Timeline of 2025 UFCW Local 663 Contract Negotiations
Next Bargaining Dates:
Click the dates below for updates
Over the past several months, local Twin Cities grocers have been bargaining in good faith with UFCW 663, with the goal of reaching an agreement that benefits our employees, customers and communities. We’ve met with UFCW 663 on 12 occasions with offers that include better wages and affordable healthcare, while focusing on continuing to provide the service our customers expect.
It is unfortunate that the union has taken the unnecessary step of protesting at our stores, after rejecting our offers to meet more frequently early in the negotiating process. We hope the union will come to the table and work with leadership on an agreement that is fair to everyone and enables grocers to continue to meet the needs of the thousands of customers we serve each day.
We have a long track record of positive dialogue and collaboration with UFCW 663, and we remain committed to good faith negotiations and a cordial and professional negotiation process. For more information, community members may visit www.yourtwincitiesgrocers.com.
Although the parties had previously agreed the employers would respond in the morning; the day before, the union advised that it intended to present a new offer. The Union withdrew its March 26 proposals and presented a series of new package proposals totaling more than 50 pages to the grocers. This presentation and related discussion took most of the morning, and the parties concluded that they would be willing to go late into the evening as it would take time for each of the seven grocers to prepare their individual response given the new union positions presented. When the parties met again for the employers to respond, the union’s representative stopped the presentation after four of the seven proposals and said that they no longer wanted any presentation, leaving three of the grocers—Knowlan’s, Lunds & Byerlys, and Haug Companies—without the ability to explain their packages to their employees. After the union caucused for approximately 90 minutes, the union’s representatives told the employers they would not respond further, and asked for additional bargaining dates. The employers offered two options and await acceptance or alternative dates from the union.
Bargaining resumed today as scheduled. The employers met first with the bargaining committee and shared each of their individual package proposals, explaining that they represent the full amount available for these contracts. The Union presented responses of their own, mid-afternoon, to each employer. In general, the Union proposals asked for more than the full amount each employer had offered. After a caucus, the employer group returned to meet with the bargaining committee and shared their concerns about the details of the Union responses and the challenge of preparing responses that work within the economic constraints of the package available to cover wages, health & welfare and pension for the employers that participate in the legacy pension plan, and also address the non-economic requests made in the union’s proposal. The employers committed to reviewing their proposals alongside the Union responses to try and find a path to move the negotiations forward. The employers will prepare for the next scheduled negotiating date of Wednesday April 9, 2025. The employers remain committed to good faith bargaining benefitting employees, rooted in our commitment to successfully operate sustainable businesses for the customers and communities we serve into the future.
Bargaining continued today with sessions focused on specific topics in an interest-based bargaining format, including some breakout sessions for each employer to meet with their bargaining committee representatives. The employers remain dedicated to reaching a fair deal that benefits everyone and continue to prioritize finalizing the agreement as soon as possible. Our next bargaining day is scheduled for Wednesday, March 26, 2025.
Our employer group met early to prepare for negotiations scheduled at 9 a.m. Shortly before the start, the Union notified our group they required additional time to prepare responses to individual proposals. The employers remained in caucus, refining their proposals throughout the day in preparation to meet with the bargaining committee. During this caucus time, we confirmed that the Union and the bargaining committee were at a picket in front of the Cub Foods on Lyndale in Bloomington. Later in the afternoon, the Union requested a discussion on structure and next steps. Employers engaged in the dialogue and jointly came to an agreement with the Union on a go-forward process. The Union proposed meeting times of either Wednesday at 9 p.m. or Thursday at 9 a.m. Employers, having worked throughout the day, agreed to the Thursday morning meeting time. Employers adjourned while the Union continued their preparations into the evening. Employers are now prepared for negotiations at 9 a.m. on Thursday, March 20.
Bargaining resumed today as planned and we completed a full day of bargaining. UFCW 663 leadership presented responses to the individual employer proposals that were presented on the afternoon of Monday, March 17, 2025. Employers reviewed the Union proposals relating to their specific individual contracts and responded before the end of day. We are prepared to meet at 9:00 am tomorrow to continue bargaining.
All local grocers presented their own responses to the Union’s proposals and revised versions of their proposals this afternoon.
In preparation for the upcoming bargaining dates, UFCW 663 leadership requested local grocers to share their proposals before the bargaining session of March 18, 2025. All local grocers wanted to present and answer questions about their proposals and made themselves available for that. UFCW 663 leadership agreed to the date of March 17, 2025, for all grocers to present in person to share their own responses to the Union’s proposals.
