UFCW Women
Jeanette Rucker
Jeanette Rucker of Local 1099 has worked at Kroger in urban Cincinnati for over three decades. She works as a file maintenance clerk helping the store run smoothly by making sure store prices are up to date and accurate. Over the years, she’s witnessed a lot of changes in the store and the neighborhood, but says she has “loved every minute of it.”
Rucker’s love for her community is apparent. She participates in many local events and has been an active member of the UFCW for close to 25 years. She helps with the annual African American Book Fair, the Black Family Reunion, and is a member of UFCW Women’s Network.
On February 25, 2008, Rucker had the opportunity to meet Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) when he spoke at the University of Cincinnati. She stood up before a crowd of 13,000 and introduced his speech.
“That really inspired me because looking out across the audience, he had united white, black, old and young. He was reaching out to everyone,” she says.
Rucker is a pro at reaching out to people. With the help of local union leadership, she started an annual Labor Gospel Concert to benefit research and relief for sickle-cell anemia. The concert has been a huge success and is in its third year.
“Last year, we raised over $5,000. We hope to double that this year,” says Rucker.
The Labor Gospel Concert is a community-wide event and brings together over 500 people and six choirs from the surrounding area. From the food to the venue, everything that goes into the concert is donated by community members and organizations.
“It’s a blessing for me to be able to do outreach. It’s a great opportunity to reach out to the community whether they are union or not.” she says. “People come to these events and they learn about us and who we are.”
“It’s not about me,” Rucker continues. “Over everything else, I’m a union member. And whatever the union needs me to do, that’s what I do.”
Rucker remembers how she first got involved with the UFCW those 25 years ago. “I went to a meeting and was like, wow. And I’ve been involved ever since.”
Rucker says she is grateful for her job of 32 years, but is most grateful for the union. “With a union, I know no one can step over me,” she says. “Even with contracts, they are looking down the road for me and watching out for me and I know I do have a voice. And that’s what a union is about: having a voice.”
She urges young people to see what is going on in their communities and not to be afraid of getting involved. “Come out and listen and see what is going on. This is your future -- you can make a living in retail with a union. Stand up and speak out, because tomorrow is you.”
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