ICWUC secures a Major Union Victory in the South with Overwhelming Win at United States Army Garrison Fort Lee (Hopewell, Virginia)

On May 14, 2026, a landmark moment was marked for organized labor in the South, as workers at Southern Foodservice Management, Inc. voted overwhelmingly to join the International Chemical Workers Union Council (ICWUC) of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW).

These employees, who provide essential dining services supporting the U.S. Army installation, secured a clear 82% vote in favor of union representation.

ICWUC Organizing Coordinator, Jordan Easley stated, “This victory illustrates the continued growth of worker organizing efforts across industries traditionally viewed as difficult to organize.”

Winning a union election of this size in the South is particularly significant. The region has historically had lower union density than many other parts of the United States, making successful organizing campaigns especially notable. This victory adds hundreds of new union members to the ICWUC/UFCW, and represents one of the larger organizing successes for food service workers in the region.