Kelly Shaffer knows that being part of a union means having a collective voice on the job that the boss just can’t match, “Without our labor a business can’t operate, we effectively are the store.” Her sense of solidarity comes from how she was raised:

I'm from a working-class family, and my siblings are in unions too (shout out to the electrical workers and the teamsters!), and it's a genuine joy to be able to give back in my own workplace and look out for my fellow grocery workers.

So much of labor history is forgotten, and a lot of people don't realize that their basic rights as workers, the 8-hour day, their breaks, and weekends, are things that were literally fought for. It's important to me to honor that sacrifice and protect the things we might otherwise take for granted.

When Kelly is at work and organizing her coworkers she enjoys painting, drawing, video gaming, and tending to her vegetable garden. Sounds like a well-rounded life and a great shop steward!