Celebrating small daily battles, big wins

​Unions are often like the fire department, unappreciated until there’s a crisis. But much of a local’s work goes on quietly on a daily basis, fighting for individual members or small groups of workers. UFCW 1994/MCGEO, which represents Montgomery County employees, makes a point of regularly letting its members know about these “smaller” battles. Like Department of Liquor Control member Antoinette Addison (above, right), who won reinstatement to her position and more than a years’ worth of back pay, back leave, and other benefits for a wrongful termination for alleged theft. "Stand by and in your truth,” said Addison. “Thanks to the union staff for diligently and correctly representing and fighting for me in this ordeal." Library employees at PGCMLS won reclassifications that will raise wages for hundreds of Local 1994 members by nearly a million dollars per year, and Community Service Aides in the Street Outreach Network of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services are getting back pay after the union secured a settlement over shift differentials. “Some of the affected employees will receive nearly 10 years of back pay,” Local 1994 reported. “That’s thousands in back pay for some of them.”  
If you have similar stories from your local, we’d love to hear – and share – them! Email us at [email protected]

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