UFCW Local 99

What UFCW Local 99 does

UFCW Local 99 (United Food and Commercial Workers Local 99) is a labor union local chartered in March 1941 and headquartered at 2401 North Central Avenue in Phoenix, Arizona. It is the largest private sector union in Arizona, representing approximately 24,000 workers across Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. Its operations span grocery retail (Fry's, Safeway, Smith's, Albertsons in Yuma), meatpacking and food processing (JBS, Sunland Beef, Smithfield Foods), airport services (ABM Aviations, Flagship, Velociti Services), and emerging retail segments such as Bookmans Entertainment Exchange. The union operates a Tucson regional office at 2955 E Broadway Blvd and is led by President James McLaughlin (in role since 2001, also UFCW International Vice President) and Secretary-Treasurer Stan Chavira (in role since 2015). As a local chapter of UFCW International Union (which represents 1.3-1.4 million workers nationwide), it operates within the federal labor law framework of the National Labor Relations Act, securing exclusive bargaining representation through NLRB elections and voluntary recognition.

The organization's core offering is worker representation: collective bargaining agreement negotiation, contract administration, grievance handling, seniority protections, and disciplinary due process. This is supplemented by a portfolio of member benefits, including healthcare coverage administered through benefit plans paying more than $200 million annually, dental benefits through Bright Now!, ambulance protection via MASA, retiree medical coverage through The Hartford, education benefits including three full-ride Franklin University scholarships launched in 2026, and member discounts. Technology is limited to third-party UnionWare Inc. MemberLink software for the member portal; no proprietary AI/ML or software products are operated. Revenue is generated through recurring membership dues deducted from represented workers' paychecks (analogous to subscription revenue), benefit administration, and employer contributions to multi-employer benefit funds (Desert States UFCW Pension Fund, UFCW Local 99 and Employers Health and Welfare Fund). Pricing is not publicly disclosed.

Strategic priorities visible in recent activity include expansion into new verticals (notably the first-ever bookstore unionization in Arizona at Bookmans in 2024 and airport services organizing), deepening member benefit ecosystems through partnerships with Franklin University and MASA, and institutional alliance with Arizona AFL-CIO (President McLaughlin on Executive Council since 2010). Distribution is workplace-based—field representatives and stewards operate directly at member employer sites—and marketing reaches potential members through community organizing, telephone town halls, and social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram). No public financial filings or revenue figures are disclosed.

Name

UFCW Local 99

Legal name

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 99

Website

https://ufcw99.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1941

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

UFCW Local 99 is a labor union chartered in 1941 representing approximately 24,000 workers across Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. It negotiates collective bargaining agreements in grocery, meatpacking, airport services, and retail while administering member healthcare, dental, and education benefits.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Union Membership Dues: Union members pay membership dues to fund union operations, member services, contract negotiations, and representation.
2. Member Benefits Administration: The union administers member benefit programs including health insurance, dental benefits, retirement plans, and scholarship programs funded through employer contributions and union resources.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

UFCW Local 99 represents approximately 24,000-25,000 workers across Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah through collective bargaining agreements with employers in grocery retail, meatpacking, airports, and other industries. The union negotiates contracts covering wages, healthcare, pensions, vacations, overtime, holidays, seniority rights, and grievance procedures, while administering member benefits including health insurance (over $200 million annually), dental, ambulance protection, retiree medical, education scholarships, and discounts.

