Q:Why must Union members organize workers in new companies and industries?

A:Organizing has a direct impact on the quality of contracts that we negotiate for our members.

Whenever we come to the bargaining table, employers try to seek concessions or deny our proposals with the argument that their competitors don’t provide the same level of wages and benefits to their non-Union employees. The companies often say they need concessions in order to stay competitive.

In order to protect the integrity of our contracts, we need the highest market share possible in all of the areas that we serve.

Another reason that organizing is one of our highest priorities is because of fundamental Trade Union principles: people who work in our industry deserve quality wages, health care, dignity at work and when they retire, and a voice on the job.

The only way they’re going to get that is if we achieve those goals through collective bargaining and secure contracts for them.

Q:Which comes first in our priorities: organizing new members or negotiating better contracts for the members we already have?

A:It’s a bit of a "chicken or the egg" question: Which comes first, good contracts in order to attract more members or more members so we are able to secure better contracts?

The fact is, the more we organize, the higher the quality of our contracts.

In the areas where we have high Union density, we have better contracts than in the areas of the country where we don’t.

That’s why we organize, organize, organize!

Q:What has UFCW 8 done to increase the pace of organizing?

A:We’ve been aggressively adding staff and training them in various organizing and recruiting techniques. We have quite a push to bring as many people under contract as we can.

Q:Have UFCW 8’s efforts to increase its membership been successful?

A:UFCW 8 defies gravity: While most Unions’ memberships have been declining, ours continues to grow. That is significant. Our numbers have been growing consistently and are currently at an all-time high; and, as they say, you ain’t seen nothing yet! We’re going to continue to grow this Union at a record pace.

Q:How successful is the campaign against Wal-Mart’s expansion in California?

A:I’m proud to say that we have been successful. In 2003, Wal-Mart announced plans to open 40 Supercenters in California by this time. At latest count, they have fewer than five.

We’ve significantly slowed their progress.