Food 4 Less Employees Authorize Strike

 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (Friday, Dec. 9, 2011) — Following in the footsteps of tens of thousands of retail grocery workers employed by Ralphs, Albertsons and Vons, an overwhelming majority of Food 4 Less workers have indicated they will strike unless Kroger, their employer’s parent company, proposes a wage and benefit package that fairly reflects their contributions to the company.

UFCW members from seven local unions in Southern California voted yesterday to back the union leadership as it goes toe-to-toe with negotiators for Cincinnati-based Kroger, which ranks as the 25^th largest company in the country, according to Fortune magazine.

The union has taken a firm position that Kroger has the ability to provide its Food 4 Less members a fair wage and improved benefit package. Currently, the disparity between Food 4 Less and Ralphs can be much a $3 per hour.

“It’s impossible to ignore the fact that Food 4 Less has been a profit center for Kroger but yet the employees are not being allowed to share in that success,” UFCW officials said to voting members.

UFCW officials have expressed added frustration with Kroger management over its painstakingly slow negotiating style. They accuse the company of deliberately stalling progress in the talks as part of an overall strategy designed to weaken union resolve.

“We have seen what staying united can do when you are in a fight with mega-corporations,” UFCW member Beatrice Lopez said. “UFCW members at Ralphs stuck together and ended up with a contract that shows them respect. We are going to do the same,”

Face-to-face bargaining between the parties is scheduled to resume later this month. Union negotiators say they will use the strike vote by the members as evidence that workers are informed, focused and angry about the company’s proposals so far.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Presidents of the UFCW Local Unions in Southern California:

Jacques Loveall
UFCW 8-Golden State (Northern & Central Calif., plus Kern, Inyo & Mono Counties)

Mickey Kasparian
UFCW Local 135 (San Diego and Imperial Counties)

Greg Conger
UFCW Local 324 (Orange County and Long Beach area)

Rick Icaza
UFCW Local 770 (Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles Counties)

Bill Lathrop
UFCW Local 1167 (Inland Empire, including San Bernardino and Riverside Counties)

Connie M. Leyva
UFCW Local 1428 (Pomona and Claremont area)

Michael Straeter
UFCW Local 1442 (Santa Monica, Westwood, El Segundo and South Bay)

For more information, contact:

Ellen Anreder, UFCW Locals 8, 135, 1167 and 1428: (818) 416-9400
Todd Conger, UFCW Local 324: (714) 920-0918
Mike Shimpock, UFCW Local 770: (323) 776-9090