Southern California grocery workers during 2003-04 labor dispute with supermarket chains/PHOTO-Uprising Radio
Across this vast region, grocery workers voted by more than 90% to declare that health benefits are worth fighting for — even if that means going on strike in the near future. The companies insist their offer would protect current standards of health benefits. This is not true. If they are allowed to stand, the companies’ proposals would devastate members’ access to medical care for themselves and their families. Within 18-20 months, the fund that pays for the medical benefits of 62,000 grocery workers would run out of money. The only alternative at that point would be to cut benefits drastically and raise out-of-pocket costs — premiums, deductibles and co-pays — through the roof.
Though no strike has yet been called, the members of the United Food and Commercial Workers voted overwhelmingly against the latest offer from Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons, which would devastate their health care. While we continue to hope that final negotiations will produce a fair contract, we need to remind these Fortune 500 companies that we stand with and support the grocery workers.
Please support the 62,000 grocery workers from Santa Barbara to San Ysidro who face a looming strike and join them for leafletting and a rally on Wednesday.
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