of the workers got COVID. 

“While things have improved, COVID is still here in our community, and it’s still here for me, personally. I still struggle with the after-effects – lingering symptoms and fatigue. I support frontline worker pay for meatpacking workers because we have worked to keep this state fed and exposed ourselves and our families to extreme risk in doing so.”

Minnesota grocery worker Paul Swanson, a UFCW Local 663 member at Lunds & Byerlys grocery store in Wayzata, also testified, saying:

“The initial impact of COVID-19 for myself and my co-workers was the rush of customers during the hoarding phase. We went from doing regular business to three times the business overnight.

“A big impact was COVID protocols at work–if anyone had a covid exposure, you had to quarantine for 14 days without pay. This meant my coworkers who are part timers had no vacation and lost income. Those of us with vacation would have to choose to use vacation to be able to get a paycheck. COVID definitely created financial hardships for grocery store workers. Please include grocery workers as an eligible industry for frontline worker pay.”

UFCW Local 663 President Matt Utecht released the following statement:

“Minnesota’s grocery, meatpacking and healthcare workers did not sign-up to risk their lives, but they have been coming to work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and serving their communities. Our members, and all frontline workers deserve to be compensated for the extreme risk that they and their families face every day. Minnesota should use some of the federal COVID-19 funds to provide premium pay for essential frontline workers this year.”

BACKGROUND:

• In Minnesota, UFCW Local 663 represents more than 13,200 workers in retail grocery, meatpacking and food processing, healthcare, and other industries and UFCW Local 9 represents more than 3,100 workers in meatpacking and food processing, food manufacturing, and warehouse workers.

• Nationally, frontline workers with UFCW have been working and dying during this pandemic. Since March 2020, 482 UFCW frontline workers have died and 79,900 frontline UFCW workers have been infected or exposed to COVID-19. Given the lack of transparency from  grocery and meat packing and processing companies across these industries, experts estimate that COVID-19 worker infections and deaths are even higher.

• In Minnesota, we saw the devastating effects of COVID-19 in the meatpacking and processing plants and communities from Worthington and Austin where our Locals represent workers to St. Cloud and other parts of greater Minnesota for frontline employees in non-union workplaces. Workers were infected at work and brought it home to their families – some are still dealing with the lingering effects of COVID-19.

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UFCW Local 663 represents more than 13,200 hard-working retail, meatpacking and processing, food preparation and manufacturing, healthcare, and other workers in Minnesota and Iowa. It is the largest UFCW Local in the Midwest. We strive to improve the lives of our members and all working families by fighting for economic, political, and social justice in our workplaces and communities. UFCW Local 663 is part of the 1.3 million-member United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.

PITTSBURGH, PA – On July 21 and 22, Giant Eagle Team Members represented by UFCW Local 1776 overwhelmingly ratified a new four-year agreement that improves wages and benefits for Team Members who serve Pittsburgh area customers.  The new agreement covers approximately 5,300 current Team Members working in 35 corporate-owned Giant Eagle supermarket locations in western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. 

“Our members turned out to vote 90% in favor of this new agreement. I want to thank our bargaining committee for all their hard work negotiating a great agreement for our members,” said Local 1776 president Wendell Young IV, “This agreement increases wages across the board, strengthens retirement programs, and maintains the excellent health and welfare benefit our members have at zero dollar member contribution.”

Young continued, “I am very proud of the work our members did on this bargaining committee. We were able to keep the discussion going with the company and through collaboration and open dialogue and found solutions to important issues. Our members care deeply about the work they do, serving their communities and they appreciate the respect the company’s representatives showed them during this process.”  In addition to the increased wages and maintenance of health benefits, the new agreement also includes non-discrimination protections for gender, gender expression, and gender identity, an important protection for LGBTQ+ members.

“We very much appreciate the continued collaborative and innovative spirit that the UFCW Local 1776 leadership team and our Team Members on the bargaining committee brought to these negotiations,” said Giant Eagle Executive Vice President Bill Artman, “The ratification of this agreement by the Team Members it positively impacts is both very exciting and gratifying.” Artman continued, “This agreement demonstrates our appreciation of the exemplary work of our Team Members, particularly over the last 18 months, and it ensures that we continue to provide our communities with the highest quality of products and service.”  

UFCW Local 1776 serves workers in the grocery, retail, food manufacturing, health care and medical cannabis industries throughout Pennsylvania, the Ohio Valley and Hudson Valley, and is proud to be a voice for the 35,000 workers they represent. 

Giant Eagle is a Pittsburgh-based food, fuel, and pharmacy retailer with more than 470 locations across Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana, and Maryland.

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BROOKLYN CENTER, MN – Today, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) 663, the union for over 13,200 frontline food and retail workers in Minnesota and Iowa, announced a new union contract agreement. The new UFCW Local 663 deal guarantees that union grocery workers will fulfill Instacart orders at Jerry’s Foods, a grocery operator of Cub Foods, when a customer selects “pickup” in the app for their order at that store. This agreement applies to 14 stores in Minneapolis, Richfield, Bloomington,and across the western Twin Cities suburbs.

UFCW Local 663 President Matthew Utecht released the following statement:

“Grocery store workers continue to be on the frontlines of this pandemic and putting their health at risk to serve their communities. As the world has shifted to new realities, UFCW Local 663 members continue to be the backbone of essential foods and services our communities cannot live without having.

“It’s straightforward for UFCW Local 663 members to do the work inside of the store for online shopping and pickup. All our union members have guaranteed wages, minimum hours, benefits, and workplace protections because we fought for them collectively.

“It is fantastic that this new agreement establishes that only workers with these safeguards will be doing the online shopping work for supermarket pickup moving forward.”

