60,000 UFCW Members Could Strike SoCal Grocery Chains Next Week
May 22nd 2011 · 30 Comments
Via KTLA:
Supermarkets throughout Southern California could be affected if grocery union leaders agree on a strike next week.
Nearly 60,000 United Food and Commercial Workers union members gave the greenlight to strike April 21 as negotiations with three major Southern California grocery chains stalled.
Picket captains will be attending a meeting at the UFCW office in Buena Park next Thursday.
Read the rest here.
Tags: Grocery strike, Safeway, Southern California, UFCW
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Fresh and Easy and Vallarta are an easy alternative market. I don’t ever have to shop at Vons or Ralphs again.
Fresh and Easy is an anti union company here in the states. They have a bunch of unfair labor practices. If you aren’t going to shop Vons, Ralphs or Safeway try Stater Brothers or Gelsons.
Their protracted strike several years ago over the “pie in the sky” demand to have their health care totally paid for cost the workers millions in wages. Are they so short sighted to believe they will “win” this time. Not a chance. When will the workers realize the unions have a large “self interest” attitude, to hell with those they represent.
Bill, Beleive me, the workers DO realize that the unions have a VERY large self interest. Have no doubt about this. They are forced to join the union. And, just to be clear — they did not ask for pie in the sky back in 03/04 – you can’t trust the news! This time around, they are fighting to not have to pay 20% or more of their GROSS annual income towards medical benefits. It’s about 20% IF an employee is full time and is a grocery clerk AND is making journeyman wages. Most employees are only guaranteed 24 hours per week and make less than grocery clerk wages. The news likes to make people believe that they all make 40K a year. Not true. Not at all.
That 20% is just a drop in the bucket of what these people make.Most people dont realize how much money a grocery checker makes,or any other grocery employee,not to mention the excellent medical and other benefits they get.They are actually going to complain about having to pay a little out of pocket for medical benefits,especially in a crappy econemy like we are in,almost 10% unemployment rate?Theres millions of people that dont even have jobs at all,much less any benefits.I know of alot of grocery workers that took the jobs not because they need the money,but simply for the outstanding benefits. I didnt support the strike then and I dont now.Most people are getting fed up with the greedy employees.APPRECIATE HAVING A JOB TO BEGIN WITH.Alot of people would love to have it.
Just so everyone knows on this site, not EVERY union member is in support of this vote. I am a union member (mainly because I was forced to join the union when I accepted a job with Albertsons) and I think it is completely counter-productive and stupid to authorize a strike in this economy. I don’t think it really even matters what the union members vote for. I believe that the union will spin things however they want to. Of course the members have “overwhelmingly voted to strike” according to the union. I’ve already had to live through the torture of one strike, which I will remind you, was also no choice for the workers. We were “locked out”, which means that it was impossible for us to return to work. We were caught in the middle of all the strike bs. We couldn’t work at our job place and we couldn’t find other work, since the words “on strike” on a resume seem to be a death sentence for possible other jobs. I don’t mind paying for my healthcare. The only problem I have with the company is that they keep cutting my hours to nothing, claiming that they can’t possibly gain any profit. I WANT to work and I want to make money to support my family. I don’t think that any of can trust the company OR the union anymore. If the company doesn’t lock us out this time, I WILL cross the picket line and work. I have bills to pay and I will not strike again. Please take my outlook into consideration when you write about greed and being thankful for a job. I am thankful for a job, I’m just hoping that these people will allow me to actually do it!
