UFCW Local 135 opens Union HQ in Scripps Ranch
The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Union Local 135 officially opened its new headquarters at 10075 Carroll Canyon Road in Scripps Ranch on June 16, marking a significant milestone in the union’s ongoing history in San Diego and Imperial Counties.
The opening concludes a nearly two-year process that began with the decision to sell the union’s longtime Mission Valley headquarters and invest in a modern facility designed to support the future growth of the organization. The new headquarters will provide expanded space for member services, organizing, meetings and community engagement while positioning the union for decades to come.
The move represents the latest chapter in a history that dates back more than 120 years. UFCW Local 135 traces its roots to the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen, whose Local 229 affiliated with the San Diego Federated Trades and Labor Council in 1903, and the Retail Clerks Local 1222, and organized in San Diego beginning in 1917. In 1978, the Meat Cutters and the Retail Clerks International Union merged nationally to form the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. Eight years later, in January 1986, San Diego’s Meat Cutters Local 229 and Retail Clerks Local 1222 united to form UFCW Local 135.
Today, UFCW Local 135 represents more than 11,000 active members working in grocery, retail, healthcare, pharmacy, dental, meat processing, gaming, cannabis and other industries throughout
San Diego and Imperial Counties.
“Our union was built by generations of workers who believed that when people stand together, they can create a better future,” said UFCW Local 135 President Todd Walters. “From the Meat Cutters who organized in San Diego more than a century ago to the members we represent today, our history has always been about growth, progress and helping working people. This new headquarters honors that legacy while giving us the tools and space to continue that work for generations to come.”
The new building features expanded member service areas, dedicated organizing offices, executive board rooms, meeting spaces and future plans for a larger union hall. A second phase of construction will transform the former Cabrillo Credit Union branch on the first floor into a new union hall almost twice the size of the union’s previous meeting space in Mission Valley.
“The opening of this building is about much more than a new address,” said UFCW Local 135 Secretary-Treasurer Grant Tom. “It represents confidence in our future and our commitment to the members who make this union strong. As Local 135 continues to grow and evolve, this headquarters ensures we have the resources necessary to meet the future needs of our membership.”
To celebrate this milestone, UFCW Local 135 will host a free Member Appreciation Grand Opening Celebration on Saturday, Aug. 1, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the new headquarters. This free event for UFCW members and their family will feature a ribbon cutting with Mayor Todd Gloria and area Councilmember Kent Lee, food, giveaways, a DJ, tours of the facility and other family-friendly activities.
The opening of the new headquarters also coincides with the unveiling of a new UFCW Local 135 logo. Inspired by San Diego and Southern California, the new design reflects the union’s commitment to the future while honoring the generations of members whose efforts built the organization.
As UFCW Local 135 begins this next chapter, it does so under a banner that reflects both its history and its aspirations: “Forward together, stronger than ever!”
UFCW Local 135 is San Diego’s largest private sector union. For more information visit www.ufcw135.com.