Local 881 joined the UFCW in 1981, but has a long and proud history of representing workers since 1947.
By 1939, self-service supermarkets with an average of five to seven employees began opening all over. As self-service grew more acceptable and popular, the staff of some food stores rose to as many as 25, with full-timers supplemented by part-time help. The need for collective bargaining and representation soon became apparent, and Unions assumed the role of a stabilizing force in the food industry.
In 1947, Local 881's predecessor established itself as an independent Labor Union called the Jewel Food Store Employees Union (JFSEU). In 1957, the JFSEU was renamed the United Retail Workers Union (URW) to confirm its independence. Later, the URW organized Eisner Food Stores in Central Illinois, creating what was then known as Local 595 of the URW. The staff at this time was only 12 people strong, but growing.
The mid-1960s brought more major changes to the retail food industry and, as a result, store employees sought out the URW for representation. Though the 1960s were stable years for the Union, the URW continued to strive to achieve more for its members. As the 1970s approached, membership grew to 6,000, the staff was expanded and a non-foods division was created.
In August 1981, the URW affiliated with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) to become Local 881. The numbers 8-8-1 represent the URW's official charter date (August of 1981) as a UFCW Local Union.
In 1983, Ronald E. Powell became President of Local 881. Ron was a member while employed at Jewel and was hired by the Union in 1961 as a Union Representative. He rose to become Supervisor of the Field Staff in 1968, Vice President/Director of Field Operations in 1973, and later served as Secretary-Treasurer. Today, in addition to leading Local 881, Ron is also a Vice President on the UFCW International Executive Board, and a Vice President of the Illinois State AFL-CIO.
In 1986, members of Springfield UFCW Local 1696 voted to merge into Local 881, as did Wood River UFCW Local 35 and Collinsville UFCW Local 219 in 1987. By this point, membership had climbed to nearly 30,000.
On November 1, 1989, Local 881 became the largest UFCW Local Union in the United States and Canada when Chicago's UFCW Local 1550 merged into Local 881. This brought our membership total to over 40,000. Local 881 members now work and/or reside throughout Northern Illinois (including the metropolitan and suburban Chicago area), Northwest Indiana, Central and Southern Illinois, and some parts of Missouri and Kentucky. We represent members employed by supermarket chains and independent grocery stores, bakery shops, drug stores, paint and hardware stores, financial institutions, health care facilities and nursing homes, barbers and cosmeticians, eye care centers, stores that sell auto parts, flowers, meat and a wide variety of other retail, service and professional areas.