I agree that there are alot of people like you who dont support the strike,but there were alot of other people who are quite serious about the last one,and probly this one too,thinking they were quite the picked on victims by these bully,rich business owners.I worked at union stores before and I alsso worked at a non union grocery store during the last strike.At the store I worked at,there were a lot of workers that were on strike from Vons and Albertsons working at our store during the strike.I never supported there strike the last time and I dont now either.But,just to show who are the real greedy ones,the workers at the store I was working at,the ones that were on strike,they started working at our store,making demands there too,such as how many hours they wanted to work,what there days off were going to be etc.etc.etc,they wanted even to get paid the same they were getting at the stores they were on strike with acting as if they had higher priority than the rest of us who were working at this store permanently.If you ask me,its the workers that are greedy and demanding,not the store owners.Look how many jobs they have provided for people.Look how many millions of families they have helped support providing jobs for them,just to have these ungrateful employees spit in their faces,going on strike because they have to pay a few extra bucks out of pocket for health care? Come on.If they arent satisfied or happy with their job,join the soup line.Alot of these “strikers” are making more money on strike than they did while working.Especially those like the ones working at the store I was at.They were making money for the strike AND getting paid for the hours they worked at our store.They were sitting like fat cats and they knew it.All they had to do is walk around with a picket sign for a certain amount of hours per week and they got paid.Most I talked to wouldnt have even waved the pickett signs if they werent getting paid to do it.That just shows the lack of seriousness about how they felt about striking.
Bret, Everything u just said is untrue..90 percent of the workers are part time…Most barely make over minimum wage…..The over turn is very high as the pay is not enough to support their families…These employees would never be able to pay 20% or their annual salary…And yes, we already pay out of pocket…
These old white people stores have been in decline for years as demographics in So California have changed.Lots of prospersous Hispanic,Asian and Middle East markets to shop at.I don’t do much shopping at the old chains anymore.Ralphs has closed several stores in this area,as they are getting killed by immigrant markets.Prices are also too high,Ralphs once had a good double coupon policy,but the decimated it and not worth bothering.Good luck going on strike and alienating the few shoppers you still have.
Leave it to a freeloading,welfare collecting racist minority to make stupid response like that one.Most of these “immigrant” markets you speak of are mainly ran by “ILLEGAL” immigrant labor,you know those sub standard labor force that destroyed Mexico,and now they come up here relying on free handouts from hard working,white people.Which also means that these sub standard illegal labor workers are in the country illegally,and they wont be in the U.S. for long,once we start cracking down on our immigration laws like we should be.Most “minority” ran grocery chains are all but deserted and I dont even know how they stay in business to begin with.Too dumb to operate businesses.Must be relying on free handouts from white U.S. tax payers.Vons,Albertsons,Ralphs,etc.will never be a thing of the past.All these rich,white business owners are the only people smart enough to run a business and make it last.Minorities are too stupid to realize,that white business owners hand down their bisinesses to there kids,then there kids.etc. Let the deportations begin.
prosperous Hispanics? yeah right.No such thing.Only white business owners prosper and only white business owners always will.I dont call government handouts,”prosperous.But the again,I’m not hispanic.
Its not the “old white people” stores that are going on strike,its the ungrateful employees and the unions that are.”Jon”.Get your facts strait.So much for your so called “prosperous hispanics”.No wonder why you minorities rely on free handouts from rich white people,your all too ignorant and uneducated to know whats going on.
Your comment was possibly one of the funniest I’ve ever read. It’s rather ridiculous that you make fun of “ignorant and uneducated people” when you can’t spell or use grammar.
I guess the truth hurts.Only the “spelling police” bring up the good old spelling when they dont have nothing worthwhile or legit to say.If it wasnt for spell check,those same minorities that bitch and complain about everything would be screwed,especially when they rely on rich white people for free handouts and jobs.Most of who are in the country illegally to begin with.Until that is,those illegal workers and the rest of the freeloaders get deported.
Yea funny thing the only ones i see begging for money (at store fronts, freeway offramps street corners ) are white people. and you talk about the banks? goverment handout sounds like begging to me. Homeless? did you know 8 out 10 whites account for homeless in United states. Be proud of that!!
Kiana is right Bret, You are ignorant and very uneducated on this topic….You sound ridiculous and very racist..
If Fresh & Easy is really anti union,they should be a good alternative.Will check them out.
