Fourth Try At Grocery Strike Negotiations Begins
Salvation Army Pulls Holiday Bell Ringers From Stores
POSTED: 9:06 a.m. PST December 2, 2003
UPDATED: 9:57 a.m. PST December 2, 2003
SAN DIEGO -- The two sides in the supermarket strike resumed negotiations Tuesday with the help of a federal mediator, 10News reported.
The work stoppage began with 21,000 Vons workers, members of the United Food and Commercial Workers, going on strike Oct. 11. In response, Ralphs and Albertsons locked out 49,000 other workers.
The last two-day session of talks between representatives of the union and the supermarket chains -- Ralphs, Albertsons and Safeway-owned Vons and Pavilions -- dealt with wages and pensions and were described as "useful" by Peter Hurtgen, director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
Talks "broke down" Nov. 23 between the two sides, Levenfeld said.
Hurtgen asked the two sides to honor a news blackout and not discuss any details of the negotiations. The time and place of the mediated talks were not made public.
"What I can say is that we are glad to be going back to the table, that we're ready to go around-the-clock to get an agreement," Maynard said.
Rising health care costs are at the heart of the dispute. The union opposes efforts by the three chains to have their employees pay more for rising medical benefits.
It also rejects what it says is a proposed "two-tier" system of pay for veterans and new hires.
Meanwhile, the lingering strike is claiming another casualty -- the Salvation Army's annual red kettle fund-raising campaign, 10News reported.
To avoid any conflicts, the Salvation Army has pulled its holiday bell ringers from Vons, Albertsons and Ralphs. Pulling the bell ringers may potentially cost the charity $500,000, according to 10News.
"The Salvation Army has, over a period of 100 years, identified the places where people are most likely to give and the supermarket is one of this key places where the Salvation Army meets the donor," said Salvation Army Lt. Cmdr. Douglas O'Brien.
Unlike shoppers, who can choose another grocery chain, there is no alternative for the Salvation Army.
"Obviously it's like a war -- there are casualties. We feel bad about that. There are businesses in the mall that are suffering and the Salvation Army is affected," said Micky Kasparian, the president of local 135 United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.
 GROCERY STRIKE LOCK OUT  VOTE: Cross Picket Line To Shop? DISCUSS: Share Your Thoughts EMAIL ALERT: Sign Up For Grocery Strike Major Development Emails LINKS:  UFCW135.comAlbertsons.comSafeway.comVons.com |
Previous Stories:
- December 1, 2003: Charities Suffer From Grocery Strike
- November 29, 2003: Forth Round Of Supermarket/Union Talks Scheduled
- November 25, 2003: Grocery Strike Takes Turn For Worse
- November 25, 2003: Picket Lines Expanded To Distribution Centers
- November 21, 2003: Grocery Negotiations To Resume
- November 10, 2003: Grocery Strike: Both Sides Talking
- October 31, 2003: Union 'Making Life Easier' For Grocery Consumers
- October 22, 2003: Grocers: Wal-Mart Playing Part In Grocery Strike
- October 20, 2003: Strike Splits Small Town Between Stores, Workers
- October 16, 2003: Economist: Strike Could Cost State $6M Per Day
- October 15, 2003: Lawyer: Union Lawsuit Has No Merit
- October 14, 2003: Grocery Clerks Continue To Picket
- October 14, 2003: Supermarket Strike Sends Shoppers Elsewhere
- October 13, 2003: Grocery Workers Strike, Locked Out
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