Meet our Partners: UFCW Local 1445
Since 1938, Local 1445 has been organizing workers and advocating for its members and their communities. The beginnings of Local 1445 manifested through merging small unionized industries before OSHA had even formed. Over 45 years ago, Local 1445 secured an accretion contract with Stop & Shop, so as the company grew, both current and future workers were protected.
In 2019, UFCW Local 1445 and other UFCW Locals gained national attention for their role in coordinating an 11 day strike of Stop & Shop workers, which eventually resulted in an agreement that secured not only health and pension benefits, but increased pay. President Biden, Senators Warren, Sanders, and Klobuchar all publicly supported the strike.
UFCW helps workers organize to create better working conditions, advocate for better retirement, and ensure contracts are not violated, but their goals go beyond the workplace.
Local 1445 mobilizes younger generations to become leaders both at work and in their community. The objective is to create stronger communities by understanding the needs of members from their perspective, so leadership comes from within and not through a dictatorial voice.
Since many Local 1445 members are under 30, the union has encouraged young leaders to represent its growing female, Latine, and Black membership. The president, Fernando Lemus and the secretary-treasurer, Fabricio DaSilva were both brought into UFCW as teens and are the first Latinos to hold leadership roles at Local 1445.
He feels fortunate UFCW invested in him: ”We need younger workers to become leaders.”
Fabricio DaSilva is the secretary-treasurer for Local 1445 and an organizer for 20 years. UFCW approached Fabricio to become an organizer when he was 19 working at Stop & Shop. He was initially reluctant to join but changed his outlook after seeing the poor conditions of non-unionized commercial laundry workers at Royal Hospitality. Fabricio saw communities that weren’t his own, “It was a world I didn’t know existed.” One of his first jobs was helping in unionizing Royal Hospitality, which today is the largest commercial laundry facility in New England. 20 years later, Fabricio is still protecting their workers as they face new challenges in the pandemic.
Local 1445’s involvement with PRU
The pandemic forced 300 industrial laundry workers from Royal Hospitality out of work, many of whom are undocumented immigrants and don’t have access to unemployment and other benefits. The first issue is always food insecurity: you cut back on food so that you can pay rent and avoid eviction.
UFCW Local 1445 partnered with Project Restore Us by identifying its members in need, while PRU coordinated food deliveries. Over the pandemic, Project Restore Us have provided groceries to 432 UFCW and non-UFCW families throughout Cambridge, Somerville, and Everett.
“Thank you for helping me and my family during this pandemic by providing great quality food and bringing it safely to our house.”
- Silvia (Royal Hospitality)
UFCW Local 1445 serves more than just the food industry. Their membership comprises employees in grocery stores, cafeterias, nursing homes, industrial laundry, movie theatres, and department stores across MA, NH, and ME, including the two largest hospitals in Worcester (UMass & St. Vincent), TD Garden, Macy’s, and Stop & Shop.
UFCW is currently focused on unionizing the cannabis industry, UFCW created the first ever unionized workplace in the cannabis industry with Sira Naturals. Cannabis is one the fastest growing industries, but OSHA has no jurisdiction over it. Since the cannabis industry is so new, the workforce and their roles are still developing. UFCW wants to ensure better contracts and conditions for its workers now while the industry is small, so that 10 years from now, they are solidly protected.
UFCW’s mission extends beyond workplace initiatives as the union looks towards community membership in areas of mentorship, scholarships, food drives, and neighbor-to-neighbor connections. The partnership with Project Restore Us has provided groceries to 432 UFCW and non-union member families during the pandemic but food insecurity in communities continues to grow.
How you can support UFCW Local 1445:
Follow UFCW Local 1445 on Facebook to get updates on their latest campaigns and where help is needed
Donate to PRU to help us feed UFCW Local 1445 families.