These largly white owned grocery chains will always be in business and always prosper.The only chaines the pose any threats to them are Wal Mart and Costco.Not these little mom and pop hispanic,Asian and Arab grocery stores that “jon” refers to as prosperous because of the so called change of demographics.Every time I walk into one of these hole in the wall “hispanic” owned grocery stores,I’m usually the only one in there.Most of these “hispanic” owned stores rely heavily on an illegal alien work force,which sooner or later they will get dealt with by I.C.E.I agree that not all of these grocery workers support the strike.I do know that all of them need to appreciate having a job to begin with and quit demanding things that they have no right to,It reminds me of the illegal immigrants from Mexico.Hispanic owned grocery stores rely on fre handouts from the U.S. government just like most of these so called “prosperous” hispanics as “jon” refers to them as. I personally feel that if “jon” wants to bring race into the whole thing,calling these large grocery chains as “old white guy owned chains”,well,look how many milions of jobs that these “old white guys”provide to people of all races,just so the hispanics and others,mainly hispanics can show no appreciation for.Ungrateful racist freeloaders.If Hispanics want to hire their on people whenever they own a business,then white people should only hire our own too.Everybody else looks after there own,so should white business owners.Good luck with Hispanics and other minorities finding jobs then.Maybe then they will learn to show appreciation and gratitude.I doubt it though.
I wonder how many other employees that have worked for multimillion dollar industry for over 30 years would simply say sure I’ll stay and work for 1/2 the wages I’m currently making! Get real people. Grocery Checkers currently make $20.15 an hour and if they are not full time status they are only guaranteed 24 hours a week. Before you all comment such crap why don’t you walk a mile in a grocery checkers shoes. The job sucks because of shitty people like you that come into their line and treat them like crap. Try dealing with you for 8 hours a day! If you think 20 bucks an hour is great money you clearly didn’t graduate college and have no drive or ambition! Yes lets take more money from the workers so the shareholders can buy bigger yachts!
Would you rather join the soup line? Make nothing at all? I think most of you would rather sit back and collect unemployment and welfare than work,period.You fail to mention the outstanding benefits that alot of people work in the grocery business for to begin with,and the tripple time they get paid for working holidays,birthdays etc.Not to mention healthcare to die for.Alot of people dont even have jobs at all,much less good paying jobs with excellent benefits like grocery workers.If you dont want your job and dont appreciate it,there are milliions that will.Go on strike this time,you might not get your job back.You didnt get what you wanted last time,you most definately wont this time either.Its not like low skilled,low educated grocery workers cant be replaced.There are millions of unemployed college grads and others that will gladly take your jobs.As for the bigger yaughts,maybe if you educated yourselves and were as ambicious as there “rich,white grocery store owners,maybe you could have a yaught too.Stop hating.
@ Angie.Trust me.I dont know of any grocery workers who have graduated from college.Most are high school dropouts and some barely speak english,if any at all.You are a prime example of those unappreciative grocery workers who expect everyone who comes through their checkstand to kiss there butts.You are one of those grocery employees who act as if you are doing the customers a favor by being at work.NO!,Who do you think signs your pay checks? without the customers,you get no pay checks.WE ARE DOING YOU THE FAVOR. And yes,$20.15 is damn good pay,esspecially during a recession when this country is at a 10% unemployment rate and alot of people dont have jobs at all,much less a job that pays $20.15 an hour.Theres even alot of college graduates that dont even make that much,or even have health benefits.I DONT KNOW OF ANY GROCERY WORKERS THAT ARE COLLEGE EDUCATED! Alot of them are high school dropouts that shouldnt even be making that much money,not even close to it.WHO THE HELL GOES ON STRIKE DURING A RECESSION?Thats just being ungrateful.Dont forget to mention,coincedently,that if you work holidays or birthdays,YOU GET PAID TRIPPLE TIME TOO!! Dont forget to tell the public that.Yes,I was a grocery checker for years.
There are quite a few College educated employees working for these companies…I am one of them…..
