Seward Co-op’s Ends guide us to sustain a healthy community that has equitable economic relationships, positive environmental impacts, and inclusive, socially responsible practices. In this spirit of cooperation, we are pleased to share that Seward Community Co-op and United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 663 members unanimously ratified a 3-year industry-leading contract on Monday, Oct. 2, which provides higher wages and more staff benefits.

The contract, which is retroactive, runs from August 21, 2023, through August 20, 2026, and guarantees that all workers will receive at least $5.00 per hour more over the three-year agreement. This means that someone hired at the co-op now with no work experience, regardless of full- or part-time status, will start at $17.65 per hour. By Aug. 2025, that rate will be $20.50 per hour.

All staff will receive an increase of at least $2.15/hour immediately and $5/hour over three years. Additional benefits include an additional 8 hours of paid time off (PTO) for all staff, an additional week of paid parental leave for new parents, and more flexibility in the use of PTO with the combination of PTO and sick time.

The co-op’s position has always been to offer the best wages possible while being responsible to our owners and customers. We believe that this agreement balances our desire to provide the best possible workplace experience with management’s responsibility to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of our community-owned co-op.

As mission-driven organizations, Seward Co-op and UFCW have many shared values. We are grateful for the hard work of our employees and view the UFCW 663 as a partner in our efforts to keep Seward Co-op a great workplace.