Crosby, Guenther named to lead 45,000-member UFCW Local 21

The following is from United Food and Commercial Workers Local 21:

SEATTLE (June 25, 2015) — The Executive Board has appointed Todd Crosby as President and Faye Guenther as Secretary-Treasurer of UFCW 21, effective immediately.

Crosby, former Secretary-Treasurer, was appointed by the board to fill the vacancy after the retirement of long-time President Dave Schmitz, who had served as President since 2000 and had been in the union for 43 years. He, along with countless members and staff over the years, helped build UFCW 21 into the largest private sector union in Washington. Both Crosby and Guenther have been key parts to that growth during their combined 30 years with the union. UFCW 21 is widely viewed as one of the most progressive unions in the region as well as having one of the youngest memberships in the labor movement.

Crosby started as a UFCW member back in 1988 as a courtesy clerk and then produce clerk at a Thriftway in Vancouver, Wash. After graduating from Clark College in Vancouver and The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Todd worked with United Farm Workers and then joined the staff of UFCW in 1995. Since that time he has helped organize numerous workers and led key campaigns to advance the interest of working people, including the Paid Sick Leave campaign in Seattle and the $15 minimum wage victory. Crosby has held many positions within UFCW 21 including Organizer, Union Representative, Staff Director, Executive Vice President, and most recently he served as Secretary-Treasurer.

Guenther has nearly a decade with UFCW. Starting in 1999, Guenther helped organize and win first contracts at numerous health care facilities. In 2001, Guenther moved back to her home State of Oregon to continue her union work and earn her law degree. After passing the Washington Bar in 2008, she returned to UFCW 21 and has served as Membership Action Director, Staff Director, and most recently Executive Vice-President.

“I’ve known Todd for 20 years. He’s been and will continue to be a true labor union leader, not only in UFCW 21, but for the broader movement,” said Pam Milan, a UFCW 21 Executive Board member and health care worker at MultiCare in Tacoma.

“I am very excited to have a new generation of leadership in Todd and Faye as our union’s new top officers,” said Ariana Davis another UFCW 21 Executive Board member and grocery store worker for Haggen in Renton. “They are true believers in the power of workers standing together to get something done.”

Crosby is also on the Executive Board of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO.

UFCW 21 has more than 45,000 members across Washington working in grocery stores, retail, health care and other industries. Learn more at the UFCW 21 website.