Member Newsletter – Sept. 2025

Quarterly Member Meeting Sept. 30
Please join us at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025 for our quarterly general member meeting at the Hampton Inn Keystone (located at 8980 River Crossing Blvd, Indianapolis, IN 46240)

Central IN Latest

Last month UFCW Local 700 members approved a new three year contract with Kroger which covers over 8,000 members working at 68 stores in Central Indiana.

Since the contract was ratified, Kroger failed to implement the wage increases and retroactive pay required under the new contract in a timely manner. In response, Local 700 filed a class action grievance. As a result, Kroger immediately corrected the manner.

If for some reason you have still not received your retro pay, please contact your union representative ASAP. 

South Bend and Ft. Wayne Kroger Bargaining

We have begun the bargaining process for our Kroger members under the South Bend and Ft. Wayne area contracts. Stay tuned for more updates on these. If you work in a South Bend or Ft. Wayne area Kroger, please fill out your bargaining survey ASAP if you have not already done so.

Contact your union rep for a link to the electronically survey. You may fill out a hard copy paper survey if you prefer.

REI Members Make Progress

REI Co-op, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW)​, and the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU),​ recently made progress on several key topics,​ including an agreement to establish a national bargaining structure to inform store-level collective bargaining agreements for the 11 unionized REI stores, including one location on the northside of Indianapolis.

As part of the agreement, REI will provide wage increases and bonuses for the years​ (2022-2024) wrongfully withheld scheduled raises as retaliation for union organizing. In exchange, the Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against REI were dropped.

PetSmart

On Oct 3, workers at the PetSmart store in Mishawaka, Ind., achieved a historic victory by becoming the first PetSmart store in the country to unionize by joining UFCW Local 700.

(L-R – Sarah Geoghan, Britton Fahrenkrog, Leigh Todt, UFCW Local 700 members at the Mishawaka PetSmart.)

The workers, who are employed as groomers and bathers, pet specialists, cashiers and dog trainers, joined our union because they were concerned about restructuring in the company and the possibility of reduction of benefits. They also wanted a voice in their workplace. Local 700 and the negotiating committee is currently negotiating a first contract for the PetSmart workers, focusing on better working conditions, hours and pay.

UFCW Members Fight Viscofan in Danville, Illinois

Earlier this year, Viscofan, which employs UFCW members at their Danville, Ill. location, illegally withdrew recognition of the union. Viscofan had already been retaliating against union members, physically blocking union reps from entering the plant, threatening and bribing workers to turn against the union, retaliating with termination and surveillance. The company even called police to forcibly remove the union office from the Viscofan facility.

In response, Local 700 filed grievances and unfair-labor-practice charges with the NLRB against Viscofan, and held a town hall in Danville for affected members and is continuing to fight for their right to better wages, working conditions and more.

Job Protection and the Union – a Message from President Bartak

There are many advantages to working under a Local 700 Union contract. In your contract, your employer has signed an agreement with the Union to provide you with livable wages, affordable health care, retirement benefits, and specific job duties, working hours and working conditions. Your contact also gives you job protection though Union representation and due process. Unlike non union workers, Local 700 members have protection against arbitrary actions that could be taken against you by your employer. For example:

• You have the right to Union representation during any investigatory interview by management or security personnel.
• You cannot be disciplined or discharged except for “just cause.”
• If you are disciplined or discharged, or your contractual rights are violated, you have the recourse through the grievance procedure while you are represented by the Union.
• If necessary, your grievance may be decided by an arbitrator (an outside, neutral, third party) while you are represented by the Union.

The principle of “just cause” is one of the most important protections in your Local 700 Contract. Just cause refers to language and provisions within your Union Contract that prevents management from unjustly punishing workers. This language includes specific rules for bosses who want to discipline, suspend or terminate employees.

Typical just cause contract language reads, “no employee will be disciplined or discharged except for just cause.” Sometimes a contract will use ‘good cause’, ‘proper cause’, ‘reasonable cause’ or simply ‘cause’. It is one of the major differences between a Union workplace and a non-Union workplace. Non-Union workers are sometimes referred to as ‘at-will’ employees, this is because they quite literally are at the will of their bosses and can be fired at any time. An at-will employee can be terminated for a single mistake, an unintentional violation, off-duty conduct, changes to the business or even for no reason at all!

