July 22, 2005

Jeff Hilgert departs the UFCW Local 1116 this week after being awarded a fellowship to pursue a doctorate in labor relations. 

He had recently joined the local union staff and helped in the negotiations with the Area Retail Grocery Alliance and Cub Foods.  

Hilgert was employed as the development coordinator for the non-profit Damiano Center in Duluth for five years.  There he was an active Local 1116 member, on the union organizing committee, on the first-contract bargaining committee, and a union steward. 

Hilgert will study at the School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York starting next month.  He will be a teaching assistant to Professor James Gross for three courses, including one called "Workers' Rights as Human Rights."  With the fellowship he will also study trade union rights and international labor standards with the International Labor Organization in Turin, Italy. 

Good Luck from Local 1116!