A union is a group of workers who join together to achieve better wages, benefits, respect on the job, and a stronger voice in work place decisions. With the help of a union, workers have a contract with their employer to ensure these things.

Without a union, employers have 100% control over its employees and complete authority to make all the decisions. A union's major goal is to give workers a voice on the job for respect, safety, security, better pay and benefits, and other improvements to working conditions.

Union Benefits

Being a member of UFCW 555 not only gives you a better position to get better benefits and working conditions, you also get job security.

Non-union workers have limited rights and can be fired "at-will", for no reason.  Just because your boss is having a bad day and decides she/he doesn’t want you around anymore. Non-union workers also find that the rules can change at the whim of the employer:

• One day you have paid holidays & vacations and next day you don’t;

• A raise is promised but never given;

• You’ve got too many hours one week but not enough the next

With a union contract, everything is spelled out in black and white, and the contract doesn’t change until workers renegotiate a new one. For instance, raises are guaranteed, holidays, vacations, seniority, etc. are defined by the contract.

In addition, discipline and firing is not at the whim of the boss for union members. There are certain rules the boss has to follow, to show and prove that they have just cause for discipline or firing you. Throughout this time, a union representative will be working on your behalf to represent you and make sure you get a fair deal and your rights are protected.