On Oct. 18, animal caregivers, customer service representatives, and veterinary technicians at the Delaware Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in Newark, Del., joined UFCW Local 27 for the better wages and benefits that come with a union contract. UFCW Local 27 represents workers at the Delaware Humane Association in Wilmington, and the two nonprofit organizations merged in September to form the Humane Animal Partners, Delaware, which is located in the former Delaware SPCA location on Stanton Cristiana Road in Newark.
Through union contract negotiations with the Delaware Humane Association, the parties agreed to give the employees of the Delaware SPCA the opportunity to join the existing bargaining unit. Union Representatives met with the Delaware SPCA workers to explain the benefits of union membership that Delaware Humane Association employees have enjoyed for years and signed them up. This new unit of workers was certified through a confidential card check by the Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service.
“We’re very happy that these workers chose to be represented by UFCW Local 27,” said UFCW Local 27 President Jason Chorpenning. “I’m very proud to welcome them to our union family, and they will now enjoy the benefits of the current collective bargaining agreement. I also want to congratulate the organizing team for a job well done.”