Two of our members were recognized at the Montgomery County Police Department’s Awards Ceremony on November 14 and we couldn’t be prouder.

Left: Astrid Garcia Estrada, PSECS II — 911 Honor Award
Astrid was honored for her exceptional service during life-threatening emergencies. Her ability to quickly assess situations, identify critical needs, deliver medical-care instructions, and guide callers with calm, professional precision played a vital role in preserving lives.

Right: Christine Brinkley, PSECS II — 911 Honor Award
Christine received recognition for her critical response to an active suicide attempt on April 30, 2025. Her swift judgment, clear direction, and lifesaving guidance enabled responding units to locate the individual and ultimately save his life. Her work that day exemplified the skill and compassion that define ECC’s frontline professionals.

Our team is filling the table — and we’re keeping the momentum going through December 5!

UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO is collecting toys, winter essentials, and toiletries for Interfaith Works, and our crew (plus our four-legged helper 🐾) kicked things off strong.

Needed items:

• New toys (all ages)
• Hats, mittens, slippers & socks (kids + adults)
• Laundry detergent
• Body wash

📍 Local 1994 Union Office, 600 S. Frederick Ave, Ste 200, Gaithersburg
🗓️ Now through December 5

Clothing donations should go directly to Interfaith Works (751 Twinbrook Pkwy, Unit 8, Rockville).

Solidarity season is in full swing — keep the donations coming! 🎄✨

UFCW Local 1994 is making steady progress on two major arbitration fronts.

Our arbitration with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) went smoothly. The union presented a strong case, and we’re confident in the clarity and strength of the argument we built. As is typical, the arbitrator will need time to review the full arguments before issuing a decision, so we expect a bit of a wait. We’ll update members as soon as we receive a ruling.

Meanwhile, the Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC) arbitration is inching closer. The only holdup has been the selection of the arbitration panel. With the federal government reopened — finally — we expect movement soon and hope to have the panel confirmed in the near future so we can get dates on the calendar.

Both cases remain top priorities for Local 1994, and we’ll continue pushing to make sure members’ rights and contracts are fully enforced.

UFCW Local 1994 has officially begun bargaining with Montgomery County, opening the first round of negotiations last week. Our team came to the table prepared, focused, and ready to advance the priorities you brought forward in our bargaining survey — from fair wages and benefits to improved working conditions and stronger protections across departments.

To keep members fully informed, we will be hosting a virtual town hall soon to brief everyone on bargaining progress, answer questions, and outline next steps. Stay tuned for the date and registration link — we want every member to have the opportunity to hear directly from the bargaining team.

Local 1994 will continue pushing for a contract that honors the value, skill, and dedication county employees bring to the public every single day. More to come…