Grocery Workers Reject Contract, Authorize Strike

[Welshy]

KTLA News 9:33 a.m. PDT, August 21, 2011

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (KTLA) -- Unionized grocery workers voted overwhelmingly Friday and Saturday to reject contract offers from management, authorizing their negotiators to call a strike.

More than 90 percent of the eligible 62,000 unionized workers voted to reject the contract. A two-thirds vote was required, union officials said.

Union members and officials say a strike isn't the desired goal.

"We want to get back to work taking care of customers and our families," said Rick Icaza, President of the grocery workers union Local 770. "But the corporate owners of the supermarkets refuse to negotiate fairly to reach a compromise. This vote shows our resolve to protect our jobs, families and customers, and our determination to stand up to the corporations for a fair contract."

Southern California grocery workers are now working without a contract. The union's last contract expired March 6. Negotiators representing the corporations owning Ralph's, VONS an Albertson's have met with union negotiators more than 50 times to try and agree to a new labor contract.

Grocery union officials say grocery store ownership has not provided a comprehensive proposal on wages, healthcare and workplace rules.

"We don't want to strike," said Jackie Gitmed, an employee of Ralph's. "But we need to stand up to these corporations and send a message: hard work needs fair pay. They made billions in profits last year. They can afford to hold the line on wages and benefits."

The grocery worker's union will report the vote results to a federal mediator Monday. If they strike, the workers could be walking off the job this week.

It is likely the mediator will reach out to both sides in an attempt to set up a new round of contract negotiations.
There are videos in the link:

http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-grocery-workers-reject-contract,0,1997675.story

[Joe Payne]

Good, at least one UFCW Local has a backbone. Does anyone live in the area or better yet, work in any of the struck shops? My Local just recently went through negotiations and very nearly struck. Is there any more specific information on this?

[BIG BROTHER]

I'm just waiting for the ultraleftists to start ranting about how this strike is reactionary because it is only for a reformist contract struggle and it was organized so that the bureocracy can keep workers inside unions and outside the "real" class struggle.

Although seeing the comments in the article it is obvious that the leadership is, pretty conservative.

However I kinda do hope and expect the store to not give in negotiations and see a strike!:)

[Ocean Seal]

90%, now that's a number. You'd have to be a very brave or stupid scab to cross that picket line.

[Weezer]

Seeing all these strikes in America is great. Maybe class consciousness is finally catching on. :)

[DaringMehring]

I was at a demonstration and it was HUGE. Probably around 200 people. UFCW organizers handed out t-shirts so it was a sea of yellow. We marched around the block in front of a local Ralphs. Lots of chanting, and several news cameras.

Eventually, we mobbed out into the street and closed the block down. The cops didn't fight us they just sealed the intersection with their motorcycles and redirected traffic.

A few speakers got the crowd fired up, one of the three chains (Ralphs, Albertsons, Vons) had apparently sent out a mailing to its workers with directions to the unemployment office, as a kind of threat. Similarly at a local Vons, I saw a sign outside meant to intimidate the workers, saying that "all positions are now hiring in light of a potential labor dispute."

The union tops themselves weren't too bad, though the UFCW local leader, was quick to water down the previous speakers chant against letting scabs cross the line, saying something along the lines of "actually, its the customers who will hurt them, by not shopping there. 70% of customers won't cross a picket line." I guess, he is trying to limit the union's vulnerability to the inevitable lawsuits that come from picket line scuffles around stopping scabs. Weak.

Overall, it was a good, inspiring event. Ever hear a deafening chorus of 200 workers and activists chanting "hey hey ho ho corporate greed has got to go?" It's pretty nice. However, for the working class to really win, we need to push these struggles and, surely that means, taking them out of the hands of any leadership that will sell them out.

Good opportunity for revolutionary socialist work and development. Real work in the working class.

[Welshy]

I was at a demonstration and it was HUGE. Probably around 200 people. UFCW organizers handed out t-shirts so it was a sea of yellow. We marched around the block in front of a local Ralphs. Lots of chanting, and several news cameras.

Eventually, we mobbed out into the street and closed the block down. The cops didn't fight us they just sealed the intersection with their motorcycles and redirected traffic.

A few speakers got the crowd fired up, one of the three chains (Ralphs, Albertsons, Vons) had apparently sent out a mailing to its workers with directions to the unemployment office, as a kind of threat. Similarly at a local Vons, I saw a sign outside meant to intimidate the workers, saying that "all positions are now hiring in light of a potential labor dispute."

The union tops themselves weren't too bad, though the UFCW local leader, was quick to water down the previous speakers chant against letting scabs cross the line, saying something along the lines of "actually, its the customers who will hurt them, by not shopping there. 70% of customers won't cross a picket line." I guess, he is trying to limit the union's vulnerability to the inevitable lawsuits that come from picket line scuffles around stopping scabs. Weak.

Overall, it was a good, inspiring event. Ever hear a deafening chorus of 200 workers and activists chanting "hey hey ho ho corporate greed has got to go?" It's pretty nice. However, for the working class to really win, we need to push these struggles and, surely that means, taking them out of the hands of any leadership that will sell them out.

Good opportunity for revolutionary socialist work and development. Real work in the working class.

Any left groups on the ground there?

[DaringMehring]

I couldn't tell. I don't think so though, didn't see any leaflets or other materials handed out.

[Aspiring Humanist]

UFCW is one of the most management friendly unions in the US...at least in the north east. They're my union and they aren't worker focused at all

[BIG BROTHER]

UFCW is one of the most management friendly unions in the US...at least in the north east. They're my union and they aren't worker focused at all

My cousin is covered by them too, and I agree with your analysis, which is why its refreshingly surprising to hear them take action.

[YSR]

UFCW is one of the most management friendly unions in the US...at least in the north east. They're my union and they aren't worker focused at all

I heard that the initials stand for United For Cutting Wages from a UFCW dissident friend of mine.

Still, this is something. One of the locals here has been in negotiations for a long time and most of their shops are without a contract and have been for months now. But there's nothing close to a strike being talked about. And this is in the "good" UFCW local.