UFCW Local Ordered to Hold New Election

SAN JOSE, Calif. — United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 5 here must conduct a new election to fill several positions, including president, because of perceived violations in the election process late last summer, according to Joseph T. Hansen, president of the UFCW International.

Ron Lind, the incumbent, was reelected president of Local 5 in the first election, beating Roger Rivera, a union representative, who told SN he was fired before the election because he was challenging Lind. Rivera said he ran because he didn’t think the union was fighting hard enough for the union members’ interests in the Bay Area.

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In a letter dated Jan. 29 Hansen said an investigation by the international revealed that “allegations related to the use of union equipment and on-the-clock campaigning were found to have merit ... [and] may have impacted the results of the election” last September. He ordered that a new election be held no later than March 22, with only candidates who ran in the first election eligible to run in the second election "provided they have maintained continuous active membership in Local 5."

However, because Rivera is no longer with the union, he has not maintained "continuous active membership" and is therefore ineligible to run in the new election.

Lind declined to discuss details of the situation. He told SN, "This is an internal union matter, and it is being handled pursuant to the UFCW constitution."

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