Solidarity Food and Beverage Trades

Black and white illustration of two people—one holding a stylized United States flag, the other with a fist raised—on a black background with red text below

The AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations) is not a single food and beverage union but a federation of more than 60 unions. Among them is the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), which represents a large share of food and beverage workers. While the “Food and Beverage Trades AFL-CIO” isn’t an official body today, the federation comprises unions and departments affiliated with the food, agriculture, and hospitality industries. The phrase typically refers to this broader network of unions advocating for food and beverage workers.

Unions display their affiliation with a “union bug”—a small label indicating a product was made by union labor, named for its tiny, bug-like appearance.

“Solidarity” signifies union membership or support, symbolizing unity in the fight for fair pay, benefits, and conditions. These symbols—bugs, buttons, paraphernalia—express pride and reflect labor’s long-standing struggle for justice.