United Food and Commercial Workers 8 are 6,333 members strong in the Central Valley, working at grocery stores and other employers including cannabis shops. Photo via UFCW 8

A year after thousands of workers went on strike across the Golden State — a period nicknamed 2023’s “Labor Summer” — organized labor continues to exert influence and organize local workers seeking higher wages and benefits in the face of inflationary pressure.

While the Golden State’s share of salary and wage workers who were union members rate stood at 15.4% as of February 2024, down from 16.1% in 2022, it’s still higher than the national average of 10% in 2023.

The Central Valley has seen its share of workers call to unionize — some successfully. In July 2022, iron workers at Pevik Construction in Madera voted to join Iron Workers Local 155. In that same year, Starbucks locations across the country were unionizing one by one. A Starbucks in Fresno held a vote to organize, with all 14 counted votes against joining Starbucks Workers United.

With data compiled by the Fresno-Madera-Tulare-Kings California Federation of Labor Unions, The Business Journal published its inaugural list of labor unions on Aug. 30. Combined, the 20 unions on the list represent nearly 32,000 workers in the public and private sector.

The largest union in the Central Valley, according to the Labor Unions list, is the United Food and Commercial Workers 8 (UFCW 8), with a membership of 6,333 in 2023.

The members they represent work in industries including grocery, packing and processing, retail, health care, cannabis, pharmacy, booksellers and more.

Some of their employers in the area include Save Mart, Raley’s, Vons, Food Maxx, Rite Aid, Foster Farms, Swiss American, Harris Ranch Beef, Nulaid, Gallo Wines, Baker Commodities, Busseto Foods and more.

Jacques Loveall, president of UFCW 8, said there is more interest from workers to unionize, with activity reaching major corporations — not only Starbucks, but also Apple and REI.

“A recent survey showed 70% of non-union skilled and hourly workers in the U.S. are open to joining a union if they had the opportunity. The numbers are even higher for Millennials and Gen Zers,” he said.

He said some of the most pressing concerns for members are wages and health care. Workers are also increasingly aware of the challenges of saving for retirement.

Concerns in this particular election cycle include medical leave, worker safety, support for pension plans and affordable health care.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters — whose Teamsters 431 is ranked at No. 5 on the Business Journal list with 2,682 members, according to Department of Labor Statistics — made news this week by declining to endorse Donald Trump or Kamala Harris in the presidential race.

Loveall with UFCW 8 is hopeful the next president can be an ally with organized labor toward its goals.

“We all hope the next president will work with unions to strengthen, not weaken, the rights of working people who want a better future for themselves and their families,” Loveall said.

Loveall said union membership in the cannabis division is rapidly growing, with many understanding that when labor, management and lawmakers work together, anything is possible.

Dillon Savory, executive director of the Fresno-Madera-Tulare-Kings California Federation of Labor Unions, said people under 40 are feeling hopeless about international conflict, climate change, housing and student debt. They see organized labor as a path to different outcomes. The under 40 crowd is at 72% union favorability, he noted.

“It’s kind of a labor renaissance, but U.S. labor laws have been chipped away. Over the last 30 years corporate America really went to work on Congress and chipping away at the National Labor Relations Act,” Savory said.

Other top performers on The Business Journal Labor Unions list:

Service International Union 521 (SEIU 521) is the second largest in the area with 503 members in 2023. They represent county employees.

Service Employees International Union 1000 is third on the list, with 4000 members in 2023, representing state workers.

Service Employees International Union 2015 is fourth on the list with 3,000 members in 2023, representing in-home supportive services workers.

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 1245 is fifth on the list, representing 1,880 call center and construction workers.