Grocery Bargaining Update

August 10, 2007

Enough is enough.

We’re calling for a vote.

We have been bargaining for over five months now — 100 days past expiration — and we still don’t have an acceptable contract offer from Safeway, QFC, Fred Meyer, and Albertsons.

Enough is enough. We’ve told them we will vote soon on whatever contract is on the table. Those dates and times will be circulated in the stores and posted on our new hotline — the number is below. We will be meeting again at the table for more bargaining sessions on August 16th and 17th.

This vote is the next step in our campaign to win a fair contract that:

• Improves wages
• Improves our medical plan
• Improves the scheduling process to be more family-friendly
• Provides sick leave
• Helps members retire with dignity

It’s time to take the next step in our campaign to win a fair contract.

We need to be ready for anything. Hopefully, it will be a ratification vote. But if there’s not a fair contract offer on the table when we vote, we’ll do whatever it takes to get there. We won’t settle for less than a contract that shares the success.

Safeway, Albertsons, QFC and Fred Meyer can afford to do the right thing:

• Their corporate parents are among the top 50 richest companies in the nation, according to Fortune magazine.
• Together, they’re averaging $3 billion a year in profits and their stock prices are through the roof.
• Their three CEOs took their share. Together, they were paid more than $28 million in salaries and bonuses last year while members struggle to stay ahead.

We know management will do anything to maximize their profits at our expense. So, we need to be ready and to stand strong.

Stand strong behind your membership
bargaining committee and trust your truth meter!

If history holds, this crucial period before the vote is the time management pulls out the propaganda. They may call special meetings and put more notes with your paycheck. You have the right to express your opinion to management and counter misinformation.

Before you believe the hype, consider the source.

Don’t believe the spin. Get the real facts from our hotline, from your Union Rep, or from our website, www.ufcw21.org.

It’s time to stand strong for a contract that shares the success.

The most important thing right now is to make sure every member in every store turns out to cast their vote. You can help:

• Spread the word among your co‑workers about the importance of this vote.
• Organize a car-pool to make sure everyone can make it to a vote meeting.
• Join a union phone bank to get our message out as far and wide as possible.