This past year was a momentous one for UFCW Local 400 members, and it ended with a landmark victory — the defeat of the proposed Kroger-Albertsons merger.
UFCW Local 400 spearheaded opposition to this mega-merger, which would have been a disaster that threatened thousands of jobs at Safeway and Kroger, raised prices, increased food deserts, and further monopolized an industry that is already ruled by only a handful of corporations.
Members testified before the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) which subsequently sued to block the merger, met with members of Congress, spoke out to the media, protested in the streets, and more. Over the course of a tough, two-year-long battle, member activism overcame mega-billions in corporate power and saved members’ jobs.
“Throughout the course of 2024, members proved there is power in a union by taking action in support of organizing campaigns, winning strong collective bargaining agreements, making our voices heard in the political and legislative arenas, and in many other key areas,” said UFCW Local 400 President Mark P. Federici.
Beyond defeating the Kroger-Albertsons merger, take a look back at some of the highlights of our work in 2024:
ORGANIZING
- March: Workers at Green Goods dispensary in Rockville voted to join Local 400 to build a better life for themselves
- March: The staff of Shelf Life Books won Local 400 recognition after a majority signed union cards, making them the first booksellers in Richmond to form a union.
- September: Workers at The Apothecarium cannabis dispensary in Burtonsville, Md. and Sweetspot cannabis dispensary in Olney, Md. voted to unionize, continuing Local 400’s success at organizing the cannabis industry throughout Maryland.
- November: Workers at MOM’s Organic Market in College Park, Md. resoundingly voted down an effort to decertify Local 400 at the store, an outside effort backed by the anti-worker National Right to Work Committee.
- December: Workers at Story cannabis dispensary in Hyattsville, Md. voted to unionize, joining workers at the Story location in Mechanicsville, Md. who unionized with UFCW Local 400 last year and are currently negotiating their first union contract.
FIRST CONTRACTS
- February: Local 400 members working at FRESHFARM farmers markets voted in favor of ratifying their first contract, making them the first farmers market workers in the country to secure a collective bargaining agreement.
- March: Local 400 members at Potomac Holistics cannabis dispensary in Rockville, Md. voted unanimously to ratify their first-ever union contract.
BARGAINING
- January: Local 400 representative Robert Brown traveled to Rotterdam, Netherlands to participate in the signing of a historic Memorandum of Understanding between Lipton Teas and Infusions and the IUF global labor federation in which the company recognized its employees’ labor rights around the world — including Local 400 members working at the Lipton Tea plant in Suffolk, Va.
- March: Local 400 members working at Kroger in West Virginia contract voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new collective bargaining agreement improving wage scales, hours-based pay-scales and paid sick time, with no health and welfare cost increases and new protections from wage and hour reductions. This took place after members rejected Kroger’s original offer, leading to a much better contract.
- April: Local 400 members working at Macy’s voted to ratify a new three-year agreement that will result in significantly higher compensation, more paid time off, opportunities to receive bonuses and advanced educational opportunities, and greater advance notice in posting work schedules.
- June: Annapolis Police Officers represented by Local 400 ratified a strong new collective bargaining agreement that establishes a new, better pay scale, provides a 6% increase over the life of the agreement, and increases retiree health and welfare benefits.
- July: Local 400 members at Shoppers voted 98% in favor of ratifying a strong new contract that provides for better pay scales, top-of-scale pay raises of $2.20/hour, no out-of-pocket cost health care increases, a fully funded pension, and stronger protections for workers in case of a shooting or other emergency.
- August: Local 400 members working at Kroger under the Richmond/Tidewater collective bargaining agreement voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new contract that includes better pay, fewer hours needed to reach and maintain top pay, no changes to health insurance premiums, more paid time off, and stronger safety measures in stores
- December: Local 400 members working at Associated Administrators ratified a strong new contract with across-the-board wage increases and no health care changes.
POLITICAL & LEGISLATIVE ACTION
- March: Local 400 members in Virginia and West Virginia traveled to their state capitols to meet with their state legislators, give testimony, and urge action to improve members’ lives.
- November: In the 2024 elections, Local 400 members volunteered and voted in record numbers, helping to propel many recommended candidates to victory. However, while members helped win all of the DMV’s Electoral College votes for Vice President Kamala Harris, she lost the presidency to Donald Trump, requiring us to fight next year and beyond to stop anti-worker policies and appointments.
OTHER DEVELOPMENTS
- July: Annapolis Police Officers represented by Local 400 teamed up with Annapolis Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 1926 to split the cost of bus transportation so kids in summer camp can get to the city pool and to area locations for field trips.
- July: Local 400 filed class action grievances against Kroger on behalf of pharmacy techs in West Virginia to stop cuts in hours and inappropriate assignments to perform store duties outside of the pharmacy.
- August: Annapolis Police Officers represented by Local 400 endorsed a motion of “no confidence” in their Police Chief and his command team due to loss of CALEA accreditation, unlawful retaliation against members, and an “us-versus-them” mentality.
- September: Following the closure of the Boar’s Head plant in Jarratt, Va., Local 400 reached an agreement with the company providing members with the opportunity to transfer to other Boar’s Head facilities or to accept a severance package well above and beyond what is required under the law.
- September: More than three-quarters of Local 400 members voted to adjust union membership fees in order to launch a new Defense Fund to support members in need and build a war chest that can be used to support members on strike and to better pressure employers during collective bargaining. This additional power will help win better contracts that put more money in members’ pockets and improve benefits.
In all, 2024 was an eventful year, one that had setbacks as well as victories, but we are proud of our members for their activism and solidarity that led to every victory.