Grocery Chains Propose 3-Year Contract With Workers

The managements of three grocery chains—Vons/Pavilions, Ralphs and Albertsons—have proposed a new, three-year agreement with their employees following a settlement with the United Food and Commercial Workers, the labor union representing the grocery workers.

The new contract comes a day and a half after a strike threatened by 62,000 grocery workers across Southern California was averted, ending an eight-week battle over better health benefits and wages for the workers.

Although the details of the agreement have not yet been made public, UFCW president Rick Icaza said Tuesday he’s optimistic that members will approve of the agreement reached late Sunday night.

Labor Union's Aim

“Our mission was to be able to let our members know they would be able to pay their rent, be able to take their children to the doctor, for them to go to the doctor—and we accomplished that at the same time as preserving the company’s competitive position to be able to make a profit,” Icaza said at a Tuesday news conference held outside the Ralph’s store on Vermont Avenue and 3rd Street.  

UFCW members will be able to read the new agreement and vote for or against its ratification on Friday and Saturday, Icaza said.

Negotiations Were 'A Struggle'

Resolving the issue was "a struggle,” Icaza said, adding that he, the union members as well as the supermarket chains are all relieved that a strike has been averted and that matters did not come to a head as they did in 2003-2004, when a 141-day strike by employees resulted in the unfortunate loss to the companies of about $2 billion—plus market shares.

“The companies were very stubborn” this time around as well, Icaza said. “They wanted to hold onto every last thing they could.” The managements of the grocery chains relented only when they “realized finally that our members were prepared to strike,” Icaza said, adding: “That was exciting because they didn’t believe us”—despite the fact that more than 90 percent of union members throughout Southern California authorized the strike.

On Saturday, Councilmember José Huizar presented a letter to the manager of the Vons supermarket on Figueroa Street in Eagle Rock, expressing his concern over contract negotiations with the grocery workers.

One UFCW member, Angie Baker, who has worked at the Mission Oaks Vons in Camarillo for six years, came all the way from Ventura County to lend her support to the union during Tuesday’s news conference. Holding a sign that read, “Thanks So Cal Shoppers,” she smiled and cheered as Icaza addressed the media.

Stalemate With Management Was Stressful

“We were fighting for our healthcare—for a wage that we could live on,” Baker said. The prospect of an impending strike was stressful, especially because she treasures her job, Baker said. “I’m so grateful I have a job,” she said. “I love the job I do, I love working with people, I’m very proud of the work I do.”

Only if the agreement is ratified by week’s end would the stress that has hounded Baker and thousands of other union members finally come to an end, she said.

Results of the union vote will be announced Saturday at about 8 p.m.