SoCal Grocery Workers Cancel Contract

Progressive Grocer ^

[matt04]

Charging that management is “stonewalling,” union grocery workers in Southern California have issued a 72-hour notice cancelling their contract extension, paving the way for a strike.

Eight months of negotiations between seven United Food and Commercial Workers locals representing 62,000 workers and management of supermarket chains owned by Kroger, Safeway and Supervalu have been hampered by disagreements over health care contributions. The union has charged that management’s proposal would “bankrupt health plans and eliminate entirely health care access” for employees.

...

“We returned to the bargaining table ready to compromise and make a deal that keeps our employers profitable but protects the jobs of our members,” the leaders of the seven locals said in a press release. “Instead, we got more of the same stonewalling from management. They are unwilling to compromise and are more concerned about hoarding their billions in profits than reaching a fair deal for their employees. We don’t want to strike, but if they won’t negotiate, we have no choice.”

An overwhelming majority of UFCW members, working without a contract since March, voted last month to authorize a strike. Some supermarkets have been accepting applications for fill-in workers in the event of a strike.

[matt04]

Nice store you got their, be a shame if something happened to it.

[evad]

Time to use the ATC option

[umgud]

Last time these idiots struck, the grocers hired people of the streets and after a couple bobbles, things were running smooth. It just don’t take a rocket scientist to work in a grocery store. These people ought to be thankful they have a job.

[max americana]

I rarely go to Vons and Ralphs, the same stores that go on strike. Fresh N Easy, Jons, Food 4 Less I pretty much buy stuff there that are way cheaper than those union stores. L.A wont miss those union scum.

[Bean Counter]

Hasn’t been a grocery store with 10 miles of Watts since Rodney was treated like a King by LAPD.......

[DTogo]

Bet there are 62,000 out-of-work Americans ready and willing to take their place, without the union baggage.

[HiTech RedNeck]

What, they don’t believe Obamacare will save everyone?

[South40]

Last time these cretins went on strike I enjoyed crossing their lines. I look forward to doing it again.

[svcw]

So I read in the local paper that singles will pay $9 a pay check and families $24 per check for health care.
The paper quoted the union boss saying that kind of increase will put people out of their homes on to the street.
What a bunch of whining babies, if we could pay $25 a check I would be so happy.

[Vigilanteman]

The union has charged that management’s proposal would “bankrupt health plans and eliminate entirely health care access” for employees. ...

Don't worry. This was the plan your union bosses had all along so ObaMao could institute the "public option" as the only option.

Didn't anybody explain that to yunz?

[LuvFreeRepublic]

A few years back, I crossed the picket line in SoCal because I needed groceries. I had my teen daughter with me and some young man asked me why I wasn't supporting them and how could I cross the picket line and support management. I told the guy, sorry, my daughter needs tampons and I have no choice. The look on the guy's face was priceless, but my daughter was not amused. Glad I no longer live in SoCal.

[richardtavor]

Let them strike. There are lot’s of unemployed people that would love a job. And tell the union they can screw themselves—don’t let the union workers come back.

[HChampagne]

I do not have the privilege of going to union stores in my area. But the grocery workers are still happy, helpful and productive. The stores make sure that they are so.

[Marty62]

Well how big of the Union, they were going to LET the businesses remain PROFITABLE.

Screw the Unions.

[Fiji Hill]

I hope they strike. If they do, we’ll get better service from the strikebreakers.

In the unionized supermarkets, there are usually only one or two check stands open, even though the store may have eight or nine. The last time the union struck, all of the check stands were manned.

[sickoflibs]

I had to travel to Northern LA county this week unfortunately .

I tried a grocery store there owned by Safeway (the union store mentioned) and found high prices, poor selection and crappy produce(lots of bugs). Safeway is a popular store here in Maryland. The next day driving by I went to the ‘FoodforLess’ discount store I normally go to where you bag your own groceries and it had cheaper prices, better selection and much fresher produce. It was like day and night between the two.

[DB]

I support their right to strike.

I also support their employer’s right to replace them - all of them.

[Chode]

You've got a nice Army base here Colonel... it'd be a shame if anything happened to it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNZKUozrBl4

always loved that one...

[libertarian27]

So I read in the local paper that singles will pay $9 a pay check and families $24 per check for health care.

So, apparently they aren't paying anything now, right? Reminds me of the recent Verizon strikers (they went back to work without resolution) - $9 bucks a week for single healthcare is cheap-eats - $24 bucks for family healthcare is an all-you-can-eat- buffet....

The workers should just demand that their union fees are reduced to offset the costs :>)*snicker*

[matt04]

Paying $1,248 yearly to insure you entire family seems reasonable to me. If the union manages the insurance, like UFCW locals in the northeast, I’m sure a portion somehow ends up in the Union bosses pockets.