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Showing our PRIDE​

March with Local 881 at the Chicago Pride Parade on June 26, 2022!

Every year Local 881 participates in the Chicago Pride Parade. Pride is a day to enjoy, but, it is also an important day to show our unity, stand up for equality, human rights, and fairness at work and in our communities.

Whether you identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community or consider yourself an ally, all members of Local 881 are welcome to join us at the Parade. Please note, space on the float is limited, so come prepared to walk if needed!

Please sign up and we will email you the meeting location details as they become available.

 

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Illinois General Assembly Passes Historic Protections for Essential Retail Workers

Springfield, IL – Local 881 United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) was successful in getting the Illinois General Assembly to pass first of its kind protections for essential retail workers who are attacked on the job during the COVID-19 public health pandemic.

SB471, which passed the Illinois House 95-10 and the Illinois Senate 47-3, now heads to the Governor’s desk for his signature and would become effective immediately. Motivated by representing over 34,000 frontline retail workers who are increasingly reporting customer assaults while on the job, Local 881 UFCW amended the Criminal Code to ensure:

    • When the Governor or Mayor of a municipality declares a state of emergency, and for six months after, the battery of a merchant is aggravated battery when the merchant is performing his or her duties, including, but not limited to, relaying directions for healthcare or safety from his or her supervisor or employer or relaying health or safety guidelines, recommendations, regulations, or rules from a federal, State, or local public health agency.

As public health officials including the Center for Disease Control, Illinois Department of Public Health, and the Chicago Department of Public Health, have mandated masks to be worn when in public, to abide by social distancing in public spaces like grocery stores, and while many retailers have imposed the same policies and enacted some store limits on in-demand products, it has increasingly fallen to frontline workers to enforce government and company mandates. Unfortunately, that has led to a sharp and alarming increase in assaults on retail workers from customers.  Examples of that in Illinois and nationally have been covered here, here, and here.

Applauding the passage of SB471, Local 881 UFCW President Steven Powell, offered the following statement:

“Passage of SB471 is a victory for retail workers in Illinois. On behalf of the over 34,000 members of Local 881 UFCW, who continue to staff the frontlines of the Coronavirus pandemic, keeping our communities and families fed and medicated, we thank the Illinois General Assembly for acting quickly to pass the bill we crafted to provide meaningful protections for workers who face the brunt of customer panic and frustrations during disasters.

As we have all witnessed, grocery stores have become chaotic environments for both customers and workers. Unfortunately, some customers have not been acting in a safe and responsible manner and have put our member’s safety and physical wellbeing in jeopardy. Each day, across thousands of shifts, our members encounter hundreds of thousands of shoppers as they continue to staff grocery and retail stores across our state. It is no surprise then that our members are so adamant that customers abide by reasonable health guidelines so that they can protect themselves, their co-workers, their families, and the wider community. They should be able to do so without fear of retaliation and physical harm.

Not only do workers in this vulnerable position face the threat of exposure by being in close proximity to customers ignoring rules of social distancing or refusing to wear masks, they at times, have also faced the wrath of customer’s frustrations, with an alarming increase of reports of physical attack, and in one terrible case in Michigan ending in a loss of life. Without companies stepping up to provide necessary crowd control or security officers to enforce store and government mandates before a customer enters, this new law will help hold individuals accountable for assaulting retail workers who are just trying to do their job and keep everyone safe.

Special thanks and sincere gratitude go to all the supporters of the bill, but especially the sponsors and key advocates including Senators Kimberly Lightford, Elgie Sims, and Ram Villivalam; along with Representatives Jay Hoffman and Marcus Evans. Our members honor their continued dedication to working families.”

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Local 881 UFCW represents 34,000 members employed in retail food and drug stores throughout Illinois and Northwest Indiana, as well as a professional division comprised of health and nursing home workers, barbers and cosmetologists, and workers in other retail and service industries.  Among the companies under contract with Local 881 are Jewel Food Stores, Osco Drug, Mariano’s Fresh Market, CVS Pharmacy, Kroger, Schnucks, and many smaller chains and independent stores, as well as nursing homes and other business establishments. Local 881 is among the largest affiliates of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, which represents 1.3 million members in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
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Local 881 UFCW Endorses Joe Biden for President

Des Plaines, IL – Local 881 of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) formally announced its endorsement today of Joe Biden for President of the United States.

