Michigan’s Largest Private Sector Union Names Courtney Phillips as New President

Michigan’s Largest Private Sector Union Names
Courtney Phillips as New President

Election marks first female President in UFCW 951 history

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 951 Executive Board unanimously elected Courtney Phillips as the union’s new President following the retirement of President John Cakmakci.  Phillips is the first female to serve as President of UFCW 951.

Phillips has been a UFCW 951 member since 2005 when she joined as a member of the field staff.  She worked her way up through the ranks, as a union representative, team supervisor, training supervisor, director of the local’s entire field staff team, and, most recently, as Secretary-Treasurer for the organization.

“Throughout my career, I have advocated for workers as a union representative, bargained contracts, and worked on organizing campaigns,” Phillips said. “My 20 plus years of working in the labor movement has allowed me to find my passion effecting change in the spaces where people work and spend a large portion of their lives.”

Phillips grew up in a working-class union family and prior to joining UFCW 951, she worked as an organizer for Service Employees International Union (SEIU). She has served on the UFCW 951 Executive Board since 2023 and actively participates in the Labor Heritage Society of West Michigan, area labor councils, community volunteerism, and political advocacy.

“I am truly honored to be elected as President,” said Phillips. “I am grateful for the support I have received from the UFCW 951 membership over the past 20 plus years who I consider to be my family.  I have been, and will remain, dedicated to doing everything I can to improve the lives of our hard-working members and their families and to stand with them to fight for the things they deserve in their workplace. I am excited to be leading this incredible organization.”

UFCW 951 is a progressive labor union representing over 31,000 workers across Michigan in a variety of industries
including grocery, retail, food processing, and cannabis, who are employed at a variety of companies including Meijer, Kroger,
JBS, JLL, Sunberry Beverages, Polly’s, Harding’s, Planned Parenthood of Michigan, ZenLeaf, and Meijer Manufacturing.
The UFCW is the largest private sector union in the United States representing over 1.3 million UFCW members nationwide
and UFCW 951 is the largest private sector union in Michigan.

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