The History of UFCW Local 328
In January of 1937, five meat cutters who worked for First National Grocery Stores in Rhode Island, including two future presidents of Local 328 (Sam DiSano & Joseph Crowley) met with the general manager, Byron Fleming of the company’s Providence Division. They asked for the same wages, workweek and working conditions as the Boston Division of the Company, who were represented by Local 592 of the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North America. Quickly rebuffed by the general manager, Sam DiSano replied with truly prophetic words: “We’re going to form a union in Rhode Island”.
This was the beginning of Local 328.
Later that year, 984 workers voted 85% ‘Union Yes’ and became the newly chartered Local 328 of the Amalgamated Meat Cutters & Butcher Workmen of North America.
Its first president was Walter Powe. Its second president, Joseph Crowley was killed in action liberating France in 1945. Jim Casey became president next. Then, in 1948, Salvatore “Sam” DiSano became president and served the local union for 24 years. Sam’s hard work and dedication to the members and their families is a story unto itself. His tremendous organizing efforts brought the union to 6,000 members. Upon his retirement, Sam was appointed Director of the Rhode Island Department of Labor by then-governor Phillip Noel.
Who We Are Today
In the 30 plus years since Sam’s retirement, Local 328 has grown to over 11,000 members across Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts, serving the needs of workers in a myriad of industries including retail food, institutional food, healthcare, banking, transportation and cannabis.
Today, we have collective bargaining agreements with:
Aramark Westerly
Bob’s Discount Furniture
Brigido’s Supermarket
Chartwell’s Bridgewater/Raynham
Chartwells Martha’s Vineyard
Chartwell’s Norton
Cresco/Sunnyside
Durham School Services, Cumberland, RI
Eastland Food Products
First Student Dennis/Yarmouth Bus Drivers
First Student Providence Dispatchers/Bus Monitors
Greenleaf Compassionate Care Center
Landmark Medical Center
Marshfield Schools
Middleboro Schools
Nature’s Medicines
New Bedford Jewish Convalescent Home
Oak Hill Nursing Home
Ocean State Cultivation Center
Rhode Island Credit Union
Roger Williams University
Seven Stars Bakery
Sodexo Providence College Priory
Sodexo Woonsocket
Solar Therapeutics
Stop & Shop
Stop & Shop Fulfillment Center
Summit Commons Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center
Woodlawn Federal Credit Union
The everyday operations at Local 328 still continue at 278 Silver Spring Street in Providence, Rhode Island, which has been our home for 42 years. Servicing the membership, organizing new members, and constant negotiations for new and existing contracts keep our full-time staff very active. These contracts guarantee wages, benefits, working conditions and job security for our members. It is the job of our union representatives to ensure these contracts are enforced, while our organizing department stays busy helping workers go through the process of joining Local 328 to gain a voice on the job to improve their benefits and working conditions.
