June 24^th Vote FAQs

VOTE to REJECT  Management’s Offer

We know the impact the strike/lockout had three years ago on you and your families, and we would not be asking you to authorize another strike unless it was a necessary step in our negotiations.

We are committed to getting an agreement at the bargaining table and have been negotiating with the employers for six months and over 100 days past our contract expiration date. We have given the employers fair proposals that include improved health care benefits and wage increases for everyone.

But the employers are just not budging.

We even gave them a deadline of June 21^st to encourage them to negotiate seriously so we could come to an agreement.

But the employers keep stalling because they say they need more time.

Stater Bros. and Gelsons Markets negotiated a fair contract with us months ago. Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons could do the same thing if they wanted to.

But the truth is that every day we work without a new contract, the employers are pocketing millions of dollars.

Enough is enough. We have to stand up to the employers and the greed that is driving them to stall negotiations. We have to stand up in a show of strength to say that we want a fair contract and we want it now.

After six weeks it’s clear that the employers will not budge until they know that we are serious about holding them accountable.

VOTE to REJECT Management’s Contract Proposal

The employers have seen the fair contracts that Stater Bros. and Gelsons offered us months ago which eliminated the two-tier wage, provided wage increases and improved benefits.

Instead, Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons have proposed the following:

• Third wage tier reducing starting wages to minimum wage

• No wage increases for anyone but the top wage scale

• Under funded health care plan that puts our health care trust fund at risk of bankruptcy as they’ve done in six other states.

We have to stand up to the employers to tell them that we won’t back down until we get a fair contract. That we’re not scared to fight for what is fair. If Stater Bros. and Gelsons can offer us a fair contract, Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons can do the same.

What Does a Strike Authorization do?

A vote to authorize a strike will force the employers to pay attention, to get serious about negotiations, and to listen to grocery workers when we say that we want a fair contract and we want it now.

We understand that you may have a lot of questions leading up to the strike authorization vote this weekend, so we have compiled some frequently asked questions below for your reference. If you still have further questions, please call your local UFCW office or talk to your union representative.

Q.        What happens if we reject the employers proposed contract?

A:         It will send a clear message to the employers that we won’t accept a contract that isn’t   fair and doesn’t treat us with the respect we deserve. It forces the employers to go back to    the drawing board and revise their proposal.

Q:        Does a strike authorization vote mean we’re going to strike?

A:         No.  A strike authorization vote does exactly what it says – it authorizes union leadership to call a strike if negotiations come to a standstill, or the employers refuse to negotiate.  For example, recently in New England employees of Stop & Shop markets authorized a strike while negotiations were ongoing, and still negotiated a contract without a strike. 

Q:        Do all UFCW members vote?

A:         Yes. All UFCW active members should vote on the employers contract proposal. But the strike authorization vote applies only to Ralphs and Vons employees since Albertsons employees already voted to authorize a strike.

Q:        Does a strike authorization vote mean any wage increases will not be retroactive to March 6^th?

A:         Pay raises will remain retroactive until March 6^th.

Q:        If we go on strike, will we lose any wage increases that would be retroactive to March 6^th?

A:        Retroactive pay is a negotiating item.

Q:        When is the vote?

A:         All voting will happen on Sunday, June 24^th.  Click here for a voting location.

Q:        How does the strike authorization vote impact the current negotiations and contract extension?

A:         UFCW will continue negotiating with the employers. An approved strike vote demonstrates to the employers that we stand in solidarity and will strike if necessary to get a fair contract. That will increase our leverage when negotiating with the employers to increase wages and benefits and eliminate the two-tier wage system.