We’re trailblazing a better future at Festival Foods with a union
We, the workers at Festival Foods, are unionizing to fight for better working conditions. We unionized our first store last year in Madison, Wisconsin.
Now, we’re embracing strength in numbers to fight for a union contract that delivers better wages, healthcare, attendance policies, retirement plans, and more.
Our coworkers at our sister company, Schnuck’s, have already unionized and won strong contracts. Schnuck’s is owned by our larger parent company, The 1939 Group.
The 1939 Group knows how powerful we can be with a union — that’s why they’re trying so hard to convince us not to unionize. But it’s not up to them to decide what we can and can’t do as a group of united workers!
Read on to learn more about what we can win with a union.
And if you have questions about what managers are telling you about our union at your store, we’ve set the record straight in our FAQs.
What are my rights to unionize my workplace?
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Does Festival Foods Have a Union?
Our coworkers in Madison, WI, voted yes to unionize last July. Now, they’re negotiating for a first contract that sets a new bar for working conditions, pay, and benefits at Festival. The more of us who join them from different stores, the more negotiating power we all have to improve our company in the long run.
What is a Union Authorization Card and what is its purpose?
Local 1473 asks that you sign an Authorization card so we can prove to the National Labor Relations Board that we in fact have enough interest from a bargaining unit to file for a Union Election.
If I vote yes for a Union, when will I have to start paying union dues?
Union dues start the month following a union contract being ratified, voting yes, by the members inside your company.
There’s a lot of false info about union dues out there, especially on Festival’s site, but you can get the facts about dues by checking out UFCW’s “Union Mythbusting” series here!
How much are Union dues at Local 1473?
Local 1473’s Union dues are set by the membership. The membership voted in 2024 to have the following dues structure: two times your hourly rate or two times the per capita rate, currently $16.04, whichever is higher per month. If you make less than $16.04 per hour, your monthly dues payment would be $32.08 per month.
Are there initiation fees or other monetary obligations if I vote yes for a Union?
No. The Union does charge an initiation fee of $25.00, broken down into ten payments of $2.50, for anyone hired after a union contract is voted in by the members. This fee is waived for anyone who is working in the location when the first contract is reached.
If I vote yes for a Union, will I have to go on strike?
A strike is only authorized by two-thirds of the union members or employees in a company that has recently organized voting yes to a strike. In a newly organized company, only people who have signed an authorization card would have the right to vote yes or no for a strike.
Local 1473, under President Bailey’s leadership, has never actually been on strike. The membership in four different locations has authorized a strike but never had to actually strike. The membership has always been successful in remedying the issue that caused the members to authorize the strike.
What’s the relationship between Schnuck’s and Festival Foods?
Our parent company, the 1939 group, owns a chain called Schnuck’s too. Schnucks workers have unionized at over 65 stores, and they’ve won significant improvements that make it easier to thrive in our industry. There’s no reason we can’t do the same at Festival Foods!
Recently, Schnucks grocery workers reached a historic, three-year contract that delivers industry-leading healthcare, a strong pension plan, and guaranteed raises over the course of the contract.
How can I get involved with starting a union at Festival Foods?
Fill out the form below to get in contact with us! Trained UFCW organizers will help you put together a plan for your store, and you can connect with us here at the Madison store to hear about our experience, too.
Hear from our members
“People should be able to live off the work they do. Work should feel welcoming and enjoyable, instead of making people feel like a cog in the company’s machine. Unionizing protects those values, and that is why I supported my coworkers in forming our own union at Festival Foods.”
— Shannon
“Management demoted hundreds of loyal employees without giving them a reason or any meaningful recourse. My coworkers did not deserve that. That is one of the many reasons I chose to stand with my coworkers and unionize Festival Foods.”
— Gloria
“The reason I support our Union is that here’s always someone to talk to, and I don’t feel alone on the job.”
— Nari
“I’ve been here for 4.5+ Years, I enjoy the job and routine I have got going on, and I would like that protected.”
— Jordan
“Now I am very supported and protected during conversations with higher-ups. Nothng’s gone wrong yet, but it’s nice to have our Union if something does go wrong. I feel like there’s something to fall back on, and people to talk to about concerns; there’s great connectivity, and I can keep up-to-date on daily happenings in the group chat!”
— Piper
“I’m hoping for more consistent hours, more PTO, and equal pay. Nothing too crazy besides addressing inconsistent hours.”
— Buddy
“I am tired of the big bosses making all the decisions without consulting employee, and making things way worse.”
— Sam
“I have been here a long time and only AFTER the workers got together and formed our Union that management addressed one of our biggest safety concern and closed the liquor department store entrance! Thank You, UFCW!”
— Andrew
Ready to make Festival Foods better with us? Have questions? Fill out the form to learn more about our union.
Management at Festival Foods has talked a lot about union authorization cards, but this form is NOT one of those. Your information is only used so we can get in touch with you to talk more about your experience at Festival Foods and answer your questions about our union.
What We’re Fighting For
Through starting a union, we earn the right to negotiate a union contract that spells out our pay, benefits, and working conditions in writing.
Some of the top issues that our coworkers in Madison want to address include:
Wages that are enough to live on if you’re working full time, and fair pay for part-timers that helps them make Festival the perfect side job.
Better attendance policies that don’t unfairly punish those of us who rely on public transit to get to work.
Guaranteed 401k contributions for all Festival employees, along with better discretionary contribution rates.
Healthcare plans with low premiums and better coverage for part-timers.
A voice in the decisions that impact our stores.
Fair grievance procedures so we always have a chance to stand up for ourselves, instead of having to do what the company wants.
If you feel like something is missing from this list, reach out to us using the form above and we can talk about your ideas for improving Festival!
What Have Festival Workers in Madison Won With Their Union?
Even though we haven’t finalized our entire union contract here in Madison, we’ve already agreed with the company on some big improvements that make it easier for us to do our jobs:
- Better wages for some front-end workers
- More power to assert our Weingarten rights under federal labor law
- Required sensitivity training for managers, and better protection from harassment and retaliation
- Company investigations into understaffing and other operations issues
- Justice for workers who were fired unfairly
- Adjustments to company-wide attendance policy at all stores, union and non-union