Officers of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 655 have appointed Inez Broom to serve as a member of the Union’s Executive Board.
Broom, a 28-year member, currently working as a CAO clerk at the Cross Keys Schnucks, got her start in the Local when she was hired as a bagger for National Foods at Kingshighway and Delmar. She was later moved to the floral department where she was promoted to floral manager in 1989.
Six years later, when Schnucks Markets purchased National Foods, Broom was reassigned as a general merchandise clerk. In 1998, she was transferred to Schnucks Kossuth,where she was promoted to Center Store Lead. Three years later she became a general merchandise manager.
On May 23, Broom was reassigned to Schnucks-Cross Keys, as a grocery clerk. On Oct. 21, she was promoted to CAO clerk, responsible for verifying stock and inventory items.
“I’m glad to have a chance to work with the Union on behalf of the membership,” Broom said. “The union has always been there for me; the union has done a lot for me. Now, it’s time for me to give back. Whatever needs to be done, I’ll do it.”
This summer, Broom volunteered to help at the Sickle Cell barbecue fundraiser to raise funds for research regarding a disease that currently has no cure and affects one in every 12 African Americans.
“I appreciate what the Union has done for me and now it’s time to give back,” Broom said. “I’m ready to help and get involved in the Union’s issues and activities because, in my mind, I’m not fulfilling what I need to be doing. If this is my calling, I’m soon to find out. If there are others I can help, I want to be able to answer for them and help them any way I can.
Broom says for members to understand just how much the Union does for them, all they have to do is look at their insurance and their pay rate.
“If they’d come to the Union Meetings they’d see where their dues goes,” Broom said. “Instead of griping about the Union, they need to participate and find out just how much the Union does.”
She added, “I’m looking forward to learning and moving forward, and hope the Board Members will help me through the process.” Broom has one son, Melshad, 19. She lives in Pagedale.
