Jacques Loveall
President, UFCW 8-Golden State
UFCW International Vice President
Continuing a Tradition of Winning Gr8 Contracts Through Worker Solidarity
On June 21, 1937, when a group of Retail Clerks in Sacramento first banded together to improve their wages and working conditions, they probably had little idea they were laying the foundations for a mighty Union spanning most of California and serving tens of thousands of workers in an astonishing variety of businesses and industries.
Over the span of eight decades, UFCW 8-Golden State grew in size and scope in tandem with the solidarity of their membership and leadership.
Much of this growth — though certainly not all — occurred through mergers of several UFCW Unions. With each merger, we were able to combine our strengths and become more successful in negotiating better contracts for the members.
When UFCW Locals 588 and 1288 came together to discuss a merger, we contemplated what our new number could be. We considered 8888, which would combine the “8s” from both entities. We also considered 1888, which was the year Unions from around the world formed the first International Labor Day. As it turns out, UFCW 8 came into being on May 1, International Labor Day.
We finally selected the number 8 for this Union because we are all interconnected and our commitment to progress is never ending.
As we deal with various challenges of the present and look forward to our achievements in the future, we acknowledge with profound gratitude the struggles and sacrifices of previous generations of workers who built our Union and raised the living standards of all who followed them.
Looking back at all we have won, establishing the finest contracts in our industries while providing stability and security for the membership, our commitment to this Union remains as strong as it has ever been.
Eighty-seven years after this Union’s founding, we remain guided by our core principle:
Solidarity Works!
