Union leaders may announce as early as Oct. 10 whether or not 70,000 grocery workers voted to reject a new contract proposal from three major store chains and walk off their jobs.
Seven Southern California locals of the United Food and Commercial Worker’s Union left the negotiating table Sunday after their old contract expired with no hint of a compromise with grocery giants Albertsons, Ralphs and Vons.
Earlier this week, the union asked members to vote down the companies’ latest proposal and authorize the union to call a strike.
“”The union broke off the negotiations because they were tired of being nickel-and-dimed by Safeway [the parent company of Vons] and Albertsons,”” said Josh Sugar, a John Muir College freshman who has worked for a Point Loma Albertsons for over a year as a bagger and stocker.
The grocers issued a joint statement on Oct. 6.
“”We are seeking nothing more than a fair contract that will help us to remain competitive in the face of soaring healthcare and benefit costs and increased competition from lower-cost operators,”” stated Ralphs President John Burgon.
The companies have blamed the union for leaving the bargaining table before hearing the final proposal.
“”We were at the negotiating table ready to continue the negotiation process,”” said Vons spokeswoman Sandra Calderon. “”They were the ones who put the end to the negotiation process. We’re still waiting for a meaningful response to the offer we gave on Oct. 5.””
She would not comment on the specifics of the offer.
According to a 24-hour negotiation hotline set up for union members, the rejected proposal included drastic cuts in health, welfare, pension, retiree health and welfare, and a permanent two-tier system.
An earlier proposal lowered the cap for wages of new hires, a move that unions fear will create a salary gap between new and existing employees. Currently, a store clerk may earn up to $17.90 an hour.
The plan also set restrictions on company contributions to workers’ pensions and asked employees to pay a portion of health insurance premiums for the first time.
Companies argue that lower costs will help them compete with discount nonunion retailers like Wal-Mart, which plans to bring its new “”supercenters”” to Southern California.
“”We are seeing a significant influx of nonunion, discount stores and unionized independent operators with union contract agreements that provide lower wages and significantly fewer benefits than we provide,”” said Vons President Tom Keller in the Oct. 6 press release. “”These formats pay much lower labor expenses than we do. This gives them an unfair advantage over other union operators.””
Sugar disagreed with the companies’ solution to this situation.
“”They paint Wal-Mart and Target as these horrible entities and say that a strike would help them, but I think they’re just using that as a scapegoat technique,”” Sugar said.
Should a strike occur, the companies say that they will continue with business as usual.
Stores have posted signs announcing opportunities for temporary positions and Albertsons has purchased ads in local newspapers. Openings include everything from cashiers and stockers to cake decorators and class-A truck drivers. Pay for all clerks ranges between $8 and $17.90 per hour. According to Calderon, temporary employee training has already begun.
For some students interested in the work opportunities, the decision to apply is a difficult one.
“”It wouldn’t be fair to take over [experienced workers’] jobs,”” said Thien Le, a Revelle College freshman visiting the Career Services Center. “”On the other hand, if I’m desperate, I’d take the job.””
If it gains approval, the strike will likely begin on Oct. 11.
