Essential Voice
an Essential Workers for Democracy newspaper to share with your coworkers!
Issue #7 - Summer 2026
JBS Meatpackers Win Back Pensions With Coordinated Bargaining
In a contract covering 26,000 JBS workers at 14 facilities nationwide, JBS Meatpacking workers won significant gains. The new contract includes paid sick time, wage increases, and the reinstatement of the pension plan, which was taken away almost 40 years ago.
VOTE NO! Indy Local 700 Kroger Members Face Concessionary TA
Over 8,000 Kroger workers in UFCW Local 700 across Indianapolis and central Indiana are set to vote on a concessionary tentative agreement on Friday, May 30th, and Saturday, May 31st. After months of secretive negotiations, the contract “highlights” were brought to the membership on Tuesday, May 27th.
Rank & File Bargaining Exchange Program Brings Solidarity, New Ideas
Thirteen rank and file grocery bargaining committee members from UFCW Locals 7, 770, and 3000 participated in the first-ever Rank & File Bargaining Exchange Program this month. The Program brought together bargaining committee members from Colo., Calif., and Wash. to exchange ideas by visiting each other’s bargaining tables.
UFCW International Appoints New President Without Vote From Members
The UFCW International Union officially announced the retirement of Marc Perrone and the coronation of the next president of the UFCW, Secretary-Treasurer Milton Jones, in an undemocratic process that excluded 1.2 million rank and file members.
WATCH: UFCW Presidential Candidate Forum
The UFCW International Executive Board appointed a new president on May 13th, 2025, with no input from rank and file members. The International could have opened this process up to members, but they chose not to — so, we did it ourselves. Watch the recording of our Candidate Forum.
WATCH: UFCW Members Demand the Right to Vote!
Watch the recording from our webinar, “UFCW Member Demand the Right Vote.” . Rank and file UFCW members from across the country came together for an emergency webinar to call for the right to vote in the next UFCW presidential election. Learn how UFCW elections work now, and hear from members on what one member, one vote would mean to them.
WATCH: Kroger & Albertsons by the Numbers
Watch the recording from our webinar, “Kroger and Albertsons by the Numbers.” UFCW members from across the country attended our webinar to get the facts on grocery greed in this year’s contract negotiations.
Organizing Workshop: “How to Expand Your Reach as a (Reform) Organizer”
Join EW4D for our sixth and final organizing webinar, "How to Expand Your Reach as a (Reform) Organizer". Register here.
Watch Labor Organizing Training for Essential Workers: "Turning an Issue Into a Campaign"
Check out excerpts and clips from our most recent training from our monthly organizing training series, held for free on Zoom for any rank and file union member seeking labor organizing support.