United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 21 is a diverse union of more than 30,000 workers in retail, health care, laundry, and other service industries. Local 21 represents more retail employees and more professional and technical health care employees than any other union in the state. Local 21 was formed in October 2005, when a merger between UFCW Local 1001 and Local 1105 went into effect. Members of both unions voted by more than 97% to unite to form a larger, stronger union. Local 21 is the largest union in Washington State.

Local 21 members use their collective strength by standing together for fair treatment, economic justice, and family wage jobs. Union members, staff, and allies work together to negotiate strong contracts that raise pay and benefits, protect workers’ rights, and provide a stronger voice on workplace issues. Local 21 also organizes non-union employees to raise standards for all working families, and to protect the hard-won rights and benefits of our members’ contracts. In the last 10 years, we have organized more than 7,000 workers. (Need a union?)

Local 21 is a democratic union. Our members elect Union leadership, and vote on the Local’s finances and other issues in membership meetings. Union members set priorities for their contract negotiations through surveys and proposal meetings, and serve on negotiating committees. The contracts negotiated by our union negotiating committees don’t go into effect unless the union members covered by the contract vote to approve it.

Local 21 belongs to the 1.4-million-strong United Food & Commercial Workers International Union, which is a member of the Change to Win national labor federation.

If you are a Local 21 member are want to learn more about your union, visit our Member Resources. If you are interested in organizing a union where you work,visit our Need a Union section, or contact the Local 21 Organizing Department at 206-436-6596, 1-800-732-1188, ext. 6596, or by email to pdiaz@ufcw21.org.