UFCW 951 and Meijer Set to Begin Contract Bargaining
October 4, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 2, 2023 — New deal will impact over 28,000 workers statewide.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI — The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 951 announced today that negotiations are scheduled to start with Meijer for a new contract, protecting more than 28,000 essential retail, transportation, and distribution complex workers statewide.
Contract bargaining for a new deal begins on October 11 at UFCW 951 headquarters in Kentwood, MI. Meijer workers are demanding the strongest possible contract.
“As we begin negotiations, we have made it very clear to Meijer we want a strong contract for our members,” said John Cakmakci, UFCW 951 president. “Our members, as essential workers, have endured a lot over the past three years and believe it is now their turn to share in the healthy profits their employer recorded during, and following, the pandemic. Workers across the country, in a wide variety of industries, are taking a stand and demanding the wages, benefits, and working conditions they deserve, and our members are no exception.”
Some of the issues Meijer members are focused on in the new contract include significant wage increases, which are of particular concern for long-term workers; additional paid time off; and an affordable medical plan that protects workers from catastrophic medical debt in the event of a serious illness or injury.
“The public support for unions and striking workers is at a near all-time high,” said Cakmakci. “After years of making sacrifices, putting their lives on the line each day as essential workers, and watching CEO’s and shareholders reap the rewards, workers are rightfully demanding their fair share.”
Contract bargaining for a new deal begins on October 11 at UFCW 951 headquarters in Kentwood, MI. Meijer workers are demanding the strongest possible contract.
“As we begin negotiations, we have made it very clear to Meijer we want a strong contract for our members,” said John Cakmakci, UFCW 951 president. “Our members, as essential workers, have endured a lot over the past three years and believe it is now their turn to share in the healthy profits their employer recorded during, and following, the pandemic. Workers across the country, in a wide variety of industries, are taking a stand and demanding the wages, benefits, and working conditions they deserve, and our members are no exception.”
Some of the issues Meijer members are focused on in the new contract include significant wage increases, which are of particular concern for long-term workers; additional paid time off; and an affordable medical plan that protects workers from catastrophic medical debt in the event of a serious illness or injury.
“The public support for unions and striking workers is at a near all-time high,” said Cakmakci. “After years of making sacrifices, putting their lives on the line each day as essential workers, and watching CEO’s and shareholders reap the rewards, workers are rightfully demanding their fair share.”
UFCW 951 is a progressive labor union representing over 28,000 workers across Michigan in a variety of industries including grocery, retail, food processing, pharmacy, and cannabis, who are employed at a variety of companies including Meijer, Kroger, Rite Aid, JBS, JLL, Knouse Foods, Polly’s, Harding’s, Heritage Provisioning, and Grandville Roasting & Packaging Plant. 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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