Our Proud History: Those Who Paved the Way
On April 2, 1900, because April Fool’s Day would have been, well, a little strange, nine Seattle butchers with a passion for justice formed Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workman, Local 81, to work for better wages and working conditions for hundreds of meat cutters and butchers in Seattle, Washington.
Some amazing things have happened in the more than 100 years of Local 81 history since then.
The biggest problem in 1900, connected to the issue of low pay, was the physically grueling work week. Many meat cutters were being forced to work 80 hours a week, with no overtime pay.
After an 8-month struggle, these early union members got their first victory: Management finally agreed to a 6pm closing Monday through Friday, with 10pm on Saturdays and a “short” half-day of work on Sundays.
The 8-hour work week was now just 66 hours (still no overtime pay). A huge win!
A look at the progress over just four decades shows what the union has done to make the lives of its members better:
In April 1900, journeyman meat cutters were being forced to work 80 hours a week with no overtime pay.
By December 1900, the union had negotiated a 66-hour work week for its members.
By 1904, union members worked a 60-hour week and had a guaranteed salary of at $30 a week.*
By 1935, thanks to the hard work of their union, members had a 54-hour work week at $36 a week.*
By 1946, just 11 years later, union members were enjoying a 40-hour work week at $70 a week and with overtime pay.
* Pay for jouneyman meat cutter – Though the membership and geographic reach have increased through the years UFCW Local 81 continues to fight for the rights of each of its members with as much passion and fire as our early leaders did.
We will forever be grateful to those who carved out the path for us and sacrificed so much so we have all that we have today.
