History

United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 135, has a long history dating back to the early 1900’s. In 1903 the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North America, Local 229 of the Western Federation of Butchers, also known as the Butchers or Meat Cutters Union, became affiliated with the San Diego Federated Trades and Labor Council. In 1917, Retail Clerks organized and also affiliated with the San Diego Federated Trades and Labor Council.

Meat Cutters Local 229, under the leadership of Secretary and Business Manager Max Osslo, became one of the most respected and powerful unions in the country. Mr. Osslo served his membership for 46 years, beginning in 1936 as head of the Meat Cutters in San Diego. He was key to creating apprenticeship programs for meat cutters, slaughterhouse workers, and others in the industry to help them become journeymen and eventually women. Max served on many boards and commissions during his tenure at Local 229, including on the national board of the Leukemia Society.

The contemporary era of the Retail Clerks Union in San Diego began in 1943 with Retail Clerks International Association representative Samuel Meyers. Mr. Meyers started the organizing campaign for grocery clerks and, one year later, Retail Clerks Local 1222 received their charter from the International.

The United Food and Commercial Workers union was founded in 1978 when the Retail Clerks International Association merged with the Amalgamated Meat Cutters. Also joining at the time were the Barbers and Beauticians Union.

In January of 1986 the membership of Retail Clerks Association Local 1222 and those of the Meat Cutters at Local 229 voted to merge and form one of the largest unions in San Diego County, the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Local 135. That is you and that is me. All of us here together. We.

Today, under the leadership of President Todd Walters, Secretary-Treasurer Grant Tom, and Recorder Maribel Mckinze, UFCW Local 135 has a membership consisting of over 13,000 workers throughout San Diego and Imperial Counties with nearly 7000 retirees. The current membership of your union consists of workers in various fields including grocery & retail, health, pharmacy & dental, meat & sugar processing, gaming, and cannabis.