In announcing the support of the 34,000-member Union, Steven M. Powell, President of Local 881 and UFCW International Vice President, stated:

“Another four years of the Trump Administration would be a disaster for working people. It is critical that our next President be a friend to workers and an advocate for Unions. We believe Joe Biden is the best candidate to help our members and lead our nation. Joe Biden has been an advocate for our Local Union, has a great track record of putting working families first, and is committed to strengthening the rights of Union workers. He has developed a specific plan to help increase unionization, prevent employers from hindering the organizing efforts of workers, and protect collective bargaining rights. We strongly believe that Joe Biden is the best candidate to defeat Trump and will provide leadership that puts workers first. We are proud to give him our endorsement.”

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Local 881 UFCW represents 34,000 members employed in retail food and drug stores throughout Illinois and Northwest Indiana, cannabis workers in Illinois, as well as a professional division comprised of health and nursing home workers, barbers and cosmetologists, and workers in other retail and service industries. Among the companies under contract with Local 881 are Jewel Food Stores, Osco Drug, Mariano’s, CVS Pharmacy, Kroger, Schnucks, Conagra Brands, and many smaller chains and independent stores, as well as nursing homes and other business establishments. Local 881 is among the largest affiliates of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, which represents 1.3 million members in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

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A Victory for Chicago Workers: Earned Sick Leave Ordinance Passes 48-0

Over 450,000 Chicago Workers will gain access to Earned Sick Leave

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – Applauding the unanimous passage of the Earned Sick Leave ordinance, which will extend earned sick leave to over 450,000 workers in Chicago, Local 881 United Food and Commercial Workers President, Ron Powell, offered the following statement:

“On behalf of the 8,000 hardworking members of Local 881 UFCW who live and work in every neighborhood of Chicago, I commend the 48 supportive voting members of the Chicago City Council for passing the Earned Sick Leave Ordinance. In 2015, voters in every ward of Chicago overwhelmingly supported extending earned sick leave to working families who are one flu season away from losing their job and economic hardship. We are pleased today that the City Council listened to the working people of Chicago! This is a historic step for our city and a victory for workers and our communities.

It has been our privilege to be a founding member of the Earned Sick Time Chicago Coalition, a partnership of community, public health, faith, women’s advocacy, and labor organizations that worked together to raise awareness of this issue. The Coalition has worked tirelessly with sponsors of the ordinance and members of the Working Families Taskforce to see this through. Our heartfelt thanks and sincere gratitude goes to Alderman Foulkes (16th), who is a proud former member of Local 881 UFCW, along with Aldermen Pawar (47th) and Moreno (1st). We have been grateful for your dedication and commitment to working families.”

As one of the leading private sector unions, with members employed in retail food and drug stores throughout Chicago, Local 881 UFCW has a strong interest in ensuring that earned sick leave is a right extended to all members of the working public, not just to our members who collectively bargain to be able to take a day off if they need to visit the doctor. Bottom line, offering a minimum of five earned sick days to workers throughout Chicago will help boost the local economy and is the compassionate thing to do.

Today, city leaders took a historic step by voting to pass an ordinance that guarantees all workers the right to earn paid sick time. Chicago joins a number of cities, counties and states across the country debating and enacting similar standards. The decision will most dramatically benefit the city’s private sector workers, 42 percent of whom currently do not have access to a single sick day, according to a poll from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research.

