UFCW Local 328

What UFCW Local 328 does

UFCW Local 328 (United Food and Commercial Workers Local 328) is a regional labor union and chartered local of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, founded in January 1937 by five meat cutters employed at First National Grocery Stores in Rhode Island. The organization represents over 12,000 workers across Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts in retail grocery, cannabis, craft brewing, and adjacent industries, with primary represented employers including Stop & Shop and Price Rite. Headquartered at 278 Silver Spring Street in Providence, Rhode Island, the local is led by President Joe Renzi (appointed August 2026) and Secretary-Treasurer Jim Riley, supported by an Executive Board and a lean staff of approximately 10.

As a labor union, UFCW Local 328 does not develop proprietary technology products. Its core deliverables are collective bargaining representation, grievance handling, contract enforcement, member education and steward training (delivered via the Institute for Labor Studies & Research), scholarship programs, retiree services, political activism support, and a dedicated Cannabis Division for organizing cannabis-industry workers. Member-facing channels include the ufcw328.org website, a Member Resources Portal, bargaining updates pages, a scholarship program, an annual Charitable Foundation Golf Tournament that has raised over $1 million for disease-related causes (leukemia and lymphoma), and the UFCW GOLD youth internship initiative.

Revenue is generated through recurring membership dues collected from the 12,000+ represented workers under negotiated collective bargaining agreements — functionally a subscription-style model funded by the worker base rather than external capital. The local is structured as a nonprofit membership organization and is not equity-financed or publicly traded; it operates under the umbrella of the UFCW International Union, which represents 1.3 million members nationally and provides institutional resources, brand credibility, and coordination across the international's footprint. Marketing and outreach are conducted primarily through the website, Facebook and Twitter channels, email newsletters, community organizing, and quarterly membership meetings rather than paid acquisition.

Name

UFCW Local 328

Legal name

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 328

Website

https://ufcw328.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

UFCW Local 328 is a labor union founded in 1937 representing over 12,000 workers in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts across grocery, cannabis, and brewery industries, providing collective bargaining, member services, and advocacy under the UFCW International Union umbrella.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Providence, RI

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Union Membership Dues: UFCW Local 328 generates revenue through membership dues collected from its over 12,000 represented workers. These dues fund union operations, collective bargaining activities, member services, and advocacy efforts.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

UFCW Local 328 is a labor union that organizes workers, negotiates collective bargaining agreements, and provides ongoing representation for over 12,000 members in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts. Its core activities include union organizing campaigns, grievance handling, contract enforcement, advocacy on workplace issues, and member benefits such as scholarships, pension and health/welfare information access, and political activism support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• UFCW Local 328 Union Membership Labor union membership providing collective bargaining, workplace rights advocacy, and member benefits for over 12,000 workers in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts. Available to workers who contact the union to gain representation.
• Organizing Services Services that help non-union workers form unions and gain collective bargaining representation at their workplaces through organizing campaigns and union elections.
• Cannabis Division
• Member Resources Portal Online portal providing members access to health and welfare information, pension details, scholarships, collective bargaining updates, and membership meeting schedules.
• Scholarship Awards Program Annual scholarship program awarding financial assistance to members' family members pursuing higher education, with winners announced each year.
• Bargaining Updates Regular communications and updates to members regarding ongoing contract negotiations with employers such as Stop & Shop.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 12,000 workers represented in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Connecticut AFL-CIO and Massachusetts AFL-CIOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2019The Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts state AFL-CIO federations issued a message of support for UFCW Local 328 members during the Stop & Shop strike authorization and contract negotiations.
• Rhode Island Jobs with JusticecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2015UFCW Local 328 collaborates with Rhode Island Jobs with Justice and other national and Rhode Island labor organizations to fight for worker rights and better working conditions at employers like Price Rite.
• Institute for Labor Studies & ResearchminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 April 2015The Institute for Labor Studies & Research provides Basic and Advanced Steward Training workshops for UFCW Local 328 members, covering grievance handling, contract enforcement, and arbitration processes.
• Rhode Island AFL-CIOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2015UFCW Local 328 is affiliated with the Rhode Island AFL-CIO labor federation. George Nee, President of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, participated in press events with the union on issues like minimum wage increases.
• UFCW GOLD Internship ProgramminorOthers · 1 March 2015The UFCW GOLD (Growing, Organizing, and Leading for Development) Internship Program is an international union initiative that immerses young people under 30 into the world of organized labor and social justice. UFCW Local 328 promotes and participates in this program.
• UFCW International UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1937UFCW Local 328 is a local chapter of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, which represents 1.3 million members across North America. The local operates under the international union's charter and receives institutional support, resources, and coordination for organizing and collective bargaining.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Rhode Island AFL-CIO: State labor federation that UFCW Local 328 is affiliated with; coordinates cross-union activity in Rhode Island and serves as a primary coalition partner in bargaining and political action.
• UFCW Local 1445: Adjacent UFCW local covering Massachusetts grocery and food workers; operates in the same employer footprint and industries as UFCW Local 328, making it the most directly comparable peer for organizing strategy and contract outcomes.

Broad incumbents

• UFCW International Union: National umbrella organization for all UFCW locals including Local 328; not a direct competitor but the parent and most relevant incumbent for benchmarking governance, dues structure, and organizing playbooks.
• UNITE HERE: National labor union representing workers in hospitality, food service, and brewing; increasingly relevant as Local 328 expands into brewery and hospitality organizing.
• RWDSU (Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union): National union covering retail grocery and food workers, with overlapping jurisdiction at employers like Stop & Shop; a key competitor for worker representation in the same sectors.
• Teamsters International Union: Large national union with overlapping grocery, warehouse, and beer distribution membership; competes with UFCW Local 328 for same worker categories in same region and across craft beverage supply chains.

Emerging players

• SEIU 32BJ: Service Employees International Union district representing property services and commercial workers in the Northeast; an emerging adjacency for cleaning, security, and ancillary retail workers that Local 328's members may also engage with.

Regional players

• Teamsters Local 251: Teamsters local operating in Rhode Island representing grocery, warehouse, and distribution workers; directly competes with UFCW Local 328 for the same worker pool in the same territory.
• UFCW Local 919: UFCW local in Connecticut representing food and commercial workers, sharing a multi-state regional remit and several overlapping employers with Local 328.
• Massachusetts AFL-CIO: State labor federation covering the Southeastern Massachusetts portion of Local 328's footprint; provides cross-state mobilization support during contract fights such as Stop & Shop.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/UFCWLocal328
• Facebookfacebook.com/UFCWLocal328
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ufcw-local-328

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 328