Sacramento, CA – The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Western States Council today announced it has named UFCW International Secretary-Treasurer Shaun Barclay as the organization’s 2022 Person of the Year.
Shaun Barclay joined UFCW while employed at Safeway in Kansas City 50 years ago, and worked his way up, representing the union as shop steward, bargaining committee member, strike captain and organizer. Barclay later became the president of UFCW Local 99 in Arizona and served as Region 8 Director, representing 278,000 members in the 10 Western states including California, stretching from Alaska to Mexico to the Rockies.
“For 50 years, Shaun has been a mentor for all of the local UFCW unions in California, Nevada and Arizona, showing us all that centering workers in leadership is key to a growing labor movement,” said Andrea Zinder, President, UFCW Local 324 and UFCW Western States Council. “Shaun came in with a goal as Region 8 Director – restore everything members lost in the aftermath of the 2003-2004 grocery strikes – and was wildly successful. Shaun’s work back then laid the groundwork for us to win a historic contract for 60,000 grocery workers in Southern California this year. Shaun is the epitome of what UFCW leaders can be and we’re so proud to name him as our 2022 Person of the Year.”
The UFCW Western States Council also announced that Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) was named as Legislator of the Year.
“Ash knows that workers power our economy, and does everything he can to support our working families, immigrants, and the underserved and the underdogs in Sacramento,” said Amber Baur, Executive Director, UFCW Western States Council. “I know I can always find Ash on a picket line, speaking out against greedy corporations or passing out food to constituents in need. He truly embodies an elected official that works for the people. On behalf of the workers of UFCW in the Western States, I’m proud to present him with this honor and look forward to his continued leadership and support for people working hard to lift up their families.”
Lastly, the council named Kelly Kick as Member of the Year. Kelly is a 28-year member of UFCW Local 5 who works at Safeway in Concord.
“Kelly understands that politics affect people’s lives and goes out of her way every day to talk to her coworkers, her friends and her community about the power unions have to affect change for the better,” said Jim Araby, Director of Strategic Campaigns, UFCW Local 5. “Kelly really stepped up during the pandemic and led Concord and the entire Bay Area. We are lucky to have Kelly as a leader in our union.”
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