Decent Quality of life
- Living Wage- Earning a living wage is essential. However, many Americans are stuck in low-paying jobs that don’t compensate families enough to even put enough food on the table. UFCW was an early supporter of Senator Harkin and Representative Miller’s legislation to increase the national minimum wage to $9.80/hour, the “Fair Minimum Wage Act” (S3453/HR6211) and continues to actively bargain for wages that workers can sustain themselves with.
- Workplace Safety- The UFCW has consistently challenged not only our employers to hold high safety standards, but the government agencies responsible for enforcing our health and safety laws.
- UFCW is leading the effort to demand sufficient data on the health impact of increased line speeds in poultry plants on workers.
- As a result of pressure from UFCW, the USDA made plants that want to participate in the Salmonella Initiative Project provide access to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) for the purpose of gathering worker safety data.
- While OSHA exists to protect workers, there are major gaps and weaknesses in job safety laws and even larger gaps in the practical application of them. We continue to push for better OSHA regulations, including advocating on behalf of workers to move the combustible dust rule into the implementation phase.
- Fought efforts to lower wage standards for H-2B guest workers
Dignified Retirement
Recent News
May 16, 2013 Last week, UFCW Local 455 Kroger clerks and meat cutters ratified a new three-year contract that improves healthcare benefits, increases wages, and preserves pensions. The new contract covers more than 13,000 Kroger clerk and meat workers, including part-time workers, in the Houston area. “The wage improvements are great,” said Kroger associate Lenda Cadoree. “These hard [...] May 13, 2013 Washington, DC- Today, the Making Change at Walmart campaign and its coalition partners announced the launch of a new website www.ReallyWalmart.org. The website, which showcases a number of video interviews of Walmart employees, community activists, environmentalists and others sharing their experiences with and concerns about Walmart, comes on the heels of Walmart launching a new multimillion-dollar [...] May 9, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. — The UFCW yesterday released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1406, the inappropriately named Working Families Flexibility Act of 2013 which would take money out of the pockets of America’s hourly workers. “Anytime House Republicans talk about flexibility, working families should reach for their wallets. H.R. 1406 is [...] May 1, 2013 UFCW Local 1776 members who work in 16 Greater Philadelphia area ShopRite supermarkets have ratified new two-year labor contracts. The agreements provide for wage increases and maintain healthcare, other benefits, and pensions. The contracts cover 2,300 ShopRite workers. Members have worked for nearly a year under an extension of their previous contract that expired last [...] May 1, 2013 UFCW’s political action committee, the Active Ballot Club (ABC), has launched its 2013 contest. By supporting worker friendly candidates and issues at the federal, state, and local level, ABC helps workers and their families win the respect that they deserve on and off the job. From increasing the minimum wage to improving workplace safety to [...] April 26, 2013 ONTARIO, Calif. – Javier Rodriguez, a leader for change inside Walmart’s contracted warehouses in Southern California, was fired yesterday from his job as a forklift driver. Rodriguez, along with Warehouse Workers United, filed formal federal charges today to protest the illegal firing. “Walmart is committed to one thing, looking the other way when workers in [...] April 25, 2013 Thousands of Americare workers from UFCW Local 348-S in New York City ratified a new contract in an overwhelming city-wide vote on Saturday. The new contract includes a new system that ensures worker seniority when it assigns cases. Members also have improved bereavement leave and secured leave for union stewards. Americare home health aides take [...] April 19, 2013 A group of Guitar Center workers are standing up to Bain Capital to demand their rights to come together with their co-workers to fight for better wages and working conditions. Workers at the world’s largest musical instrument retailer are standing together for their rights in New York City and other areas across the country. Guitar [...] April 19, 2013 By now, most of us have heard of Sheryl Sandberg’s (COO of Facebook) controversial book entitled “Lean In”, which, among other things, coaches women to negotiate for higher pay in the workplace. The problem? While Sandberg’s advice may be sound for women who are nearly at or are employed in top positions, her advice to [...] April 19, 2013 This week, two grocery store workers traveled from Richmond, VA all the way to Amsterdam in the Netherlands in the name of workers’ rights. Shaquana Battle and George Miles both work for Martin’s Food Markets, which, along with Giant Food, Peapod, and Stop & Shop, is owned by the Dutch company Royal Ahold NV. The [...]UFCW Local 455 Kroger Members Ratify New Three-Year Contract
Walmart Associates, Community Supporters Launch New Website www.ReallyWalmart.org
UFCW Statement on House Bill Attacking Hourly Workers
UFCW Local 1776 ShopRite Workers Ratify New Contracts
2013 ABC Contest
Warehouse Workers, Community Organizations Call on Walmart to Stop Retaliatory Firings in Contracted Warehouse
UFCW Local 348-S Americare Workers Ratify New Contract
Guitar Center Workers Stand Up for Their Rights to Join RWDSU
“Leaning In” Leaves Out Many Women Workers
A Trip Across the Pond to Protect Workers Rights In America