Powering Our Future
Vote on October 11, 2024 from 10am-8pm
Members across our union came together to develop a plan to power our future. Your vote determines whether our union has the POWER to win in 2025. This is a vote about the future of this union and whether we have the power and resources we need to win.
A YES Vote Will Arm Our Union With the Resources We Need to Fight and Win.
Why Now?
In 2025, we will bargain for 12,000 UFCW Local 663 members. To position ourselves to win the best possible contracts, we need to build a $5 million Power Fund in the first two years that will grow to over $10 million by year five. The Power Fund will directly support providing strike benefits to workers, fund our contract campaigns, and send a powerful message that we are willing to strike to win a fair contract.
What We Want
The Power Committee and Executive Board recommend you Vote YES for a Power Fund. Vote YES for the strength we need to take on employers and win. Restructure of dues would include:
- All members pay 1.75% of their gross earnings (excluding overtime) in 2025 and 2% starting in 2026. This is how we build the Power Fund.
- A local-wide one-time initiation fee of $100 for all new members. This will not impact any current or former members who have already fully paid initiation fees.
This restructure in dues means that most of our lowest-paid and part-time members will only see slight increases in dues, while other members who are full-time and earn more will see a higher increase.
*Please note this dues rate is an estimate. Actual dues would vary depending on gross earnings. Overtime would be excluded from dues deductions.
| Hourly Wage | Hours/Week | Current weekly dues amount | Restructured weekly dues | Difference | |
| Part-time grocery store | $16.00 | 20 | $7.38 | $7.40 | +$0.02 |
| Full-time grocery store | $31.33 | 40 | $14.46 | $21.93 | +$7.47 |
| Full-time meat processing | $15.70 | 40 | $6.12 | $10.99 | +$4.87 |
| Full-time meatpacking | $23.60 | 40 | $9.20 | $16.52 | +$7.32 |
| Part-time nursing home | $18.50 | 20 | $8.54 | $7.40 | -$1.14 |
| Full-time nursing home | $23.50 | 20 | $10.85 | $16.45 | +$5.60 |
2025 Dues Estimator
Fill in wage rate & hours worked in a week
** This dues rate is an estimate. Actual dues would vary depending upon gross earnings. Overtime would be excluded from dues deductions. Minimum dues rate of $7.40 to comply with International Constitution.
What Are We Up Against?
We must take on and win against large corporations like UNFI and JBS. We need to organize more workers to join our union to fight together for a better future.
We also have to make sure our dues structure is more consistent and fair. Right now, UFCW Local 663 does not have a uniform dues structure – some workers pay a higher percentage of their paycheck while others pay significantly less. Also, the current dues structure is not uniformly compliant with the UFCW International Constitution.
Last year, we won historic wage increases and put thousands more dollars into our paychecks. We successfully fought back employer attempts to take away our healthcare. We continued to protect members’ pensions and the ability to retire with dignity. Our contracts have made grocery, meatpacking, food production and healthcare jobs better. And we will not stop.
What bylaws changes are part of the Power Vote?
The Executive Board also recommends the following Local bylaws changes:
- Create an equitable model for executive board seats, with ratios to represent the geographies and industries our members work in;
- Establish a path for Local-wide executive board elections every three years and
- Clean up language to conform to our UFCW International Constitution and make bylaws more concise and democratic.
What are the voting locations and times for the October 11 Power Vote?
Voting takes place between 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. on October 11, 2024. You can cast your vote at any of the following locations:
Over the last year, UFCW Local 663 members chose to work together to win together as one Union. We earned our seat at the table. Now, let’s run the table.
VOTE YES and Power your future
Member Testimonials
“I'm VOTING YES on the Power Vote. The contract fights in 2023 solidified the importance of being a part of a union. L&B wanted to take away our Healthcare plan, but having a union provided the framework to fight back. The union is our tool to take power back from the bosses. I want to build a stronger union.” - Charlie Mullen, Lunds & Byerlys
“Para mí, las luchas contractuales de 2023 consolidaron la importancia de formar parte de un sindicato. L&B quería quitarnos nuestro seguro de salud, pero tener un sindicato nos dio la fuerza y el marco para luchar. El sindicato es nuestra herramienta para recuperar el poder de los jefes. Quiero construir un sindicato más fuerte -- por eso VOTO SÍ en el Voto de Poder.”
