EMD Sales Workers Join Local 400, Ratify First Contract

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)It’s been a struggle of more than a year, but the campaign by 38 workers at EMD Sales in Baltimore paid off on January 26 when they ratified their first collective bargaining agreement after joining UFCW Local 400. “Thanks to their hard work, they’ve now empowered themselves with a strong voice in the workplace, improved their economic standing, and gained greater health and retirement security,” said Local 400 President Tom McNutt. “Plus, they know the 40,000 members of Local 400 and the 1.3 million members of the UFCW throughout North America have their back.” EMD Sales is an international foods distributor based in Baltimore. The company offers more than 2,000 groceries, refrigerated and frozen products to Giant, Safeway, Shoppers Food & Pharmacy, and other retail food outlets. EMD’s warehouse was originally in Landover, MD, but moved to Baltimore last year. “Our goal is to expand the union market share in our core industries in all the areas of our jurisdiction, not only horizontally by representing more workers at supermarkets and grocery stores, but vertically — throughout the supply chain,” McNutt said. “That’s why our members’ victory at EMD Sales is a very important step forward as we work together to increase our clout at the bargaining table and throughout the corridors of power.” - story and photo courtesy of UFCW Local 400