{"id":2408,"date":"2021-10-22T11:37:31","date_gmt":"2021-10-22T16:37:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ufcw663.org\/blog\/?p=2408"},"modified":"2021-10-22T17:41:56","modified_gmt":"2021-10-22T22:41:56","slug":"union-members-vote-to-merge-united-food-commercial-workers-local-663-ufcw-local-9","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ufcw663.org\/blog\/2021\/10\/22\/union-members-vote-to-merge-united-food-commercial-workers-local-663-ufcw-local-9\/","title":{"rendered":"Union Members Vote to Merge UFCW Local 663 & UFCW Local 9"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Merged local union will build stronger voice at work for thousands of frontline essential workers in the Midwest <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friday, October 22, 2021<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact: Jessica Hayssen<\/p>\n\n\n\n

651-261-8559<\/p>\n\n\n\n

jessicah@ufcw663.org<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minneapolis\u2014<\/strong>Union members from United Food and Commercial Workers Locals 663 and 9 voted to build a better life together by overwhelmingly approving a merger vote on Thursday, October 21. The union merger builds an even stronger UFCW union in the five state area, with over 17,000 members across industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UFCW Local 9\u2019s majority of union members work in meat packing, with its largest employers in Austin at Hormel and Quality Pork Processing. Union members also work in food processing and various municipalities in southeastern Minnesota. They join the ranks of UFCW Local 663, whose membership includes workers in the grocery industry, meatpacking, healthcare, manufacturing, paramedics\/emts and retail statewide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Union members from both locals are excited about the opportunity to work together as one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBoth of our local unions do good work sticking up for ourselves and all<\/em> frontline essential workers during the pandemic. Our combined voices will give us more strength at the bargaining table, in all of the industries we represent,\u201d said Mark Husbyn, UFCW Local 663 member at Cub Foods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re stronger together. We\u2019ve been working together already to improve meatpacking safety at the legislature so this merger is another step in the right direction for workers,\u201d said UFCW Local 9 member and walking steward Claudia Ambriz, who works at Quality Pork Products in Austin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UFCW Local 663 will continue to be led by President Matthew Utecht. UFCW Local 9\u2019s President Richard Morgan will transition into a leadership role as the director of packing for southeast Minnesota.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBoth of our locals have deep roots in Minnesota\u2019s labor movement. I\u2019m looking forward to working with President Utecht on the next chapter as we continue to build membership power in Austin, Worthington and throughout the state,\u201d said UFCW Local 9 President Richard Morgan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThousands of frontline essential workers joined together on Thursday and said yes to a better future. I welcome the hard working union members of UFCW Local 9 to Local 663. Together, our union will have more strength at the bargaining table, in organizing, in our communities and at the legislature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m honored to continue to serve hard working union members across the state. Our union welcomes anyone that wants to build a better life by joining together for higher wages, benefits and workplace protections,\u201d said Matthew Utecht, President of UFCW Local 663.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BACKGROUND:<\/p>\n\n\n\n