January 21, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Minneapolis, MN — UFCW Local 663 praised Linden Hills Wedge Co-op, Eastside Food Co-op, and Seward Community Co-op for closing on January 23 in solidarity with the Day of Truth and Freedom.
“We applaud these unionized co-ops for standing with workers and our community,” said Rena Wong, President of UFCW Local 663. “Their decision to close sends a clear message that dignity, safety, and justice for working families matter. It comes down to a safety and well-being issue for our members.”
“With ICE activity continuing to strike fear into essential workers across the country and reaching more extreme and even deadly levels, it is critical that we take action to protect our members. Every UFCW member, every worker, and every person, deserves to live and work free from fear. Our communities and local economies cannot thrive unless people feel safe.”
The closures come after conversations with co-op employers following a series of violent acts in the community, including recent shootings and other acts of violence that have deeply shaken workers and neighbors.
All of these incidents have occurred just blocks from UFCW Local 663-represented grocery stores, making clear that these are not distant or abstract issues, but real and immediate threats facing workers every day.
“UFCW 663 has not formally endorsed the call for “No Work” on January 23,” President Wong said. “However, we support the call for statewide community and labor action to peacefully protest the presence and conduct of ICE and other federal agents in Minnesota.
In solidarity with people across Minnesota we encourage any members who are not scheduled to work during the afternoon of January 23 to participate. Additionally, we are encouraging members who are scheduled to work on January 23 and wish to participate in actions, to talk with their store directors to see if accommodations can be made to allow their participation.
We thank employers who decided to close and pay members who were scheduled.”
Rapid Response and Legal Defense Fund Created for Union Members
The Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation has established a legal fund to support impacted union members and families and ensure due process for those facing detention. Learn more or donate at https://bit.ly/unionlegalfund.
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UFCW Local 663 represents more than 14,000 hard-working essential retail, meat packing and processing, food preparation and manufacturing, healthcare, and other workers in Minnesota. We strive to improve the lives of our members and of all working families by fighting for economic, political, and social justice in our workplaces and communities. UFCW Local 663 is part of the 1.3 million-member United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.