As seen in the Unity: Winter 2026 – President’s Report. See past copies of the Unity here.

In this issue, I’m proud to recognize the retirement of two longtime Local 152 union representatives who spent their careers standing up for working people.

Jose Echevarria and Greg Torian are names many of you know well. For many years, they were there when members were wrongly accused by management, when unsafe working conditions needed to be addressed, and when questions came up about contracts or the next round of negotiations. Even more importantly, they took the time to listen to our members’ needs.

When they weren’t on the shop floor or meeting with members, they were working behind the scenes, filing grievances and spending countless hours on the phone trying to make meaningful improvements in the lives of our members. Most importantly, throughout their respective careers, they worked with humility, integrity and never felt entitled—only grateful for the opportunity to serve our membership.

Now, as they begin retirement, Jose and Greg can now focus more on what matters most—family, health, and making new memories. Every worker deserves to know that their many years of hard work will be respected with a secure retirement.

Retirement benefits shouldn’t be seen as something only a lucky few get to enjoy. It should be the gold standard for all working people who spend their careers helping an organization succeed. Employers who negotiate retiree benefits see the payoff in greater retention of employees as it gives workers a sense of security and a reason to grow roots in their respective workplaces. Retirement benefit proposals need to be taken seriously by all employers during negotiations as they provide a tangible investment in their workforce that generates long term results.

As we move forward into 2026 and beyond, Local 152 is prepared to fight to protect and improve upon existing retirement benefits enjoyed by so many and advocate to expand them to all workers in the industries we represent. A lifetime of work should be honored with a dignified retirement.

In closing, I want to personally thank Jose and Greg for their many years of service and commitment to our membership. Their work made our union stronger, and their legacy will continue to be felt for years to come. Godspeed gentleman!

Daniel Ross, Jr.
President, UFCW Local 152