United Food and Commercial Workers

The United Food and Commercial Workers is a labor union representing approximately 1.3 million workers in many industries, including health care, meatpacking, poultry and food processing, manufacturing, textile and chemical trades, and retail food. The UFCW was the fourth largest union in the AFL-CIO in 1997.

History

The UFCW was created through the merger of the meat cutters and retail clerks unions in 1979. The UFCW expanded by merging with several smaller unions between 1980 and 1998.

2003 California grocery strike

On October 11, 2003, the UFCW declared a strike on Vons (owned by Safeway Inc), in Southern California, because of drastic changes in the new proposed labor contract. These changes include cuts in health care and pension benefits, and the creation of a two-tier wage. The day following the strike, Albertsons and Ralphs (owned by Kroger's) locked out their Southern California employees.

External resources

• United Food and Commercial Workers
• REAP
• UFCW Moblog

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