Ordinance Details:

    • Takes effect July 1, 2017
    • Applies to businesses of all sizes
    • Employees can earn one hour of sick time for every 40 hours worked, up to 40 hours a year
    • Can begin using sick time after being with an employer at least 6 months
    • Can use leave for employee’s or family member’s illness or medical appointments; because of domestic or sexual violence; and due to a public health emergency business or school closure

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Local 881 UFCW represents 34,000 members employed in retail food and drug stores throughout Illinois and Northwest Indiana, as well as a professional division comprised of health and nursing home workers, barbers and cosmetologists, and workers in other retail and service industries.  Among the companies under contract with Local 881 are Jewel Food Stores, Osco Drug, Mariano’s Fresh Market, CVS Pharmacy, Kroger, Schnucks, Pinnacle Foods, and many smaller chains and independent stores, as well as nursing homes and other business establishments. Local 881 is among the largest affiliates of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, which represents 1.3 million members in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
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Local 881 UFCW Applauds Introduction of Earned Sick Leave Ordinance

Over 450,000 Workers in Chicago are depending on City Council Passing Earned Sick

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – Applauding the introduction of the Earned Sick Leave ordinance, which will extend earned sick leave to over 450,000 workers in Chicago, Local 881 United Food and Commercial Workers President, Ron Powell, offered the following statement:

“On behalf of the 8,000 hardworking members of Local 881 UFCW who live and work in every neighborhood of Chicago, I commend the sponsors of today’s ordinance and the members of the Working Families Taskforce for their hard work and leadership over the past nine months. Deserving special thanks, sponsor Alderman Foulkes (16th), who is a proud former member of Local 881 UFCW, along with Aldermen Pawar (47th) and Moreno (1st), have our sincere gratitude for fighting on behalf of the 450,000 workers in Chicago who currently lack earned sick leave.”

It is our hope that the Chicago City Council extends earned sick leave to Chicago’s workers as soon as possible. In 2015, voters in every ward in Chicago overwhelmingly supported extending earned sick leave to working families who are one flu season away from losing their job and economic hardship. Let’s get this done for working people and have Chicago lead the Midwest by supporting a basic lifeline for the middle class.”

As the Working Families Taskforce report highlighted, 42% of Chicago private sector workers—almost half—do not have access to a single sick day. As one of the leading private sector unions, with members employed in retail food and drug stores throughout Chicago, Local 881 UFCW has a strong interest in ensuring that earned sick leave is a right extended to all members of the working public, not just to our members who collectively bargain to be able to take a day off if they need to visit the doctor.

Local 881’s private sector partners in management agree that earned sick leave leads to a better work environment since job retention is improved and employees don’t lose pay, and spending capacity in the economy, when having to care for a sick loved one or themselves. Bottom line, offering a minimum of five earned sick days to workers throughout Chicago will help boost the local economy and is the compassionate thing to do.

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Local 881 UFCW represents 34,000 members employed in retail food and drug stores throughout Illinois and Northwest Indiana, as well as a professional division comprised of health and nursing home workers, barbers and cosmetologists, and workers in other retail and service industries.  Among the companies under contract with Local 881 are Jewel Food Stores, Osco Drug, Mariano’s Fresh Market, CVS Pharmacy, Kroger, Schnucks, Pinnacle Foods, and many smaller chains and independent stores, as well as nursing homes and other business establishments. Local 881 is among the largest affiliates of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, which represents 1.3 million members in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
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Food4Less Workers Launch Campaign for Higher Wages and Union Rights #4More

Hundreds to rally in support of higher wages and to commit to joining the Fight For 15 National Day of Action on April 15

For Immediate Release

WHO:   Local 881 United Food & Commercial Workers, Food4Less Workers, Fast Food Workers of the Fight for 15 Chicago, Action Now, United Steelworkers, OurWalmart, Tara Stamps-Chicago Aldermanic Candidate for Ward 37.

WHAT:  March, rally, and press conference to launch the Food4Less Union Organizing campaign with the support of the Fight for 15 movement, United Steelworkers, AFL-CIO NextUp Summit, and Aldermanic Candidate, Tara Stamps. 

WHEN:  Saturday, March 21, 2015 at 10:40am

WHERE:  Rally participants will be marching from the McDonald’s at 5133 W. North Ave to the southwest corner of North Avenue and Cicero (near Food4Less store at 4821 W. North Avenue). The press conference will be held at approximately 11:15am.

