{"id":44682,"date":"2021-07-08T16:41:50","date_gmt":"2021-07-08T16:41:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ufcw.org\/?p=44682"},"modified":"2021-07-08T16:44:00","modified_gmt":"2021-07-08T16:44:00","slug":"minnesota-union-grocery-workers-boost-pay-safety-protections-in-new-contracts-as-covid-risks-continue-for-essential-workers-on-frontlines-of-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ufcw.org\/minnesota-union-grocery-workers-boost-pay-safety-protections-in-new-contracts-as-covid-risks-continue-for-essential-workers-on-frontlines-of-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"Minnesota Union Grocery Workers Boost Pay, Safety Protections in New Contracts As COVID Risks Continue for Essential Workers on Frontlines of Pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Minnesota Union for Over 13,200 Frontline Food and Retail Workers Announce Major Worker Victories in Contracts for Grocery Workers Statewide <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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BROOKLYN CENTER, MN<\/strong> \u2013 Today, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) 663<\/strong><\/a>, the union for<\/strong> over 13,200 frontline food and retail workers in Minnesota <\/strong>and Iowa, announced new agreements<\/strong> with top grocery chains across the state<\/strong> to strengthen pay<\/strong>, expand benefits<\/strong>, and improve protections <\/strong>for 6,000 Minnesota grocery workers<\/strong> throughout the western Twin Cities metro area<\/strong> as part of new two-year union contracts<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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UFCW Local 663 negotiated union contracts include<\/strong>: Jerry\u2019s Foods<\/a> and Jerry\u2019s Cub Foods<\/a>, Kowalski\u2019s Markets<\/a>, Lunds & Byerlys<\/a>, Haug\u2019s Cub Foods<\/a>, Oxendale\u2019s Market<\/a>, Knowlan\u2019s Festival Foods<\/a>, Almsted\u2019s Fresh Market<\/a>, Radermacher\u2019s Cub Foods<\/a>, Driskill\u2019s Downtown Market<\/a>, Mound Jubilee Foods<\/a>, King\u2019s County Market in Andover<\/a>, Everett\u2019s Foods<\/a>, Cooper’s Foods<\/a>, and Ingebretsen\u2019s Scandinavian Gifts<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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UFCW Local 663 President Matthew Utecht served as lead union negotiator<\/strong>: \u201cI am proud of what our union members achieved for their coworkers at the bargaining table. When faced with adversity, our union shows true grit and determination. The union contracts that workers voted on and accepted elevate not only our union members\u2019 wages, benefits and workplace protections, they raise the entire grocery industry in the Twin Cities. Day after day, brave grocery store workers throughout Minnesota continue to work through these incredibly challenging times. Our union has a place for anyone that wants to build a better life by reaching together for higher wages, benefits and more workplace protections.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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UFCW Local 663 negotiations began in January 2021<\/strong> and ran through Spring 2021, with union members voting on their respective contracts as they were completed and recommended by their union bargaining committee members who negotiated with their employers. This year\u2019s negotiations largely took place in person, masked and at a social distance in large conference rooms due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Minneapolis Grocery Worker Courtney Huber at Cub Foods<\/strong>: \u201cAs essential workers, we\u2019ve been through a lot, and continue to serve on the front lines. Our new contracts recognize this. Our wage increases alone demonstrate the power we have when we come together as a union to fight for what we deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Richfield Grocery Worker Jesslynn Phillips at Lunds & Byerlys<\/strong>: \u201cWe all have a responsibility to lift each other up. We came to agreements that improve part-time positions with better wages and benefits. As a single mom, that makes it easier to provide for my family.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Key Points in New UFCW 663 Minnesota Grocery Worker Contracts<\/u><\/strong>:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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