UFCW Local 1500 was chartered by the Retail Clerks Union in 1937. In 1979, when the Retail Clerks merged with the Amalgamated Meat-Cutter’s and Butcher Workmen to make the UFCW, we became the UFCW Local 1500. At the time of that merger the UFCW International Union became one of the largest Unions in the AFL-CIO with over 1.2 million members at the time.
With over 17,000 members, Local 1500 is one of the largest locals in the UFCW and the largest of New York State. Our union represents all people from all walks of life in Queens, Staten Island, Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties.
Our members work for companies that have a long history in NY as well. Companies such as Fairway, King Kullen, D’Agostinos, Stop & Shop (Edward’s), Gristede’s, and ShopRite have been serving New Yorkers for many years.
Local 1500 has developed a well-deserved reputation of delivering outstanding contracts, passionately servicing its members and organizing the unorganized. It is thanks to the efforts of the many former officers and staff representatives over the past 85 years that Local 1500 is the outstanding Union it is today.
During the global pandemic of 2020, UFCW Local 1500 was able to secure retroactive hazard payments for members on the front lines and distributed over 65,000 masks to the membership.
As of December 2019, Local 1500 is led by President Robert Newell and Secretary-Treasurer Aly Waddy. Through their leadership, UFCW Local 1500 tirelessly works to ensure hard working men and women in the retail industry throughout New York gain respect, a voice at work, fair schedules and a union contract.
In 2021 your membership bargaining teams successfully negotiated and helped ratify 19 Union contracts, covering almost 7,000 Local 1500 members.
