Sales Representatives at Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits in Syracuse, N.Y., recently joined UFCW Local 2D for a better life. This new unit of over 200 workers sells wine and spirits to restaurants, bars, clubs, and hotel and liquor retail stores in Upstate New York.
The Sales Representatives joined our union family because they were concerned about the many years of changes to their compensation and unfair working conditions among different divisions. They also wanted the same benefits as their unionized Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits colleagues in the New York metro area and Delaware, who are also represented by UFCW Local 2D. This unit was originally granted recognition via card check earlier this year, but a few workers and a national right to work organization tried to block the process.
The campaign to organize these workers included communications by the local to the sales force via Zoom, as well as in-person visits. UFCW Local 2D organizers also used social media and the card signing process to connect with the workers.
“It was very important to make sure we had a successful result to organize Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits,” said UFCW Local 2D President Stephen T. Booras. “Prior attempts made from 2008 to the present were unsuccessful, so by having the union, all three houses (Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, Republic National Distributing Company, and Empire Merchants) are all unionized. This gives us and the people strength at the bargaining table.”