Voting and Elections
UFCW voters matter for California.
Safe Prescriptions
UFCW is working to ensure pharmacists have the support to do their most important job: delivering the right medicines, in the right doses and protecting consumers against potentially deadly drug interactions.
Cannabis
The UFCW is the only union representing cannabis workers in California. We are committed to building a successful industry that offers consumers access to safe products and local communities jobs with better wages and benefits.
Sacramento, CA – UFCW Western States Council today announced it has endorsed the Schools and Communities First initiative for the November 2020 ballot. The following is a statement from Andrea Zinder, UFCW Western States Council President and UFCW Local 324 President:
“UFCW members are proud to join the growing and powerful coalition fighting to put Schools and Communities First by closing the corporate property tax loophole that gives billions in tax breaks to millionaires, billionaires and big corporations. UFCW members work hard every day to give our kids a better future, and that’s why we are so dedicated to restoring $11 billion for schools and community colleges and supporting our local communities in addressing the crisis of homelessness by passing this crucial initiative in November 2020.”
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 7, 2019
CONTACT: Jenna Thompson, 916.444.7280
Sacramento, CA – UFCW Western States Council today announced it has named California Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) as Person of the Year. Assemblymember Gonzalez, chair of the Assembly Appropriations Committee and author of AB 5, was instrumental in passing this year’s historic legislation that provides stronger safeguards against misclassification of workers to undermine their stability and security.
“Assemblymember Gonzalez is a true friend of California’s working families,” said Andrea Zinder, UFCW Western States Council President and UFCW Local 324 President. “AB 5 is now law because Lorena joined forces with working people to stand up to corporate exploitation of workers. Because Lorena is relentlessness in pursuing a better future for workers, she’s ensured that workers across California can earn enough to support a family and burnished California’s legacy as the gold standard for worker’s rights.”
“Lorena is a powerhouse in the state Assembly, fighting for what’s right for workers, and all Californians,” said Amber Baur, Executive Director, UFCW Western States Council. “Throughout the years I’ve known and worked side by side with Lorena, she has shown phenomenal leadership and a deep compassion for California’s working people. On behalf of the workers of UFCW in the Western States, I’m proud to present her with this honor and look forward to her continued leadership and support for people working hard to lift up their families.”
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 3, 2019
CONTACT: Mike Roth, 916.444.7170
Sacramento, CA – The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Western States Council today celebrated Governor Gavin Newsom’s signature on a landmark worker protection law: AB 5 (Gonzalez). The bill upholds the California Supreme Court’s Dynamex decision, making it more difficult for employers to misclassify workers to deny them a minimum wage, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation and other basic worker protections.
“UFCW members and leaders across the state are proud of our role in today’s monumental moment for California workers,” said President John Grant of UFCW 770. “Like every hard-fought victory in labor’s history, AB 5 is now law only because working people stood up to corporate power and demanded justice. We applaud the Governor, author Assemblymember Gonzalez, and the legislators who stood with us and for the value we share: that California must be a place where all workers can earn enough to support a family.”
“AB 5 means workers who’ve suffered from exploitation will now have a safety net when they get sick, will have recourse when they are harassed at work, and can access unemployment insurance if they are laid off,” said Jacques Loveall, President, UFCW Local 8-Golden State. “This legislation has made national headlines, and given more energy to our movement to hold corporations accountable. This victory shows the strength workers have when we stand together – a strength we will deploy to ensure AB 5 is enforced and that California realizes the promise that through hard work, all of our families can thrive.”
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 18, 2019
CONTACT: Jenna Thompson, 916.444.7280, Jenna@paschalroth.com