SHUT UP BRET!!! You have no idea what you are talking about! Get yourself a checkers apron and spend a few hours being treated like a crap by customers like you, then you’ll know what we’re talking about! I’ve had complaints against me because I requested customers to give me go backs or trash instead of leaving them under the belt or in the impulse area. We get yelled at by customers because we didn’t arrange the scanned items as they like, when they just piled them on the belt in the first place! NO one gets ‘tripple’ time (did you nean ‘triple’?) for holidays, etc! Your last sentence tells why the idiotic rant by you: you were obviously fired from the best job you’ll ever have. And probably after NEVER showing any initiative. Stay out of my line, loser!!!
@Angie.If its true,that Vons,Ralphs,and Albertsons are closing grocery stores,losing business to larger chains such as Wal Mart and Costco.That should tell you that the Albertsons,Vons ans ralphs has sacrificed more than enough.Dont you think their ungrateful employees should too?
@ Angie. Every job deals with rude customers,whenever your dealing with the public.Its called “life”. Welcome to the real world.Nobody should be rude,INCLUDING THE MANY RUDE CHECKERS AND OTHER GROCERY WORKERS I HAVE FACED.But,unfortunately,thats the way it is.Grocery workers arent doing us the favor by them being there collecting pay checks,the customers are doing THEM the favor.Without the customer,you have no pay check.You are obviousy in the wrong line of work.Be more appreciative and grateful.
Wow “Bret” do you really have nothing better to do? It’s hilarious how all of these entries are from you. Get a job or something.
Bret obviously has issues. Very,very serious issues. He claims to have worked as a checker, but puts them down as if they’re the most inferior of workers. He puts down immigrants as lazy, but I’ve worked with many, and none were lazy. THere is obviosly something wrong with Bret that he would be so HATEFUL!
Good point Angie..But a checker with over 30 years makes $19.55 an hour and yes most all are part time and get about 24 hours a week..New hires which is about 90 percent of the employees barely make over minimum wage and it takes them about 6 to 7 years to reach top scale…I have over 30 years and I would never even consider doing this job for any less than what I make..You are right saying this job sucks…People can be shitty and treat us like crap..And yes everyone should try to walk a mile in our shoes…Most could not do what we do…. We are the backbone of these companies..We are the ones making the money for these companies and we deserve our fair share..
Just an FYI.. I just got hired as a SCAB in case of a strike. I was hired to be a checker/ cashier making $13/hour. That’s pretty high above min wage.
I have been unemployed for over a year now and am willing to work, even if I have to cross the picket lines (which I do feel bad about). My kids and family come first and if I can work a little to get us out of our hole of debt we are creating trying to pay our bills on 1 income, then so be it.
I find all the workers that work for the “big three” funny. I currently work for Food 4 Less. Which is owned by Ralphs. We are also union, but we have the short end of the master food agreement. Or should I call it “Part B” of the contract. We get about 10 percent less pay and while you guys get to choose from Kaiser and stuff like that for your benefits, we get the crappy PPO that doesn’t cover anything. I think you can handle a little increase in your co-pay.
@Brent, I bet minimum wage would even sound like good pay to you at 24 hours a week. Did anyone ever clue you into something call taxes and the union dues we have to pay just because we are forced to be part of it. Also let me clue you into our pay steps. It takes 700 hours of working to get a 10 cent raise. So it takes at least 7 year to get close to that 20 bucks an hour. I know someone who works at a gas station and they have only worked there for 8 months and passed me in pay when i’ve worked for 3 years. IF you think we all just stand there and check, try working 1am to 9:30 busting you butt to get a 1500 piece load broken down, stocked and clean up the go backs that lazy disgusting customers decided they didn’t want anymore. Then condition all the isles. All for 9 bucks an hour.
I actually see this strike as the fall of the union. I heard people say that ralphs is gonna close stores and reopen them under kroger and be non-union. That’s just hear say but who knows. I hate the union because they only represent the companies that have scratched there back and gives the short end of the straw to the outcast stores such as Food 4 Less and Staters. Which I will add, is making twice the profit then the big three stores. I hope the union falls.