Posted on 09/16/2011 8:39:18 PM PDT by 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 managements 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 dont want to strike, but if they wont 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at progressivegrocer.com ...
The dumb bunny strikers caused the eventual shut-down of several Ralph's in our immediate neighborhood.
I’m surprised to see Stater Bros. markets on that list. They don’t strike at Stater Bros., or didn’t the last time. If they do — I’ll be crossing the line.
You know what's really a shame about this is that Ralph's originated in Los Angeles I think more than 100 years ago (I don't have the info immediately at hand). It was a real pioneer in supermarkets -- it was the first to have the big wide aisles and huge picture windows, an in-store bakery, its own line of milk and dairy, parking lots, and a whole bunch of other things.
It was a real trail-blazer, a cool heritage of L.A. that is little known. My Scottish grandmother was a loyal Ralph's customer; when she immigrated from Edinburgh to L.A. in the early 1920s, Ralph's was the only store that would go out of its way to special-order real Scottish oats for her. I was a loyal Ralph's customer myself for a long time, and then they instituted those STOOOOOPID pain-in-the-butt "club cards" -- and THEN they went on strike.
Strike Ralph's from my list! I love Stater Bros. Their prices are as good as Fart & Sminal on a lot of items.
These people make upwards of $20.00 an hour or more for SCANNING and STOCKING!!!! Butchers and Bakers make a lot more of course.
Unemployment in the region is above 10 percent. A strike would seem rather dangerous. I lived in LA County back in the late 60s when the printers at the Herald-Examiner were on strike. Lasted for several years. There would never be a contract that could make up for the losses to the workers. Will the grocery strike go that way?
I'm all for greater compensation to the butchers, bakers, and fish mongers. Skills cost money. I also favor better compensation for the more productive laborers. Prove your value to me and I will be impressed. Prove your muscle to me and I will be angry.
Last time I visited my brother in Hesperia we shopped at SB. They do a good job.
The self-employed know what kind of fantastic deal $92 (family), $36 (individual) health care premiums are and would love that kind of offer over the $500/mo individual premiums they see.
Mickey Kasparian's UFCW is a plague on SoCA.
These closures will harm all the foot-traffic dependent small businesses in malls anchored by these grocery stores.
This is economic terrorism in a time of 12.1% state unemployment and rising inflation.
These stores just lost millions in perishable goods during the regional blackout a week ago.
Now they're facing millions more in losses caused by a corrupt thug earning a six-figure salary while robbing dues-paying members blind.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.