LEXINGTON CO-OP AND WORKERS UNITED SIGN SECOND THREE-YEAR CONTRACT, REAFFIRMING COMMITMENT TO PARTNERSHIP
New agreement builds on three years of collaboration and a shared commitment to Lexington Co-op employees, owners, and the Buffalo community
BUFFALO, N.Y.: The Lexington Co-op and Workers United Upstate New York and Vermont have signed their second collective bargaining agreement, renewing their partnership for another three years and reinforcing a shared commitment to Lexington Co-op employees and the long-term success of the cooperative. The new agreement marks the next chapter in a relationship that began with Lexington Co-op’s first union contract in 2023.
“Over the course of our first contract, we’ve learned a great deal about how we can work together effectively and continue strengthening the Lexington Co-op,” said Lexington Co-op CEO Tim Bartlett. “This second agreement reflects the progress we’ve made and our shared commitment to supporting our employees while ensuring the Co-op remains strong, sustainable and able to serve our owners, shoppers, and community for years to come.”
Over the past three years, the Lexington Co-op, and its union-represented Workers United employees, have continued to learn what it means to operate as a union cooperative, building stronger channels for communication, working through challenges, and identifying new opportunities for collaboration.
“This second multi-year contract demonstrates what can be accomplished when workers and management engage one another with respect and a commitment to finding common ground,” said Workers United Rochester Regional Joint Board Manager Gary Bonadonna, Jr. “Our members are deeply invested in the Lexington Co-op and the community it serves, and this agreement builds on a strong foundation for continuing to foster a workplace where employees have a meaningful voice and can share in the Co-op’s success.”
The agreement follows a collaborative bargaining process between Lexington Co-op and Workers United. Both organizations approached negotiations with a focus on finding solutions that balance employees’ needs with the needs of owners and shoppers, of local farmers and producers, and the long-term health and sustainability of the Co-op.
“I am proud of the work that the bargaining committee accomplished. We have a CBA that reflects the needs of our membership, and I am grateful that through collective bargaining, management recognizes the value workers bring to the business,” said member of the Workers United Bargaining Committee and Shop Steward, Elizabeth Barnes.
Highlights of the new agreement include a $1.75 - $2.00 increase to wages for all bargaining unit positions, increasing minimum starting wage to $18.25, and an increased discount from 20% to 30% off on prepared food purchases. Increased PTO was also an agreement.
"The Co-op has been profitable in 2 of the last 3 years of our contract, and we're confident that profitability and growth will continue," said Bartlett.
Lexington Co-op employees first voted to unionize with Workers United Upstate New York in 2022, and the organizations signed their first collective bargaining agreement in 2023. That agreement established the foundation for a new working relationship centered on collective bargaining, employee voice, and the Lexington Co-op’s continued growth as a community-owned grocery cooperative.
The new three-year agreement builds on that foundation and reflects the organizations’ shared belief that the power of collective bargaining can make a great Co-op even greater.
For more than five decades, Lexington Co-op has been rooted in principles of democratic participation, openness, and cooperation. Those same values have helped guide the Co-op’s evolving relationship with Workers United, with both organizations committed to moving forward in a spirit of mutual respect, shared responsibility, and continued dialogue.
“This agreement isn’t simply about the next three years,” continued Bartlett. “It’s about continuing to build a relationship that works for our employees, our owners and shoppers, and the Buffalo community we’re proud to serve.”
About Lexington Co-op Markets
The Lexington Co-op is Buffalo’s community-owned grocery store, with two locations serving the city since 1971. Committed to sustainability, equity, and community investment, the Co-op supports local and global producers who share its mission of creating a fairer food system.
About Workers United Upstate New York & Vermont
Founded by immigrant garment workers, Workers United Upstate, SEIU, has a long track record of fighting for workers’ rights. Today, Workers United represents thousands of workers across Upstate New York and Vermont in a wide range of industries, including: laundries and warehouses, textile factories, manufacturing plants, restaurants and coffee shops.
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