The Contract Campaign Checklist
Each time we go to the bargaining table, everyone asks: Did we get a good contract? We all want to know, because a good contract can make our lives better, and a bad contract…sucks! But another important question is: Did we build our power to get an even better contract next time?
Indianapolis City Council member Jesse Brown speaks at the O.U.R. Local 700 rally for a fair Kroger contract in August 2025.
This year, over 100,000 UFCW members bargained new grocery contracts nationwide. In 2026, still thousands more will bargain new contracts. When members vote to approve a new contract, it’s important to take a step back to assess how the contract campaign went. Contract campaigns are not just about what we won. They’re also about how we won, and how we’re building the union.
Use the Contract Campaign Checklist to assess how your local’s contract campaign stacks up.
CONTRACT WINS
Is it easier for us to pay our bills?
Is the job safer? Less stressful?
Did we win our top contract demands?
If not, how close did we get to winning them?
Where did we fall short, and why?
BUILDING UNION POWER
Store Level: Did we recruit more shop stewards?
Store Level: Did we get more rank and file members involved than last time?
Local Level: Did rank and file members become more connected with each other across job sites?
National Level: Did we build towards a national bargaining table for grocery workers?
National Level: Did rank and file members become more connected with each other across local unions and geographic location?
After using the checklist to assess your contract on your own, discuss the checklist with your coworkers. What can you do differently next time?
To defeat big corporate power, we’ll need coordinated worker power on a massive scale. That means getting more members active in the union, bringing members together across job sites and locals, and building towards a national bargaining table for grocery workers. It will take cooperation and solidarity to beat the boss and win the contracts we deserve.