I'm VOTING YES on the Power Vote. Last year, we fought to win better wages and benefits at Hormel. Our next fight will only be more difficult. To have more power and win more, we need a fund to take care of us if we choose to go on strike.” - Simon Choat, Hormel Foods
“El año pasado luchamos para conseguir mejores salarios y prestaciones. Nuestra próxima lucha sólo será más difícil. Para tener más poder y ganar más, necesitamos VOTAR SÍ en el Voto de Poder para poder tener un fondo que nos cuide si decidimos ir a la huelga.”
“I'm VOTING YES on the power vote because it brings us together and it's more equal for everybody. And it's building us a power fund, which gives us more power in negotiations to get what we want, especially for my part time coworkers.” - Andrea Price, UNFI Cub Foods
“VOTO SÍ al voto de poder porque nos une y es más igualitario para todos. Y nos está creando un fondo de poder, que nos da más poder en las negociaciones para conseguir lo que queremos, especialmente para mis compañeros a tiempo parcial.”
“I'm VOTING YES on the Power Vote because when we fight we win! Nursing assistants fought for $25 an hour and won. We didn't know we could achieve this until the union made us feel and believe we could do it. I want to continue winning for myself and my coworkers.” - Nessa Higgins, Monarch Estates
“¡Cuando luchamos ganamos! Los auxiliares de enfermería lucharon por 25 dólares por hora y ganaron. No sabíamos que podíamos conseguirlo hasta que el sindicato nos hizo sentir y creer que podíamos hacerlo. Nos sentimos poderosas con su apoyo. Quiero seguir ganando para mí y para mis compañeros de trabajo, y por eso VOTO SÍ en el Voto de Poder.”
“When the union became more present, people learned that they had power. Changes were achieved when people gained the courage to stand up to the bosses. To make more positive changes at work, we need more power. That's why I'm VOTING YES on the Power Vote.” - Dina Escalante Velasquez, Butterfield Foods
“Cuando el sindicato se hizo más presente, la gente aprendió que tenía poder. Los cambios se lograron cuando la gente adquirió el valor de enfrentarse a los jefes. Para lograr más cambios positivos en el trabajo, necesitamos más poder. Por eso VOTO SÍ al Voto del Poder.”
“Last year there was a show of solidarity present in my store. The employers saw that we were not alone and that we are strong and powerful. We could move mountains, and could not be stopped from achieving our goals. For us to build and move forward we need to VOTE YES on the Power Vote.” - Willis Olive, UNFI Cub Foods
“El año pasado hubo una demostración de fuerza y solidaridad en mi tienda. Los empresarios vieron que no estábamos solos y que somos fuertes y poderosos. Podemos mover montañas y no se nos puede impedir alcanzar nuestros objetivos. Para que podamos construir y avanzar necesitamos VOTAR SÍ al Voto del Poder.”
“The best thing for me has been learning how to help my peers fight for what we deserve. Because I got involved, I've been able to communicate better with all my co-workers about what it means to be a part of UFCW. To continue winning more in our contracts, I am VOTING YES on the Power Vote.” - Lee Harvey, Seneca Foods
“Lo mejor para mí ha sido aprender a ayudar a mis compañeros a luchar por lo que nos merecemos. Gracias a que me involucré y me uní al comité de negociación, he podido comunicarme mejor con todos mis compañeros de trabajo sobre lo que significa ser parte de UFCW. Para seguir ganando más en nuestros contratos, VOTO SÍ en el Voto de Poder.”
“I’m VOTING YES on the Power Vote because part timers make up a majority of our members, and they’re doing some of the most critical work. I want to make sure that as a full timer, I’m paying my fair share of dues to take care of my part-time coworkers.” - Randy Paulsen, Lunds & Byerlys
“Los trabajadores a tiempo parcial constituyen la mayoría de nuestros afiliados y realizan algunas de las tareas más críticas y a menudo olvidadas. Quiero asegurarme de que, como trabajador a tiempo completo, estoy pagando la cuota que me corresponde para cuidar de mis compañeros a tiempo parcial. Por eso voy a VOTAR SÍ en la votación sobre el poder.
2024 Educational Grant Winners
UFCW Local 663 recognizes how important education is for the future growth of the you… [+]
Learn more
Protecting Workers from Victim, Witness, and Domestic Abuse thru Contract Language
UFCW Local 663 bargaining committee members fought for language in their contracts th… [+]
Learn more
UFCW Local 663 Endorses Tim Walz for Kamala Harris’s Vice President Pick
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 6, 2024 Minneapolis, MN – Today, the President and Execu… [+]
Learn more