The generally accepted legal requirements or “tests” of just cause include:

• employers must publicize rules
• enforce them consistently
• follow due process
• treat employees alike
• act on substantial and credible evidence
• apply graduated penalties
• consider mitigating and extenuating circumstances.

These seven tests are often applied in Union grievance procedures or in legal arbitrations to determine if the fairness of disciplinary actions.

Just cause is NOT a get out of jail free card. The “just cause” standard requires managers to prove that discipline is justified. It does not mean employees are free to ignore rules without consequences. In some cases, discipline or even termination may be upheld.

Protect yourself! Do not rely on “just cause” language to automatically save your job.  The best way to avoid discipline is to know and follow company policies. We expect managers and supervisors to apply the rules fairly and consistently. At the same time, Union Members must also do their part by performing their jobs to the best of their ability.

UFCW Local 700 proudly awards $22,000 per year in scholarships to members or dependents. These scholarships are awarded in the spring and the fall.

Congratulations to the winners of our Fall 2025 Scholarships!

Our $1,000.00 scholarship winners are:

• Gavin Sanders from Kroger J987
• Taylor Meyer from Kroger J990
• Catherine Lian from Kroger J412, and
• Ryan Keays from Kroger J972

Our $500.00 winners are:

• Amanda Boedicker from Kroger A406
• Carlos Dubois (parent Juan Dubois) from Tyson
• Delries Whittington from Kroger J100
• Abeer Gaber from Kroger J973
• Elizabeth LeBouef (Parent Byron Lebouef) from Kroger J989
• April Vermillion from Kroger J118
• Kylie Couch from Kroger J116
• Jalen Ashley (parent Bill Jefferson) from ConAgra
• Max Wilkinson from Kroger J735, and 
• Bailey Binter from Kroger J970

Stay tuned to our social media and website updates page for when applications for spring 2026 open.

Congratulations to Charles Dardy from Kroger J100, Ryan Plant from Kroger J 959, Jennifer Bright from Kroger J 735 and Megan Weber from Kroger J 894, our latest winners of Colts tickets as part of our Active Ballot Club Sweepstakes!

The Active Ballot Club (ABC) is the Political Action Committee for UFCW members in all 50 states. By signing up to make voluntary contributions as part of each paycheck, you help make the difference between electing candidates who care about working families, and those who do not. ABC is the only political action committee that is dedicated to advocating for and protecting the interests of UFCW members.

As a special thank you to our ABC participants, Local 700 gives away two Colts tickets each per home game to four lucky winners. All ABC participants are automatically entered to win. To sign up for ABC or check your current participant status, contact your union representative.

UFCW Women’s Network

UFCW Local 700 Women’s Network Representatives Elaine Womack, Karen Salzer and Mary Parker proudly support women throughout Local 700. The Network believes that active participation of women members in the UFCW will enhance the union’s strength at the bargaining table, in the organizing campaigns and in the political arena.

Some recent projects the Women’s Network has accomplished are handing out self-care bags to women members on Women’s Day, and raising money for children’s Christmas gifts at a local women’s shelter. On October 3-5, Network board members from across the United States and Canada will attend the first Outreach Convention in Philadelphia.

In the month of October, the Women’s Network will be proudly participating in the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Walk. If you would like to join or have any questions, please contact the Women’s Network at 317-814-3285

United Latinos Bulletin – Juan Garcia

The United Latinos of UFCW recently held their 2025 Education Conference. As a United Latinos Executive Board Member, I was proud to attend and represent Local 700 at this event which brought together UFCW leaders, activists, and members from across North America to engage in meaningful conversations around immigration policy, labor rights, and union power.

The three-day event kicked off with a welcome from United Latinos President Martin Rosas; UFCW Canada National President and International Secretary-Treasurer Shawn Haggerty. Attendees enjoyed a packed agenda that featured dynamic panels and educational breakout sessions.

UFCW International President Milton Jones closed out the conference with an inspiring keynote address at the Saturday evening dinner, where he reaffirmed our union’s commitment to protecting immigrant workers under increasingly hostile policies.

“Our diversity makes us stronger,” Jones said. “We have members who are permanent residents, guest workers, refugees, asylum seekers, and folks who have temporary or humanitarian status. When we stand up for the most vulnerable among us, we raise the floor for everyone. When we defend due process for one, we defend democracy for all. That’s what union power looks like.”