Product overview

UFCW Local 99 is a labor union offering a comprehensive suite of member services and benefits rather than a traditional technology product. The core offering is union representation for workers including contract negotiation, grievance procedures, and workplace protections. Member benefits include healthcare coverage (Bree Health EMAP), dental benefits (Bright Now!), ambulance protection (MASA), retirement medical plans (Hartford), education benefits (Franklin University scholarships), and retail discounts. The union represents over 24,000 workers in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah across various industries including supermarkets, packing houses, offices, airports, and retail. The organization does not offer a software platform or API product; members access services through the website and member portal (MemberLink Software by UnionWare Inc.).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Union members are 40% more likely to have quality medical plans
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Association of Letter CarrierscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 May 2026Annual partnership for the 34th annual Letter Carriers' Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, the largest single-day food drive in the United States. UFCW members participate by filling bags with non-perishable food items for pickup by letter carriers.
• Franklin UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2026Partnership providing reduced-cost education programs for UFCW members and their families. Franklin University has established three full-ride scholarships for UFCW members: Unity and Solidarity Scholarship, Next Generation Scholarship, and Bridge to Opportunity Scholarship.
• MASA (Medical Alert Services Association)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides members-only ambulance benefit to protect families from costly out-of-pocket ambulance expenses.
• Bright Now! Dental BenefitminorGTM or Marketing PartnerExclusive dental benefit program available to UFCW Local 99 members.
• The HartfordminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides retiree medical plan for UFCW Local 99 members.
• Southland Insurance ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides exclusive union insurance benefits to help members find high-quality coverage with fair pricing.
• Bree Health (Employee Membership Assistance Program)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployee Membership Assistance Program (EMAP) providing support services to union members.
• UFCW International UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization of UFCW Local 99. UFCW International represents 1.3-1.4 million workers nationwide and provides support for organizing, contract negotiations, and member benefits.
• Arizona AFL-CIOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState labor federation; UFCW Local 99 President McLaughlin serves on Arizona's AFL-CIO Executive Council since 2010.
• Desert States UFCW Pension FundcoreOthersMulti-employer pension fund chaired by UFCW Local 99 President McLaughlin for union members.
• UFCW Local 99 and Employers Health and Welfare FundcoreOthersHealth and welfare fund administered by UFCW Local 99, paying more than $200 million annually for health benefits.
• Desert States Charitable FoundationminorOthersCharitable foundation associated with UFCW Local 99 that supports community initiatives and charitable work.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• AFL-CIO: AFL-CIO is the national federation of US labor unions. Related as the umbrella body to which UFCW Local 99 is indirectly affiliated through Arizona AFL-CIO; provides political advocacy, organizing resources, and labor movement coordination.
• Arizona AFL-CIO: Arizona AFL-CIO is the state labor federation of which UFCW Local 99's president sits on the Executive Council. Related as a strategic alliance and political advocacy partner in the Arizona labor movement rather than a direct competitor for members.
• UNITE HERE: UNITE HERE is a labor union representing workers in hotels, gaming, food service, and airports. Thematically comparable as a service-sector labor union with similar contract negotiation and benefit administration model, though non-competing in primary sector focus.

Broad incumbents

• Teamsters: International Brotherhood of Teamsters is one of the largest US labor unions, with similar dues-funded model, collective bargaining focus, and multi-state local structure. Comparable in scale and operating philosophy but different industry mix (transportation, logistics, warehousing).
• UFCW International Union: UFCW International is the parent organization representing 1.3–1.4 million members across the US and Canada. It is a broader incumbent that coordinates national campaigns (e.g., Walmart), sets organizing strategy, and supports local bargaining — directly relevant as Local 99's parent federation.
• SEIU: Service Employees International Union is a major US labor union with comparable dues-driven membership model, collective bargaining focus, and benefit fund administration. Comparable as a broad labor union incumbent though focused on healthcare, janitorial, and public services.

Direct peers

• UFCW Local 770: UFCW Local 770 is another large UFCW local covering Southern California grocery and retail workers. It is a direct peer in structure, mission, and membership base — both represent workers under collective bargaining agreements with the same large grocery chains (Ralphs, Vons, Albertsons).
• UFCW Local 5: UFCW Local 5 represents grocery, retail, and pharmacy workers across Northern California. Direct peer in scale, sector focus (Raley's, Safeway, Save Mart), and operating model as a regional UFCW local with multi-employer benefit funds.
• UFCW Local 7: UFCW Local 7 represents grocery, meatpacking, and retail workers in Colorado and Wyoming. Directly comparable as a regional UFCW local with similar employer mix (King Soopers/City Market, Safeway) and benefit fund administration model.
• UFCW Local 1167: UFCW Local 1167 represents grocery workers in Indiana and Kentucky. Comparable as a regional UFCW local with similar collective bargaining structure and member benefits administration across multi-state grocery employers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ufcw99
• Facebookfacebook.com/UFCW99
• Instagraminstagram.com/ufcw99
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ufcw-local-99

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about UFCW Local 99