2026 Labor Notes Conference

Jay Oak-Schiller, a longtime UFCW Local 367 member and shop steward from Fred Meyer Stevens, was invited to speak at the biennial Labor Notes Conference, the largest gathering of grassroots union activists and organizers in North America. This year's conference brought together over 4,500 union members, organizers, and labor activists from across the continent.

Jay participated in the panel "Unions, Climate, and the Fight for Affordability," which explored the connections between climate justice, economic justice, and the role unions can play in addressing both. During the discussion, Jay highlighted Local 367's involvement in winning some of the strongest tenant protections in the country through Tacoma's Tenants' Bill of Rights.

He spoke on how rising housing costs and economic insecurity affect working people, and how unions can build power not only in the workplace but also in the broader community. His presentation showcased how UFCW 367 members have worked alongside tenants, community organizations, and other allies to advance policies that improve the lives of working families.

Jay's presentation put Local 367's member-driven model on the national stage: concrete proof of what is possible when workers organize together to take on the challenges they face on and off the job.