Collective bargaining takes time
It usually takes many bargaining sessions to come to a final written agreement. A recent study reported it takes an average of 461 days to reach a first contract.1
Everything is on the table in negotiations, including the things you already have
If a union is voted in, all terms and conditions of employment must be negotiated, including pay, benefits, job duties, scheduling, and bidding for shifts.
Nothing is guaranteed
Negotiations are a give-and-take process where both sides exchange proposals and negotiate. A union can’t force an employer to agree to any proposals or make concessions. If UFCW organizers are making promises about what you might get with a union contract, yous hould ask them to guarantee their promises in writing.
Negotiations can be risky
There are no guarantees in collective bargaining. You could end up with more, the same, or less than you have today.
- Bloomberg Law (May 2026).