FAQs

A union is a business, but instead of making money by selling groceries, they get their money by taking dues out of your paycheck. And while the law allows unions to promise anything—including better pay, benefits, and job security—there are NO GUARANTEES. As a result of negotiations, you and your family could end up with more, the same, or less than what you currently have at Festival Foods.

UFCW Local 1473 is a regional chapter of the United Food and Commercial Workers. UFCW Local 1473 is headquartered in Greendale, Wisconsin and the national union is based in Washington, D.C.

UFCW tends to take an activist, sometimes combative, approach to union representation. UFCW’s tactics include:

• Negative media campaigns against grocery stores and their leaders
• Strikes, pickets and protests
• “Marches” on the offices of store managers
• Billboards, ads and social media campaigns criticizing grocery stores

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is an independent U.S. federal agency that enforces the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).

With a union, things like pay, work schedules, benefits and other terms and conditions of employment must be negotiated through a process called collective bargaining. This is when the union and Festival Foods sit down and try to reach an agreement. Collective bargaining is a complicated, time-consuming process that, on average, takes over a year to complete. During this time, things could stay the same, or they could change—but there are no guarantees about what you’ll end up with.

Yes, it is likely they will. By law, UFCW is allowed to contact you. When a petition is filed, we must give the union your personal information—including your phone number, address and email—because the law requires it. We would not normally share your information with outside groups and will not share your information until the federal government requires us to.

Union organizers cannot hand out flyers or materials on Festival Foods property. They’re not allowed in parking lots or work areas. They can only be in areas open to the public. But UFCW may contact guests and community members outside of work to ask for support.

If you are represented by a union, you’d be expected to comply with two sets of rules: 

1. The union contract—which sets rules about scheduling, seniority, vacation time and other work matters. 
2. UFCW Local 1473’s rules as outlined in the union’s Constitution and Bylaws. 

Yes, but it’s not easy. You’d have to wait at least one year to even start the process. If there’s no contract yet, workers can ask the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to hold a vote to remove the union. But if Festival Foods and the union sign a contract during that first year, you’re stuck with the union for the length of that contract—usually 2-4 years. Also, Festival Foods cannot legally help you remove the union and there’s no guarantee that the NLRB will grant your request for another election.

If you believe you’ve been fired or disciplined unfairly, the union can file a grievance (complaint) for you. But this doesn’t guarantee you’ll get your job back or have discipline removed. It only guarantees a process and possibly arbitration to review whether the action was fair. In short, while UFCW may promise you that they can do this, the truth is that there are no guarantees.

Collective bargaining is when a union and employer negotiate over pay, schedules, benefits and working conditions. There are NO GUARANTEES about the results. The union may make promises, but what matters most to you is not guaranteed:

• Pay
• Benefits
• Work schedules
• Flexibility
• Other workplace adjustments

You could end up with more, the same or less than you have now. Festival Foods doesn’t have to agree to any union demands. Collective bargaining is a complex process that, on average, takes 461 days to get to a first contract.³

³ Purifoy, P., & Weykamp, G. (2026, May 26). Punching in: Democrats want another swing at overtime expansion. Bloomberg Law.

Yes, unions can strike during negotiations. When workers strike, they don’t get paid by Festival Foods. Some unions even fine workers who don’t strike or who cross picket lines to work. There have been multiple UFCW strikes this year alone.

Up to $3,100 in dues over the life of a 3-year contract!

Based on UFCW’s financial records, you could pay $3,100 in dues over a typical 3-year contract. That’s more than $1,000 per year—money that could go toward:

• Housing/rent
• Groceries
• Car payments/gas
• Vacations
• Gifts for special occasions
• Other items that are important to you

And if more than $1,000 a year isn’t enough, the union can increase your dues anytime it wants.

NO. Dues are not the only expenses. The union’s constitution (Article 38, Section (A), Subsection 1) lets them charge you initiation fees, reinstatement fees and “special assessments” for any number of reasons. Some unions have fined members for crossing a picket line to work even if that’s what they decided is best for them and their family.

There are no guarantees about what the union will do for you. The union might spend your money on issues that have nothing to do with your job or things you don’t agree with, including political donations.