Thousands of workers at Southern California grocery stores are preparing to strike, accusing Vons, Ralphs, Albertsons, and Pavilions of unfair labor practices.
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United Food and Commercial Workers Local 770 announced yesterday that its approximately 45,000 members had voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike after four months of negotiations with Kroger, the parent company of Ralphs, and Albertsons, which also owns Vons and Pavilions.
“Right now we're in the middle of bargaining our contract, and management has been interfering with our rights to bargain for a fair contract,” one worker told KNX News’ Karen Adams. “They've been surveilling us. They've been discouraging us from talking about the union. They’ve been telling people they can't wear their union buttons. All of that is illegal.”
Union president Cathy Fenn said workers have been talking to customers outside the stores about staffing – a “big issue” in the negotiations. But employers have been retaliating against the workers who participate in the activities by taking pictures of them and asking them questions.
The workers are asking for better wages, more staffing, and better safety at their stores.
“Our work environment, the kids say it's extremely toxic,” a worker said. “The work environment and the understaffing is incredibly poor. The lines are very long. Customers should not be waiting in 25 to 30 minute long lines.”
Union members approved a three-year contract in 2022 after a threatened strike, including wage increases of $4.25 per hour for most workers while some classifications received higher pay raises.
Fenn said the union will decide whether to carry out the strike after three bargaining sessions set for late June.
"We respect the rights of workers to engage in collective bargaining and remain committed to negotiating in good faith to reach an agreement that is fair to our employees, good for our customers and allows our company to remain competitive," Albertsons said in a statement.
"We remain actively engaged in bargaining with the union because we believe the best outcomes are achieved at the table, not through disruption,” a Ralphs spokesperson said in a statement.
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