Blanche Gulley, who has 17 years of experience in the grocery industry and whose current job duties include online shopping for pickup orders at Cub Foods in Chaska, MN, said:

“I’ve been doing online shopping since COVID hit last year. It’s important that this work is done by unionized workers because we are in the grocery industry and are the experts in customer service. I expect online shopping to continue to grow, even though COVID might be on the decline. It’s convenient for the customer, and it’s convenient for us because we are in the store to do the work.”

BACKGROUND:

The UFCW Local 663 Minnesota union grocery agreement follows the victory of Instacart workers that unionized with UFCW in the Chicago area last year; the union’s work as a leading voice calling out gig economy company efforts to automate grocery worker jobs and in the push to protect good-paying union jobs, and the union applauding recent Biden Administration action to address the predatory gig economy model hurting so many workers.

Before this agreement, in-store shopping was contracted out to non-union E-commerce workers with Instacart. Now, unionized workers are fulfilling the Instacart online grocery orders when in-store pickup is selected by the customer. These unionized workers will also have access to union benefits like wage rates, minimum hours, paid time off, and other benefits. In addition, some of the former Instacart workers accepted union positions and are now members of UFCW Local 663.

This success is also on the heels of other agreements that UFCW Local 663 and its members have secured, including:

• In Fall 2020, Jerry’s Foods reached an agreement in the previous UFCW Local 663 contract for union grocery workers to fulfill the Instacart online grocery orders when in-store pickup is selected by the customer.
• In Fall 2020, Cub Foods stores reached an agreement for union grocery workers to fulfill online grocery orders when in-store pickup is selected by customers. The UNFI Cub Foods contract is a 5-year contract that runs through March 2023.
• Similarly, Lund and Byerlys, another large Twin Cities unionized grocery chain, has all online grocery orders for in-store pickup fulfilled by UFCW Local 663 union grocery workers.

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UFCW Local 663 represents more than 13,200 hard-working retail, meatpacking and processing, food preparation and manufacturing, healthcare, and other workers in Minnesota and Iowa. It is the largest UFCW Local in the Midwest. We strive to improve the lives of our members and all working families by fighting for economic, political, and social justice in our workplaces and communities. UFCW Local 663 is part of the 1.3 million-member United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.

LOS ANGELES, CA – Today, United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW), the union for 141,000 California food and retail workers, announced that a new contract has been approved for 7,000 California frontline grocery workers at Food 4 Less and FoodsCo supermarkets throughout Southern and Central California. The UFCW union grocery workers voted overwhelmingly to approve the new Food 4 Less and FoodsCo contract this past week. 

UFCW 770, the local union for the Los Angeles-area grocery workers covered by the contract, announced that the new agreement is the best deal ever for Food 4 Less grocery workers across California. Here are key points in the new contract:

• Pay increases of up to $1.65 over the 3 years of the contract
• Match larger pay increases at Ralphs grocery stores in upcoming contract renewal
• Bonuses between $150-$500 for most workers
• Increase in guaranteed hours for part-time workers
• Additional vacation time for senior employees at each store
• Scholarship fund access for Food 4 Less workers that Ralphs workers already have
• Health and Safety Committee at every Food 4 Less grocery store to address COVID risks that have impacted both workers and shoppers. 

California Grocery Worker Blanca Padilla, who has worked at Food 4 Less for 30 years: “We’ve gone through a lot during this pandemic. This contract is pretty good and is a step in the right direction in our struggle to improve wages and benefits. Me and my coworkers will continue fighting to raise the standards at Food 4 Less. I’m also committed to joining my fellow grocery workers in the upcoming master food contract campaign with Kroger.”

California Grocery Worker Elena Gonzalez, a cashier at a Food 4 Less in Bell Gardens: “This is a good contract for Food 4 Less workers. We pushed to raise the bar  and won better pay and hours, and we will continue to fight for what we deserve, and for Kroger to recognize us as equal to Ralph’s workers. We also refused to allow the company to negatively affect our pension and healthcare benefits. As a covid survivor, these benefits are very important to me and my family.”

UFCW 770 Secretary Treasurer, Kathy Finn: “This contract fight has been historic and it is a workers’ victory. Food 4 Less members were actively engaged in the bargaining process. Despite all the challenges faced throughout the pandemic, UFCW 770 members were able to speak up about the changes that they needed to make. This contract is an important step towards our goal of reaching the kind of member participation and worker power necessary to achieve truly transformative contracts.”

BACKGROUND:

UFCW is the largest California labor union for frontline grocery workers and represents a total of 141,000 California workers statewide.

This new Food 4 Less contract covers approximately 7,000 grocery workers at nearly 100 grocery stores across 9 counties throughout California. These grocery workers are represented by the following local unions:

• UFCW Local 5 – in the San Francisco Bay Area
• UFCW Local 135 in the San Diego area
• UFCW Local 324 in the Orange County area
• UFCW Local 770 in Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties
• UFCW Local 1167 in the San Bernardino County area
• UFCW Local 1428 in the Claremont area
• UFCW Local 1442 in the Inglewood area
• UFCW Local 8-GS in the Central California region

UFCW 770 represents about 2,500 members in 37 stores in Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties.

The previous Food 4 Less contract expired in June of 2020 but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was extended until March 2021. UFCW local unions led negotiations for these 7,000 grocery workers and talks started on January 6, 2021.The new Food 4 Less contract will expire on June 8, 2024.

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UFCW Local 770 represents over 20,000 grocery workers in Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. Overall, the union represents roughly  31,000 members in the retail food, retail pharmacy, meatpacking and food processing, laboratory, and cannabis industries.