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"We
see the strain on their kids every day"
Teachers support shop workers as new negotiations seek to end California supermarket strike, Safeway's result tumbles
“Based on my discussions with the parties, I believe we’ve reached a point where there is some potential for progress on the key issues,” Hurtgen said. He added that he appreciated the willingness of both sides to return to the table to resume good-faith bargaining: “I’m hopeful that with this next round of talks that we can move the process forward." In December, the three supermarket giants said no to a UFCW compromise proposal, which would have allowed them to save hundreds of millions of dollars. Instead, they have pursued their original demands for concessions which would deny their workers and their families the affordable health care that they have enjoyed. The employers approach would also turn the supermarket industry into a low wage profession within a matter of a few years, through introducing rock-bottom wage tariffs for new workers. Strong support from teachers' union: "Their children attend our schools" The striking supermarket workers and their trade union UFCW continue to get strong support from consumers and communities. The California Teachers Association has launched a series of radio ads, which airs on over 50 stations, urging customers not to shop at Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Albertsons and Ralphs stores. Grocery workers are part of our communities and their children attend our schools," Barbara E. Kerr, president of the 335,000-member CTA, says in one ad. "We see the strain on their kids every day. These workers are on strike because giant corporations are trying to destroy their health care." CTA Vice President David A. Sanchez is the voice on ads airing on 11 Spanish-language stations. Safeway's losses spark discussion about Burd's performance Yesterday, Safeway announced poor results for the last three months of 2003. The company made a net loss of 695.9 million dollars. The direct cost of the California supermarket strike was 102.9 million dollars. The three retailers have lost a combined 2 billion plus dollars in sales since the strike and lockout began. This has caused investors to question CEO Steve Burd's leadership abilities, and voices - including on Wall Street - are being raised, demanding that he should go. Safeway is also in legal trouble, because of the deal between the three supermarket giants to share their losses and incomes during the strike, and for an additional two-week period after it has ended. A lawsuit has been raised against the companies for violation of antitrust laws. UFCW locals write to employers: Essential to resolve the dispute in a mutually acceptable way Either cut your healthcare by 40 per cent or pay over 350 dollars a month to retain the current benefits. This was the deal offered by the three retailers Safeway, Kroger and Albertsons to their workers. In a letter to the employers, the presidents of the 7 UFCW Locals involved in the conflict say that the union did not call the strike, but "over 97% of your involved employees voted to strike". "What other choice did you give these loyal employees", the UFCW Locals ask and remind the retailers that it is their lockout that has substantially increased the "damage and suffering", which they had referred to in a communication to the local unions, saying no to binding arbitration. "We remain willing to pursue any avenue that would result in a fair and just resolution of this dispute", the union leaders write and confirm that they are prepared to meet the mediator as soon as possible. "We believe it is essential that the parties resolve this dispute in a manner that both sides can mutually agree upon. Anything short of that would threaten the future of our industry more that the perceived competitive threat that you are focused on."
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Negotiations
to resolve the 4 month old supermarket strike and lockout in
Southern California were taken up again this week. The efforts to
end the conflict are lead by Peter J. Hurtgen of the Federal
Mediation and Conciliation Service office in Washington, D.C. This
follows a refusal last week by Safeway, Albertsons and Kroger to
accept a union proposal for binding arbitration and an immediate
return back to work.