SoCal grocery workers, chains return to bargaining table
Despite little progress reported in contract negotiation between the union representing 65,000 Southern California grocery workers and three major supermarket chains, neither side seems to be rushing toward a strike.
Officials from grocers Albertsons, Ralphs and Vons and the United Food and Commercial Workers union resumed talks Monday after a federally mediated break since the July 4 holiday.
Union officials on Monday reported that the previous seven days of negotiations prior to the break resulted in little progress. Last week union officials held a press event showing workers preparing strike placards and stocking food-bank contributions.
In two votes, one in March and one late last month, union members authorized the union to call a strike if negotiations break down or stall.
The union has been negotiating with Safeway Inc.’s Vons and Pavilions units, Kroger Co.’s Ralphs chain, and Supervalu's Albertsons chain since the current contract between the chains and 65,000 union workers expired in March. The contract has been automatically extending on a day-to-day basis while negotiations continued.
Although the union could call a strike at any time, it is required to give the chains 72-hour notice once that decision is made.
For their part, the chains have agreed that if a strike is called against one of them, the others will lock out their workers.
While some contract details have been worked out, health care and wages have reportedly been the major sticking points in negotiations. Under the previous contract, employees received some bonuses but no raises. Employees last received raises in 2002. In 2002, 94 percent of the workers were covered by company medical benefits. Under the current contract, that number has dropped to 54 percent according to the UFCW.
In late 2003 and early 2004, a five-month-long strike put nearly 70,000 grocery workers in southern and central California on the picket lines. The acrimonious strike by the union and lockout of employees by some chains centered on cuts in union member benefits and eventually cost supermarkets $2.5 billion in profits.
The 8,000 members of the California Teamster's union honored the UFCW picket lines during the 2004 strike.
SoCal grocery workers, chains return to bargaining table
