I recently took a six-stop swing through Phoenix, Flagstaff, Tucson, Yuma, Show Low and Bullhead City to witness the solidarity of our members firsthand. The experience was, in a word, inspiring.
Today, our membership is an unprecedented 25,000 strong, making us the largest UFCW union among “right to work” states nationwide. Our recent contract wins have been some of the best ever for workers in the many industries we serve.
Our top-rate grocery members have enjoyed major wage increases over the last six years, including those dark times of the COVID pandemic. And employees at the top rate of pay still have a $2 an hour increase coming over the next 18 months in the union contract. Our members have had only slight premium increases, even as inflation has driven up the overall cost of health care.
Pension benefits won
United with other UFCW locals nationwide, we won pension benefits with JBS, the largest beef processor in the world, for the first time in 40 years.
Elsewhere, we’ve had organizing wins that include Bookmans, a popular local bookseller, as well as a number of cannabis dispensaries in an industry that continues to grow.
Helping raise the bar for all workers statewide, our Active Ballot Club Political Action Committee has helped pass two minimum wage initiatives in 2016 and 2006.
The bottom line is that you are a member of the most effective local union of any trade nationwide. Considering that we have achieved this feat while also deferring more than $1.25 a week in scheduled dues increases since 2018, there’s no question that Local 99 membership is a bargain of immeasurable value.
Organizing efforts
But it’s not enough to maintain that level of success. We recently launched two of the country’s largest organizing campaigns.
Every successful organizing campaign means we become a stronger union with more influence, with more families enjoying better lives.
Success today doesn’t guarantee success tomorrow. Despite our progress, we have no shortage of challenges ahead. Inflation and SNAP funding cuts have taken their toll and health care funding is in peril.
We also have competitive pressures from Aldi, WinCo, Whole Foods and other non-union companies. Aldi has opened 15 stores in Arizona over the past 10 years, and 25 more are planned by the end of this decade. There is a significant risk to our market share if we don’t organize these growing chains.
The biggest challenge overall is guaranteeing the solvency of our health and welfare fund, which is drawing down its reserves. At its current pace, we will have four months of reserves when our next negotiations are scheduled with the employers in 2029. Nearly every other UFCW local nationally has had to raise its premium costs. We’ve been able to hold the line, but health care will be our number one issue in negotiations.
New provider network
In the meantime, our health and welfare fund put out bids to other provider networks in order to maintain your great coverage at low rates. The fund has decided to replace Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona when we leave the network effective Jan. 1, 2027, with Blue Shield of California. This ensures that 100% of participants will see no disruption to their providers.
We may be the strongest we’ve ever been, but meeting our challenges head on means strengthening every part of our union. In response, we are investing in organizing, bargaining, member representation, communications, training, legal support, political advocacy and contract protection.
To be successful, we need your support! In our more than 85-year history, every successful contract and every successfully organized workplace has been possible because our members have stood together.
Together, we can protect our past accomplishments and build a better future for all of us.
