Sep
26

CT Minimum Wage To Increase to $15.69 on January 1, 2024

Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz announced that the minimum wage will increase from $15.00 to $15.69 starting Jan. 1, 2024! The minimum wage law passed four years ago mandated that increases will go up each year at the rate of inflation starting in 2024. This means that minimum wage in CT will finally keep up with the rate of inflation and our lowest paid workers will no longer fall behind. We are proud of our union, Local 371, and thankful to the CT AFL-CIO, for fighting for this important legislation. Many of our newest members in retail food, grocery stores and food processing will immediately earn a higher wage. Many retail food workers are working in supermarkets to support their families, and this increased wage will have an immediate impact on their family finances.

Aug
17

62 UFCW members in Maui Lost Homes in Wildfires

In total 166 UFCW members in Maui were affected by this natural disaster. Please consider donating.

Jul
18

2023 Robert A. Petronella Memorial Scholarship Winners Announced.

Congratulations to our three newest winners of our scholarship! Each of these three winners will receive $2500 per year for up to four years to attend the university of their choice. Matthew Branco is the son of Local 371 member Jose Branco, who is employed at Shop Rite in Milford. Olivia Pivovar is a member at ACME in New Canaan and Tiago Rua’s mother is employed at SSC at Sacred Heart University. Congratulations to these deserving scholars!

Jun
14

Scholarship Application Deadline Extended to July 1st!

The Robert A. Petronella Memorial Scholarship awards (3) $2500 per year scholarships to graduating seniors who are either UFCW members or their children or grandchildren. Apply here! https://ufcw371.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Robert-Burke-Petronella-application-2023.docx

Mar
9

Employees at Armon Hotel in Stamford Celebrate Ten Years of Being Members of Local 371.

Joining with your coworkers to form a union means you have the opportunity to bargain for job security, better wages, stronger benefits, retirement security, and a predictable schedule. If you need a union please contact us at 203-226-4751 or info@ufcw371.org.

Mar
3

Local 371 Joins our Brothers and Sisters across the Region to protest Stop and Shop, Shop Rite, and ACME’s outsourcing of our work to Pepsi.

We are in Union store, where Union members deserve to keep the work hours
we need to provide for our families, maintain our health insurance and other
benefits, and continue to proudly stock our own shelves with the products
you need the most. Sign the petition today to support us! https://p2a.co/9V0Oql2

Feb
9

Local 371 and Local 919 Partner to Testify in Support of Unemployment Benefits for Striking Workers

UFCW Locals 919 & 371 teamed up to testify in favor of Senate Bill 938 An Act Concerning Unemployment Benefits for Striking Workers.

This bill would allow striking workers to collect unemployment after 2 weeks on strike.

Union Representative Brian Simmons shared his experiences during the 2019 Stop and Shop Strike.

Connecticut workers who go on strike are unable to collect unemployment benefits as they are presumed to have left their jobs voluntarily. No worker makes the decision to go on strike lightly. It is an extremely difficult choice because workers risk a loss of income. They also risk the permanent loss of their jobs, especially when replacement workers hired to continue operations during the strike stay on as permanent employees. But by the time a strike vote is taken, after months, and sometimes years, of exhausting all avenues provided in the collective bargaining process, workers usually feel they have absolutely no choice. A strike may be the only option they have to resolve differences with their employer.

Senate Bill 938 is designed to avoid a labor dispute. If an employer understands that striking workers will be eligible to collect unemployment benefits after a two-week waiting period, likely resulting in a small increase to their unemployment insurance rates, they will be more likely to bargain in good faith to avoid a work stoppage altogether.

We are proud to stand with our Connecticut AFL-CIO and other unions in support of this bill.

Feb
3

UFCW International Scholarship Application Open

UFCW members and their dependents are eligible to apply for our International Charity Foundation Scholarships. To see if you are eligible and to apply, visit ufcwcharityfoundation.org/scholarship.