Cover Stories

Supermarket Workers Vote to Authorize Strike

The United Food and Commercial Workers Union 770 said in a statement that the supermarket corporations engaged in illegal and covert tactics to prevent workers from exercising their rights guaranteed to them by labor and federal laws.

Supermarket workers in Southern California voted to authorize a strike after unsuccessful negotiations with the corporations that own Ralphs and Vons/Pavilions/Albertsons. The contract that covers more than 60,000 supermarket store employees expired Sunday, March 6.

Corporations representing the supermarkets offered a pitiful raise of a few cents while the union presented proposals that would increase wages, as well as improve working conditions in the stores.

According to the union, grocery sales increased exponentially, bringing in record profits for grocery companies, citing Ralphs’ parent company Kroger’s reported profits of up to $4 billion in 2021.

In a statement, the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 770 said that corporations engage in illegal and covert tactics to prevent workers from exercising their rights and protections guaranteed to them by labor and federal laws.

Unionized contract workers work at Ralphs, Albertsons, Vons, Pavilions, Stater Bros. and Gelson’s supermarkets.

“When the pandemic hit, we showed up to work to make sure our community had food. We put our health and the health of our family at risk – and now corporate executives who hid in their offices and profited from our sacrifice refuse to share in the success and improve safety in our stores,” said Rachel Fournier, an employee for 17 years at Ralphs, in a statement.

Employees filed Unfair Labor Practices charges with the federal government’s National Labor Relations Board against Ralphs and Vons/Albertsons/Pavilions for violating labor laws by over-policing, intimidating and interfering with participating workers in union activities, for failing to bargain over bonuses offered to employees and improperly subcontracting work to outside contractors, among other labor law violations.

Charges were also filed with the NLRB against Stater Bros. after company managers violated federal labor law by attempting to bargain with individual workers and delaying negotiations.

ULP strike voting begins Monday, March 21st. For time and locations click link: ufcw770.org/vote

Mark Friedman

Mark Friedman is a Socialist, a labor activist, and an educator who has worked with teachers, students, ship's crew to promote marine biology with lessons and hands-on inquiry/investigations aligned to California state biology standards, NGSS & Common Core.

Recent Posts

County to Protect Medi-Cal and CalFresh Access for 1.7 Million Residents Amid New Federal Work Requirements

The motion also calls for the expansion of workfare and volunteer opportunities across county departments…

3 hours ago

Governors Briefs: CalRx® Insulin, $11 a Pen, Will Soon be Available and Appointment Announced

This launch marks a significant step in the state's ongoing effort to lower prescription drug…

3 hours ago

Purdue Student Paper Shows Solidarity With Rival

  After the Indiana University Media School fired its director of student media and banned…

4 hours ago

POLA Lead Attorney Steve Otera Named Corporate Counsel of the Year by LA Business Journal

  LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Business Journal has given a top legal honor…

4 hours ago

Ports Briefs: POLB Cargo Slows as Clean Truck Study and Air Quality Report Highlight Progress

The Final 2024 Class 8 Drayage Truck Feasibility Assessment Report focuses on battery electric and…

7 hours ago

Public Health Investigating Possible Local Spread of Clade I Mpox; Third Case Confirmed in Los Angeles County

So far in 2025, Public Health has reported 118 cases of clade II mpox.

1 day ago