On Sept. 29 to Oct. 1, production and distribution workers at the Home Chef facility in Bedford Park, Ill., voted to join UFCW Local 1546. Home Chef is a Kroger-owned meal-kit delivery and prepared foods provider.
Following a successful four-month organizing campaign, this organizing win provides union representation for over 450 workers ranging in occupations from all full- and part-time Gatekeepers; Production Associates; Laborers; Environmental Health and Safety Leads; Forklift Operators; Pallet-Jack Operators; Reach Truck Operators: Machine Operators; Quality Control; Runners; Sanitation Workers; Training Leads; Production Associates; Warehouse Associates; Shipping and Receiving Associates; Inventory control Associates; and Shift Leads employed by Home Chef at the Bedford Park facility.
Home Chef prepared food products are sold under the brand name in thousands of Kroger retail locations nationwide and locally in Mariano’s grocery stores. Its highly popular and profitable meal-kits are available for purchase online.
“Workers at this Chicago-based location came together to seek better working conditions, higher pay, improved benefits, along with management accountability,” said UFCW Local 1546 Organizing Director Carlos Cartagena. “We listened carefully to the workers’ concerns and relied heavily on a strategic mobile organizing approach; a strong sense of unity among co-workers; and workers learning from past lessons of failed corporate promises and divisive rhetoric.”
“We welcome Home Chef workers in Chicago to the UFCW Local 1546 union family,” said International Vice President and UFCW Local 1546 President Bob O’Toole. “We’re looking forward to building a better life together as a union. Now more than ever, it is important to join together in the workplace and form a union to protect, defend and build upon our rights in the workplace.”
