Union Roots for Senior Activist

February 25, 2005

Jackie Corbett reunites with UFCW Executive Vice President and Director of Organizing Bill McDonough, who met Jackie while organizing her workplace at Jordan Marsh in 1977.

Her latest movement brings her to Washington, D.C., to speak to her state congressman on behalf of the Silver-Haired Congress, a group devoted to lobbying for important senior issues. Her activism doesn’t end here—she is also a member of several org­­anizations, such as the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW), UFCW Retirees Club and the AFL-CIO’s Alliance of Retired Workers.  In addition, she remains active in her Local 1445 union.

Corbett’s union roots--dating back to the 1970’s--have led her to continue fighting for her voice and the voices of others.   Her husband's infuence as a union member led her to become involved in organizing a union at her workplace, a Jordan Marsh department store in the small industrial city of Malden, Mass. 

It was 1977 when Corbett first became acquainted with UFCW, which helped organize workers into getting a union at her store.  The downtown Boston location was under union contract, and the workers at Corbett’s location needed similar improvements in benefits and wages.  Having worked there for seven years, Corbett became a key organizer in fighting for a voice on the job.  Though the workers didn’t win union representation at Jordan Marsh, the desire to fight for worker rights stayed with Corbett.  The store eventually closed down, and Corbett quickly sought a union job.  She was hired at Bradley’s department store, a UFCW Local 1445 shop, and worked there for 15 years until she retired.

Corbett began fighting for women’s rights and workers’ rights, but now lobbies for issues that affect senior citizens as well--such as strengthening social security and health care.  As a widow of a union worker, she feels blessed to still receive her husband’s union pension and health benefits on top of her own retiree benefits.  Jackie Corbett understands that others aren’t as fortunate, and is concerned that without pressure and activism like hers, these critical programs and other rights will continue to wither away under the current administration.