Meijer union workers ratify new contracts

Members of the Michigan United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 951 voted this week to ratify new Meijer contracts containing improvements to wages, paid time off, health care, 401(k), and premium pay. UFCW 951 is the largest private sector union in the state, representing over 28,000 workers in a variety of industries, over 25,000 of which are Meijer workers.

UFCW 951 is the largest private sector union in the state representing over 28,000 workers across Michigan in a variety of industries including grocery, retail, food processing, and pharmacy who are employed at a variety of companies including Meijer, Kroger, Rite Aid, JBS, JLL, Sunberry Beverages, Polly’s, Harding’s, and Grandville Roasting & Packaging Plant. The UFCW is the largest private sector union in the United States representing over 1.3 million UFCW members nationwide.

“We’re excited to have reached an agreement that includes significant investments in our team and demonstrates how much we value and care about our team members,” said Ken Barton, vice president of labor relations, Meijer in a statement. “This agreement also positions Meijer to continue providing great services to the communities we serve.”

“Not only are our members receiving significant wage increases, but the length of time it takes them to get to the top rate has been reduced due to the closing of gaps in the wage scale,” John Cakmakci, president of UFCW Local 951, said. “I am proud of the members who served on the bargaining committee and worked together to achieve contract gains that improve the lives of their fellow members.”

There are three separate contracts covering over 25,000 retail, distribution center/transportation, and retail facilities maintenance workers. These contracts are four-year agreements effective Feb. 25, with immediate wage increases of up to $1.50 per hour. Other changes to the contracts include:

February 13 officially marked the end of the right-to-work law in Michigan. Michigan is the first state in 58 years to repeal a right-to-work law which allows workers covered by a collective bargaining agreement to reap all the benefits of the union contract without joining the union. The new Meijer contracts reflect this change in Michigan law as closed shop language was negotiated into the agreements. Under the contracts, all new hires will be required to join the union or pay a service fee as a condition of their employment. Current Meijer workers who opted not to join the union, under the recently repealed right-to-work law, will have until June 15, 2024 to become a member, pay the service fee or quit the company.