WHY:  Food4Less is owned by the Kroger Company. But Chicago Food4Less workers don’t have the same benefits or pay as other Kroger workers across the country. Food4Less workers are trying to organize a Union in order to get higher wages and fight for their rights. Food4Less workers are United #4More!  

In a show of solidarity, Fast Food workers and Tara Stamps, Aldermanic Candidate in the 37th Ward will march with us. Fast food workers in the Fight for $15 campaign have sparked a national, low-wage worker movement by courageously standing up to fast food corporations and demanding $15 an hour and the right to form a union. As a rank-and-file activist with her own union, the Chicago Teachers Union, Tara Stamps is a supporter of the fight for fair wages and safe working conditions in the 37th Ward and throughout Chicago. Food4Less and McDonald’s workers will be joined by labor and community groups such as UFCW, United Steelworkers, and Union workers from across the country in conjunction with the AFL-CIO NextUP Summit.

On April 15, the Fight For 15 movement will have the largest mobilization to date to demand a $15 living wage and union rights from fast food corporations like McDonald’s. In Chicago, Fast food workers will be joined by thousands of low-wage workers, community allies, religious leaders, and students.

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Local 881 UFCW represents 34,000 members employed in retail food and drug stores throughout Illinois and Northwest Indiana, as well as a professional division comprised of health and nursing home workers, barbers and cosmetologists, and workers in other retail and service industries.  Among the companies under contract with Local 881 are Jewel Food Stores, Osco Drug, Mariano’s Fresh Market, CVS Pharmacy, Kroger, Schnucks, and many smaller chains and independent stores, as well as nursing homes and other business establishments. Local 881 is among the largest affiliates of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, which represents 1.3 million members in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

For more information on Local 881 UFCW, visit www.local881ufcw.org, or like us on www.facebook.com/Local881UFCW or follow @881ufcw on Twitter.

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Immigrant workers from Michoacán have a new ally on their side.

For Immediate Release

The United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 881 and the Secretary of Migration for the State of Michoacán, Mexico will sign an agreement of collaboration on Saturday, June 28th, 2014 at Casa Michoacán at noon. The objective of this agreement is to strengthen the efforts of the immigrant workers from Michoacán in their struggle to organize for better working conditions. The food and commercial industry in Illinois employ a huge number of immigrant workers that are generally exploited and abused. Some of the common abuses are wage theft, hazardous working conditions, and sexual harassment.

“Finding allies to defend the human rights of our Michoacán nationals abroad is a priority for the government of the state of Michoacán de Ocampo,” stated the professor Luis Carlos Chavez Santacruz the secretary of migrants for the state of Michoacán.

“The agreement we are signing is a step in the right direction to let the millions of immigrant workers from Michoacán know that they have an alternative when faced with abusive working conditions,” said Ron Powell, President of Local 881 UFCW and Vice-President, UFCW International. Local 881 represents more than 34,000 members in the retail industry in Illinois and Northwestern Indiana. The UFCW International represents 1.3 million members.

“We celebrate this agreement of collaboration. It is an example of how unions, community, and political organizations can support transnational families,” said Jose Luis Gutierrez, Director of Casa Michoacán.

Official reports conclude that there are three million immigrants from Michoacán in Illinois, making Illinois one of the States that has the most immigrants from Michoacán. The guests attending the celebration of this agreement are various elected officials from both countries including presidents of hometown associations.

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Local 881 UFCW represents 34,000 members employed in retail food and drug stores throughout Illinois and Northwest Indiana, as well as a professional division comprised of health and nursing home workers, barbers and cosmetologists, and workers in other retail and service industries.  Among the companies under contract with Local 881 are Jewel Food Stores, Osco Drug, Mariano’s Fresh Market, CVS Pharmacy, Kroger, Schnucks, and many smaller chains and independent stores, as well as nursing homes and other business establishments. Local 881 is among the largest affiliates of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, which represents 1.3 million members in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.