Originally published on June 15, 2023.
The 1.2-million-member United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) is one of the largest and most powerful private sector unions in the country. Unfortunately, it has embodied some of the worst elements of business unionism over the decades. But a reform movement is burgeoning to change that.
We've covered the role of Teamsters for a Democratic Union in bringing militancy and democracy to the Teamsters union. Now, the independent organization Essential Workers for Democracy is looking to play that role in the UFCW. We spoke with Enrique Romero Jr., the group's organizing director and a rank-and-file grocery worker at Fred Meyer in Bellingham, Washington.
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Hosted by Teddy Ostrow
Edited by Teddy Ostrow & Ruby Walsh
Produced by NYGP & Ruby Walsh, in partnership with In These Times & The Real News
Music by Casey Gallagher
Cover art by Devlin Claro Resetar
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Show Notes
UNLOCKED: Teamsters Pride!: The LGBTQ+ Caucus
UNLOCKED: Hollywood Writers Strike!
UNLOCKED: Air Workers & Article 40 – a "Stain" On the Contract
UNLOCKED: Retaliation at UPS
Episode 17: The Big 3 Have Fallen
Episode 16: UAW Strike Update
Episode 15: On the UAW Picket Lines
Episode 14: Auto Workers Prepare to Strike the Big 3
Episode 13: UPS Contract Ratified. What's Next?
Episode 12: Teamsters Organizing Delivers the Goods at UPS
Livestream: UPS Tentative Agreement Reached. Is a Strike Still Possible?
Episode 11: UPS Negotiations Resume. One Week Till Deadline.
BONUS: Renewed Militancy at the United Auto Workers
Episode 10: UPS Strike Imminent? / The Gig is Up!
Episode 9: UPS Strike, Authorized / The Threads of Labor Militancy
Episode 8: The Teamsters Take Amazon
BONUS: Resisting the UPS Patriarchy
Episode 7: UPS and the Logistics Revolution
Episode 6: Let the Negotiations Begin!
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