Co-op Update: The Dill Pickle and the Dill Pickle Food Co-op Workers’ Union Sign Three Year Collective Bargaining Agreement

The DPFCWU and Dill Pickle Leadership celebrate after the signing of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Erika Mikkalo, DPFCWU President (left) and I’Talia McCarthy, GM (right) after signing the CBA earlier this week.

The Dill Pickle Food Co-op and the Dill Pickle Food Co-op Workers’ Union (DPFCWU) have signed a new collective bargaining agreement. The DPFCWU ratified the new three-year agreement by a unanimous consensus of those voting, with only one employee abstaining.

The Dill Pickle Food Co-op & DPFCWU are proud of the consensus we’ve reached. The agreement includes:

• A substantial pay increase to ensure that wages remain competitive and the Co-op can attract the best possible employees
• Nine paid holidays
• A new dispute resolution policy
• An improved ability for employees to accrue paid time off and seniority benefits
• New opportunities for the union and the store to collaboratively evaluate how the store is managed and benefits offered to employees

“DPFCWU members are dedicated to serving our customers and our community. We applaud our members and management for reaching an agreement that furthers the co-operative values of democracy, equity, and solidarity,” states Erika Mikkalo, DPFCWU President. “We look forward to the store’s growth and our continuing shared contributions to bringing healthy and sustainable groceries to our membership and neighbors.”

“The Dill Pickle Food Co-op is excited to have a new collective bargaining agreement in place with the DPFCWU. Our employees are critical to our missions of bringing local, sustainable food to Logan Square and Chicago more broadly, and this agreement further solidifies our mutual goal for the Co-op to succeed long into the future. A big thank you to all those who helped us get here,” states I’Talia McCarthy, GM of the Dill Pickle Food Co-op.

About the Dill Pickle Food Co-op Workers’ Union:

Established in 2022, the Dill Pickle Food Co-op Workers’ Union is a local independent union representing workers at the Dill Pickle Food Co-op, a member-owned and financed grocery cooperative located in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago.

About the Dill Pickle Food Co-op:

Established in 2009, the Dill Pickle was born out of the Logan Square Farmers Market and the desire of the community to have a grocery store that sold local, sustainable food year-round. Starting in a small store-front on Fullerton Ave, the Co-op expanded to our current location at 2746 N Milwaukee Ave. Our goal is to sustain a thriving community that has: (1) equitable economic relationships; (2) positive environmental impacts; and (3) inclusive practices grounded in cooperative values.

The DPFCWU with the new CBA.