UFCW 324 Elects Mike Ramirez as Secretary-Treasurer
Buena Park, CA – Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 324 announced that the Executive Board of the union elected Mike Ramirez as Secretary-Treasurer. As Secretary-Treasurer, Mike will develop strategy and campaign plans for the local union in contract negotiations and on local and statewide legislation, and ensure that UFCW 324 leads the way for union members in Orange County and Los Angeles County.
“It is an incredible honor to continue to serve and lead our members in this new role as Secretary-Treasurer,” said Mike Ramirez, Secretary-Treasurer, UFCW 324. “The main focus of my work has always been rooted in organizing members. I’m an organizer at heart and as Secretary-Treasurer, I will remain committed to empowering our members to continue fighting for fair wages and contracts that strengthen UFCW 324’s union power and encourage more non-union members to join together in solidarity.”
Mike came from UFCW’s rank-and-file as a dairy clerk at Vons in Vista, California. At Vons, he became a union steward to give back to the union, having previously worked as a non-union grocery clerk and seen how differently workers were treated.
Mike then joined the UFCW as an Organizer and Steward Coordinator at UFCW Local 135 in San Diego, California, where he was instrumental in organizing thousands of new union members and encouraging members’ activism and engagement. In 2003, he joined the UFCW International Union as an International Representative and Lead Organizer on the Southern California Our Walmart campaign, which aimed to unionize Walmart stores in the area. Additionally, at the UFCW International, he directed the campaign to unionize Fresh and Easy stores. In 2011, he joined UFCW Local 324 as an organizer and worked his way up to Union Representative and eventually Field Director. As Field Director, he oversaw 18 union representatives and helped strategize, implement, and execute campaign plans for the local.
“Mike has been instrumental in all of our contract strategy and implementation for the past six years, leading our union in winning nation-leading contracts for our members,” said Jose Perez, President, UFCW 324. “He is one of the most passionate and caring leaders in the labor movement that I’ve had the privilege of working with. I know he will fight as he has always done to ensure our members get the best contracts and the best representation. With him as my right-hand man, our local will continue to be a powerhouse union in Southern California and nationwide.”
Mike Ramirez is replacing UFCW 324’s previous Secretary-Treasurer Matt Bell, who resigned on March 13, 2026.
The Executive Board also elected Dana Palmer, Executive Assistant at the UFCW Western States Council, as Recording Secretary. The current Executive Board’s term ends December 31, 2028.
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