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July 18, 2011
Dear Vons
Member:
You may be hearing from store
management that things are going
well at the bargaining table and
that patience is necessary for you
to receive a fair contract.
Nothing is further from the
truth.
The goal of Vons management,
along with management from Ralphs
and Albertsons, is to lull you into
passivity.
We have been negotiating for
more than 5 months and significant
differences remain on medical
benefits.
Don’t be fooled.
This difference is not the
simple $9 and $23 that management
claims.
This difference involves
shifting significant medical costs
to you, which even by Vons own
admission could easily cost your
family $8,000 more per year.
The actual amount is closer
to $11,000 but either way, it is not
acceptable.
Continued delays devastate
your medical plan.
Currently, the amount of
money being paid into the fund is
less than the cost of the benefits.
This means that reserve money
is being used to make up the
difference.
Very soon, this reserve money
will be at dangerously low levels
and there won’t be enough money to
pay all the bills.
We cannot allow management to
continue delaying a settlement until
we reach this point.
We urge you to attend any
meetings that Vons management has to
discuss negotiations and ask the
important questions.
For example: Other than the
increase in weekly premiums, what
other changes is Vons proposing to
our medical plan?
Are the reserves (money used
to pay your medical bills) in your
Trust Fund declining with every day
that negotiations continue?
Why is it taking so long to
finalize these negotiations, when
Vons has known for at least 4 years
that the contract would expire on
March 6?
Why has management never
agreed to meet more than 3 days in
any week since the beginning of
these negotiations (your Union has
been available 24 hours a day, 7
days a week)?
We are nearing the point
where the negotiations must come to
a conclusion.
Vons’ attempt to mislead you
now is recognition of this fact.
Get the facts and remember
your value to the company.
Stay strong and united.
In Solidarity,
UFCW, LOCAL 135
Mickey Kasparian
President
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