United Food and Commercial Workers International Union

The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), Local 1245 is based in Northern New Jersey and represents workers in the supermarket industry and other smaller industries. During the 1960s and 1970s the union, formerly the Retail Clerks International Association Local 1245 (AFL-CIO), was led by president Frank DeVito and membership included supermarket workers in North Jersey, Hockland County, Staten Island, New York City and Long Island.

The UFCW was created through the merger of the Amalgamated Meat Cutters Union and the Retail Clerks International Union following its founding convention in June 1979. William H. Wynn, president of the Retail Clerks International Union and one of the designers of the merger, became president of UFCW at the time of its founding. The merger created the largest union affiliated with the AFL-CIO. In 1983, the UFCW held its first regular convention in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. In 1984 and 1985 the UFCW pursued aggressive campaigns and organized 136,000 workers. In 1994 longtime UFCW staff member and organizer Douglas H. Dority was elected the second International Union President following the retirement of Wynn.

From the guide to the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, Local 1245 Photographs and Other Material, circa 1964-1986, (Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archive)