As seen in the Unity: Winter 2023 – President’s Report. See past copies of the Unity here.

Organizing is key to the survival of the Labor Movement

Organizing — bringing new workers into the union — is the foundation of the Labor Movement and a top priority for us at UFCW Local 152.

The bigger we are, the stronger we become at the bargaining table, and that strength is reflected in stronger contracts that raise the living standards of young workers and veterans alike.

This commitment to organizing starts at the local level, but it can’t end there. As we prepare for the UFCW International Convention in April, now is the time for the UFCW as a whole to expand and re-energize its organizing efforts.

The time is now

Now is an opportune time to organize. Three years into the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans are rethinking every aspect of their jobs and job prospects, and many workers in the retail, manufacturing, service, and warehouse sectors are awakening to the benefits and security offered by a union contract.

We also have a pro-union president in the White House, one who is actively encouraging union organizing through his words and actions. In the past, the best we could expect from the executive branch was a neutral stance on unions, if not outright hostility.

The time to act is now. If we sit still, non-union employers with lower wages and inferior benefits will continue to cut into the business of union stores and hurt our ability to negotiate the best possible labor agreements.

Talk to your friends and family who are not protected by a union contract about the benefits of being a union member. Contact your union representative if you know of a workplace where the workers have an interest in better wages, job security, and better working conditions. Direct your friends and family to our website to learn more about unionizing.

They need us and we need them.

We mustn’t take this moment for granted!

— President Brian String

Read past Messages, or learn more about President Brian String.