Supermarket Strike Around The Corner?
Consumers, Grocery Stores Prepare For Worst
POSTED: 5:19 p.m. PDT October 8, 2003
UPDATED: 5:57 p.m. PDT October 8, 2003
SAN DIEGO -- Representatives for the United Food and Commercial Workers Union urged members to turn down the latest proposal from several supermarket chains in southern California.
At least 10,000 San Diegans say they would rather walk off their jobs than accept the latest contract proposal from Ralph's, Albertsons and Vons.
"Things are going very poorly. Our contract expired on Oct. 5 at midnight. It impacts our member's health care and pension vastly -- significant cuts that would add up to almost $1 billion in cuts in this package," said Mick Kasparian, (pictured, left) a union representative.
Employees have been voting on the final contract offer to the union throughout the day. But it looks as if two-thirds of union members will reject the deal, setting the stage for a strike.
Scott Soria, a union member, said, "We have a good benefits package right now. We just want to keep that as is. We're not really concerned with wage increases so much as keeping our benefits as they are."
The grocery stores are reportedly asking employees to pay almost 50 percent of their health care costs from now on.
Another union member, Hedy Kline, said, "One of the drugs I have to take costs $800 a month. If they want me to pay half of that prescription -- that's $400 a month -- I would be paying $400 for that prescription versus the $6 I currently pay."
Kline said she and the others will probably vote against the contract.
If union members turn down the contract offer, they could be on strike by Saturday morning.
"We just had a little baby five weeks ago. It's put a little bit of stress on us financially, but other than that, we're sticking together. Hopefully we will work this out," said Nick Minutelli.
Minutelli said he and his family are willing to make sacrifices and go on strike if they have to.
Union representatives said the strike is a very real possibility and not just a negotiating ploy. The results of Wednesday's vote are expected by Friday afternoon.
"I would suggest to customers two things. Number one -- support the people that you've seen for a lot of years. More importantly, from a health and safety issue, you have people in those stores working that are not trained to handle meats, that are not trained to handle prescription drugs. I would suggest you support our people outside, and we will have alternative shopping places for you to go," said Kasparian.
At least 10,000 San Diegans say they would rather walk off their jobs than accept the latest contract proposal from Ralph's, Albertsons and Vons.
"Things are going very poorly. Our contract expired on Oct. 5 at midnight. It impacts our member's health care and pension vastly -- significant cuts that would add up to almost $1 billion in cuts in this package," said Mick Kasparian, (pictured, left) a union representative.
Employees have been voting on the final contract offer to the union throughout the day. But it looks as if two-thirds of union members will reject the deal, setting the stage for a strike.
Scott Soria, a union member, said, "We have a good benefits package right now. We just want to keep that as is. We're not really concerned with wage increases so much as keeping our benefits as they are."
The grocery stores are reportedly asking employees to pay almost 50 percent of their health care costs from now on.
Another union member, Hedy Kline, said, "One of the drugs I have to take costs $800 a month. If they want me to pay half of that prescription -- that's $400 a month -- I would be paying $400 for that prescription versus the $6 I currently pay."
Kline said she and the others will probably vote against the contract.
If union members turn down the contract offer, they could be on strike by Saturday morning.
"We just had a little baby five weeks ago. It's put a little bit of stress on us financially, but other than that, we're sticking together. Hopefully we will work this out," said Nick Minutelli.
Minutelli said he and his family are willing to make sacrifices and go on strike if they have to.
Union representatives said the strike is a very real possibility and not just a negotiating ploy. The results of Wednesday's vote are expected by Friday afternoon.
"I would suggest to customers two things. Number one -- support the people that you've seen for a lot of years. More importantly, from a health and safety issue, you have people in those stores working that are not trained to handle meats, that are not trained to handle prescription drugs. I would suggest you support our people outside, and we will have alternative shopping places for you to go," said Kasparian.Copyright 2003 by TheSanDiegoChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
