(BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA) - Workers employed at the Big Red Liquors Store on West 17th in Bloomington, Indiana have joined United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 700, marking the first Big Red Liquors Unit to join the UFCW.   

The Workers - who stock the shelves, back fill the coolers, run registers and clean the store, joined the UFCW over concerns involving insufficient working conditions, including cuts to work hours, and the want for better wages and benefits that come with a Union contract.

The Organizing Campaign focused on building solid relationships with the Workers.

The UFCW Local 700 Organizers consistently followed up with the Workers about workplace conditions and also checked in on them personally, demonstrating the Union genuinely cared about them.

The Organizers also prepared workers for the company’s Union-Busting tactics ahead of time so they would be ready once the Anti-Union efforts began.

“After watching, not just our location, but all the Bloomington locations cut hours and then proceed to do better in yearly sales over the prior year, we were hoping for a positive reaction,” said Justin Fisher, who works at the Big Red Liquors Store. “However, not one person received an increase for store hours, despite being told as an incentive to perform better sales than the year before would get us more help. We upheld our end of the agreement - but feel the company did not. We decided it was time to organize and get a Union contract.”

UFCW Local 700 President Tracy Bartak said: “UFCW Local (700) is excited the Workers at this Big Red Liquors location chose us as their Union. We look forward to working with them to secure a first contract. No matter the industry in which you work, UFCW Local (700) is committed to fighting for better working conditions and a better life for our Members.”

To Directly Access This Organizing Labor News Story, Go To: Liquor Store Workers in Indiana Join Local 700 - The United Food & Commercial Workers International Union | The United Food & Commercial Workers International Union

Photo Courtesy Of The UFCW.