January, 2013

UFCW Stewards, UFCW Values, Uncategorized

The UFCW Mourns the Loss of Wendell W. Young III, Influential Labor Leader

Jan 03, 2013

Wendell W. Young III

We are saddened to hear of the passing of Wendell W. Young III, president emeritus of Local 1776 and longtime Pennsylvania labor leader.

Starting at the age of 16 as a part time clerk at the Acme market in Philadelphia, Mr. Young dedicated his life to the labor movement. As a young clerk, with his father serving as his inspiration to get involved with the store’s union, Mr. Young was soon elected shop steward by his co-workers.

His influence as a labor leader spread quickly and by age 22 Mr. Young became the business agent of Retail Clerks Local 1357 which had 5,000 members at the time, then a year later was elected local president, making him one of the youngest labor leaders in the state’s history.

Throughout Mr. Young’s 43-year tenure, the union’s bargaining unit grew from only representing clerks in Philadelphia to advocating for 24,000 workers in the region and across Pennsylvania. Under Mr. Young, the union grew to represent other industrys as well and became more diverse.

Mr. Young will be remembered for the great work he did as a job creator and innovative negotiator.  He was a key player in the creation of Super Fresh Markets and a creative employee stock ownership bid that saved Acme Markets and thousands of jobs throughout the region.

To read more about the impact that Mr. Young had on the labor movement, click here.

 

Retail, UFCW Industries, Uncategorized, Walmart

The Momentum of the Walmart Workers Movement in 2012 and its Future in 2013

Jan 02, 2013

2012 was a big year for OUR Walmart, Making Change at Walmart, and supporters of Walmart workers who are fed up with being retaliated against when speaking out on the job. Protests, walk-outs, strikes, and other actions caught the attention of the national media and other low-wage workers across the country, and Walmart is on the defense.

With the momentum of the Walmart worker movement, the new year has the potential to see great changes in the labor sector. Walmart, who is largely responsible for the downward spiral in worker’s wages across the retail industry, has the potential to reverse that trend, thanks to its sheer size and influence on retail everywhere. If Walmart listens to its workers, and changes its ways for the better, our country’s economy will benefit greatly, and staggering wage inequality will be reduced.

By utilizing social media, and new labor strategies, these workers have become a force to be reckoned with. Instead of waiting for the government or Walmart to help them change working conditions, workers got together themselves and organized to create a unified voice for Walmart associates. A core group of workers have stood strong against obstacles to the movement, and are continuing to gain supporters and followers, from walmart workers to community allies.

But workers cannot change a system of low wages and poor working conditions alone. So with the new year, OUR Walmart is planning to focus on educating politicians and elected officials about their cause, and creating communities that will stand behind their working fellows.

To read more about the movement, check out the In These Times article.