More Than a Slogan

‘Solidarity Works!’ is a way of life for UFCW 8-Golden State, a Union devoted to serving its members in countless ways

UFCW 8-Golden State’s experienced leadership team has a proud history of negotiating labor agreements our members are proud to ratify. This is, however, only one of many services our Union has provided to all of its members, wherever they work, going back over many decades.

Backed by the consistently unified support of the members, this Union has lived according to its core principle, “Solidarity Works!” and will continue to do so in 2024, and beyond.

“Solidarity Works!” is more than a slogan. The phrase conveys how everyone in the Union is committed to supporting each other and improving our lives. It’s another way of saying, “We have each other’s backs!”

Think about how rare this is in America today. It’s our secret sauce. Against the tide of social conflict, we stay true to our mission to help each other in every way possible, and not only in terms of economics and job security.

Do you have a family problem? You can count on us. Don’t be shy. Tell your District Union Representative, as thousands do every year. We can’t always work magic, but if we can help, we will.

Here are some genuinely astonishing numbers and facts which will be matched or exceeded on behalf of our members and retirees this year:

• Each year, our benefits funds provide nearly half a billion dollars to retirees who wake up every day knowing they will receive a reliable check month after month, year after year.
• In 2023, UFCW 8 members benefitted from more than a billion dollars in payments for their health care. And this health care will get better and better with the opening of new Solidaritus Health Centers, as I described in my previous column and as we explain  in this issue of the Voice of Action.
• Day after day, throughout the year, your District Union Representatives, backed by highly trained administrative staff throughout our jurisdiction, provide a phenomenal list of services, including winning or resolving thousands of grievances, recovering money from payroll mistakes, reducing suspensions, organizing new members in increasingly varied businesses, and working to elect political candidates who support our goals and values.

The list of what our Union does all day, every day, represents a nonstop effort to make your life easier, to lift you up against forces which try to put you down. All is done by professionals who bring to their daily tasks extraordinary talents, integrity, selflessness, and, finally, uplifting humor and good will.

In our beloved country, presently so sadly divided and disrupted, UFCW 8’s staff and membership work together as a cohesive, growing power, a power for good which is dedicated to helping, helping, helping. And we succeed, because…

Solidarity Works!