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UFCW President Marc Perrone highlighted the historic announcement as part of UFCW’s ongoing commitment to building a strong and diverse union

UNI affiliate, the United Food & Commercial Workers made history by electing Esther López as the International Secretary-Treasurer. The decision to appoint López, a champion for working men and women, displays UFCW’s commitment to building a diverse and strong union family.

Lopez has been a tireless fighter for immigrants’ rights and has been a leading activist in UFCW’s groundbreaking outreach to Latino and immigrant communities in the United States.   She is recognized as an expert on civil, human and labour rights as well as on immigration reform.

New International Secretary Treasurer of UFCW Esther López said, “I am truly honoured to be elected to this position – this union and our members are like family.The UFCW’s commitment to building a stronger and more diverse union is so important – it inspire me to fight to better the lives of our members and I’m more optimistic than ever about the future of this great union.”

General Secretary of UNI Global Union Philip Jennings said, “We are delighted with the election of Esther López - she is a fearless campaigner for UFCW’s members and brings great experience of the international labour movement as well as domestic expertise to the table.”

President of UFCW Marc Perrone said, “I am proud to announce that the UFCW International Executive Board elected Esther López as our union family’s new International Secretary-Treasurer. She is a tireless advocate for human and labour rights, and believes that our nation’s diversity is our strength.”

Throughout her career, López has been a champion of the rights of all workers – regardless of where they come from or where they were born. To help provide hope to immigrant workers, López launched a groundbreaking program to ensure eligible UFCW members were first in line to apply for citizenship.

López began with the UFCW in November 2006 when she was hired as Director of the Civil Rights and Community Action Department.  In that role, she helped put the UFCW on the front lines of the most crucial civil rights battles of our time—fighting back against voter suppression, working to end exploitation of refugees from countries like Burma, Sudan and Somalia, creating more opportunities for women, and expanding LGBT equality.