Food 4 Less/Foods Co. Workers Announce Strike Authorization Votes as Contract Expires

LOS ANGELES —   The United Food and Commercial Workers or UFCW Locals 8GS, 135, 324, 770, 1167, 1428 and 1442, together representing 6,000 Food 4 Less/Foods Co. workers across California, June 8 released the following statement on the day of their contract expiration to announce scheduled strike authorization votes following numerous labor violations by their employer throughout negotiations that have prevented them from getting the fair contract they deserve. 

The UFCW Food 4 Less/Foods Co. Bargaining Committee said the following:  

“When we started contract negotiations with Food 4 Less/Foods Co., we made it clear that it’s important to us that we reach a tentative agreement before contract expiration and we came to the table willing to put in the time and work to get that done. But instead of working with us towards a reasonable contract, our employer would rather play games with our livelihoods and offer proposals that grossly underestimate our value and their wealth.
“While we are trying to bargain a fair contract for all 6,000 Food 4 Less/Foods Co workers, the company has engaged in multiple labor violations from discrimination and unlawful surveillance of workers, to prohibiting us from participating in union activity, unilaterally changing our contract, and blocking us from talking to our Union Representatives. These actions are nothing more than an attempt to strong-arm us into accepting an offer that is less than what we deserve and less than what their parent company, Kroger, provides other grocery workers in the area.
“Everyone deserves a wage that reflects their work and no one deserves to be bullied at their job. By violating our rights, Food 4 Less and Kroger are making it harder to help our customers and keep our stores well-serviced, which is why we’ve been forced to take a strike authorization vote next week.

“Moving forward, we will continue to stand together with our fellow UFCW members, our customers, and our community as we take this important next step in making our voices heard.”

Background
On May 22, 2024, the seven UFCW Locals representing Food 4 Less/Foods Co. workers filed unfair labor practice or ULP charges against Food 4 Less/Foods Co. for undermining negotiations and workers’ right to representation by discriminating against employees based on union activity, prohibiting employees from participating in union activity, monitoring employees engaging in union activity, and unilaterally changing contract terms outside of the legal bargaining process.
Because of these multiple ULP violations, Food 4 Less/Foods Co. members will vote next week on whether to authorize their bargaining committee to call for a strike at any time should one become necessary.
The UFCW Food 4 Less/Foods Co. bargaining committee, made up of members and leaders from all seven UFCW Locals representing Food 4 Less/Foods Co. workers across California, has been in negotiations with the company since April, trying to reach a tentative contract agreement that is equitable to other grocery contracts in the area owned by the same parent company, Kroger, with little effort made by Food 4 Less/Foods Co. to reach an acceptable deal before expiration.
Throughout contract negotiations, Food 4 Less/Foods Co. workers, customers, and thousands of UFCW union members from across the country have taken action by holding massive rallies, gathering petition signatures, and calling on the company to bargain in good faith and reach a fair and reasonable contract agreement with its workers.
The results of the strike authorization votes will be announced after voting ends on June 14.