Bargaining resumed today. Lunds & Byerlys and Haug Companies presented proposals for their specific contracts to Local 663. Kowalski’s, Jerry’s, Shakopee Cub, Lunds & Byerlys and Haug Companies each also presented their responses to Local 663’s proposals from February 25. All local grocers, UFCW 663 and their bargaining committee were in attendance. The bargaining session was long today due to the short day of bargaining on Wednesday, February 26, 2025. This session lasted from 9:00 am to 12:55 am on Friday, February 28, 2025. This was a necessary long session to ensure that all proposals that were presented to the bargaining committee by each employer were fully responded to by the Union and their bargaining committee. Local 663 presented a document that responded to grocer proposals and another that presented more of its proposals. This allowed for some productive work to be completed before our next scheduled bargaining date of March 18, 2025. Bargaining will resume on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, due to the schedule UFCW 663 leadership made available.
Bargaining resumed today. Knowlan’s and Cub presented proposals for their specific contracts to Local 663. Cub also presented its responses to Local 663’s proposals from February 25. All local grocers, UFCW 663 and the bargaining committee were in attendance. The bargaining session that began today at 9:00 am, ended just before 1:00 pm by the UFCW 663 leadership as they had other commitments and priorities, rather than continuing to bargain with the local grocers. The local grocers continued their work and preparation to continue bargaining all afternoon and into the evening.
Bargaining resumed today after a long delay due to the schedule UFCW 663 leadership made available. Today, the union presented a general proposal, portions of which would apply to each of the local grocers in attendance. Today, Jerry’s Foods, Shakopee Cub and Kowalski’s presented proposals for their specific contracts to Local 663. All local grocers, UFCW 663 and their bargaining committee were in attendance.
Statement from Jerry’s Foods, Lunds & Byerlys, Kowalski’s Markets, and Knowlan’s Festival Foods, Cub, Shakopee Cub and Haug Companies:
“As Twin Cities grocers, we have a long history of good-faith and constructive negotiations with UFCW 663, resulting in fair and equitable agreements. With the next bargaining dates slated for February 25-27, we are approaching contract negotiation in the same way. We have a three-fold commitment – to our employees, our customers and our communities. We value our employees and have a demonstrated track record of positive relations as evidenced by the industry-leading employee tenures and career advancement. We strive for fair and equitable contracts and are committed to doing so in a cordial and professional way. We believe this is essential – even expected by the communities we serve – to arrive at contract terms that not only advance our employees in a fair and equitable way, but allow us to operate a sustainable, resilient business now and well into the future.”
Bargaining continued today focused on Health & Welfare. All local grocers, UFCW 663 and the bargaining committee were in attendance. All local grocers offered to meet on any day or time after today through our next scheduled bargaining date of February 25, 2025. UFCW 663 leadership offered availability on March 18, 19 and 20 but otherwise remained committed to their schedule with other priorities, rather than meeting with their grocery members and the local grocers.
Bargaining continued today focused on Health & Welfare. All local grocers, UFCW 663 and the bargaining committee were in attendance.
The local grocers contacted UFCW 663 and proposed solutions to work toward a deal during the time UFCW 663 was unavailable, including:
Local 663 did not respond.
Bargaining started for a new contract to replace the existing contract that expires on or about March 1, 2025, with a day of negotiations on H&W issues. Each local grocer has its own individual company contract. Local grocers are committed to their employees and are hoping to reach a tentative agreement for a new contract before expiration. All local grocers, UFCW 663 and their bargaining committee were in attendance. UFCW Local 663 informed the local grocers that the only dates they were available in January and February were January 14 and 16 and February 25-27.
General information session regarding the Legacy Pension fund. Presentation of information for the session was completed by fund professionals from Segal Partners and Wilson-McShane. Local grocers participating in the legacy pension fund, UFCW 663 and their bargaining committee were in attendance.
General information session on Health & Welfare fund. Presentation of information for the session was completed by fund professionals from Segal Partners and Wilson-McShane. All local grocers, UFCW 663 and their bargaining committee were in attendance.
Seven local grocers proposed a schedule of negotiations starting with one day of joint bargaining on Health & Welfare issues followed by fourteen specific dates in January and February to start bargaining on other issues (two dates per grocer). The Union confirmed the day of joint bargaining on H&W issues.
Cub (including Shakopee Cub and Haug Company stores), Jerry’s Foods, Lunds & Byerlys, Knowlan’s Festival Foods and Kowalski’s Markets are local, community-minded employers with generations of being community centers and offering fair employment opportunities. In fact, many local residents have found a first job at one of our companies that eventually developed into a full-time career. With a collective history more than 455 years and counting, we are preferred grocery destinations that partner with other local companies for goods and services to help build their businesses. This commitment to operating has delivered many years of investing in the communities we serve.
Our long track record of equitable pay, generous benefits, and good faith negotiation is being questioned by UFCW Local 663 union representatives at the expense of their union membership. As local grocers, we value our employees and want to see them thriving and fulfilled. Together, we are committed to thoughtful and good-faith negotiations and will consider reasonable proposals benefitting employees, rooted in our commitment to successfully operate sustainable businesses for the customers and communities we serve into the future.
