Southern California Grocery Workers Are Rising for Fair Wages and Better Working Conditions
By Todd Walters, President, UFCW Local 135
For too long, the hardworking union grocery workers of Southern California have been overworked, understaffed, and underpaid. These essential workers, who showed up day in and day out during the pandemic to keep our communities fed, now find themselves struggling to make ends meet. With inflation driving up the cost of living at an alarming rate, it’s time for major grocery corporations—Kroger/Ralphs, Albertsons/Vons, Stater Bros., and Gelson’s—to step up and provide the fair wages and benefits that these workers have earned.
Southern California UFCW Locals are gearing up for what will likely be the toughest round of negotiations in decades. Bargaining with Kroger/Ralphs and Albertsons/Vons kicks off on February 13, with Stater Bros. negotiations beginning on March 6. Dates with Gelson’s have yet to be scheduled, but our message to all these companies is the same: Grocery workers are rising for our futures, our families, and our communities.
The grocery industry has seen record profits in recent years, but that success has not trickled down to the very people who make those profits possible. Prices at the grocery store have skyrocketed, but wages for grocery workers have not kept up. Many of our members—the very people stocking the shelves and ringing up customers—cannot afford to shop in the stores they work in. That is unacceptable. These workers, who once bore the title of “essential,” are still essential today. It’s time they are treated and compensated accordingly.
With the attempted Kroger-Albertsons merger now blocked, we expect these corporations to take an aggressive stance in negotiations, claiming financial hardship
and resisting our demands for better pay, improved staffing, and stronger job protections. But we will not back down. Our members are tired of doing more work for less pay while executives and shareholders rake in the money. It is our turn to demand fairness, and we are prepared to fight for it.
The reality in our stores is grim. Chronic understaffing leaves workers stretched thin, forcing them to do the jobs of two or three people. Wages have not kept pace with
inflation, making it harder for families to afford housing and other necessities. Stress levels are high, turnover is rampant, and morale is low. This is not a sustainable way to run an industry that millions of Californians rely on every day.
Grocery workers are the backbone of our communities. They were there for us during the darkest days of the pandemic, ensuring that families had access to food and
essentials. Now, as they prepare to negotiate their new contract, they need the public’s support more than ever. Fair wages, safe working conditions, and secure benefits aren’t just good for grocery workers—they’re good for all of us.
The coordinated campaign for a strong contract is called Grocery Workers Rising because that is exactly what is happening. Our members are standing up and
demanding better. We are rising for fair wages. We are rising for respect. We are rising for our families and our future. And we will not settle for anything less than what we’ve earned.
To the grocery companies, I say this: You have an opportunity to do right by your workers. You can choose to value the people who keep your stores running and ensure
that they can live with dignity. Or you can choose to dig in your heels and prolong this fight. But make no mistake—Southern California grocery workers are united,
determined, and ready to rise.
We call on our communities to stand with us. Support your grocery workers. Stay informed, follow our updates, and be ready to take action alongside us. Together, we
will win a contract that ensures these essential workers are treated fairly and paid accordingly.
The contract fights are just beginning, but one thing is certain: Grocery workers are rising, and we will not be stopped.
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Todd Walters is President of UFCW Local 135, representing over 11,000 workers throughout San Diego and Imperial Counties in various fields including grocery and retail; health, pharmacy and dental; meat and sugar processing; casino service; and cannabis.
Hmmm, underpaid workers vs inflation. Where do you draw the line?
How about solidarity Chris?
By dieting? These characters been fighting for years. What do you want the community to do? Especially the lower economic group. Not buy food or buy food at higher priced stores? The stores mentioned, I don’t generally buy from to begin with. I’m just saying, every strike at the end of the day adds to inflation that’s later complained about.
Mr. Walters, I am opposed to the ongoing push for increased wages and benefits for grocery workers in Southern California. While I certainly recognize and appreciate the hard work of grocery employees, I believe that the proposed wage hikes and enhanced benefits would have detrimental consequences for both the industry and consumers at large.
The grocery industry has been under immense pressure due to inflation and rising costs. Major corporations like Kroger/Ralphs, Albertsons/Vons, Stater Bros., and Gelson’s are responsible for maintaining a balance between employee compensation and the need to keep prices affordable for consumers. Increasing wages substantially could lead to higher grocery prices, which would disproportionately affect working families who are already grappling with inflation.
Many workers in various sectors face similar financial pressures, and a blanket approach to wage increases across one industry may exacerbate inflation, which harms everyone, including the very employees you advocate for.
Additionally, the suggestion of demanding more benefits and a stronger stance on staffing levels, while well-meaning, could push companies to reduce the overall number of employees, automate certain processes, or even close locations that are no longer financially viable. This may lead to job losses, which would undo the very goal of creating better opportunities for workers. Furthermore, the cost of doing business in Southern California is already high, and further increasing operational costs could drive some companies to scale back their operations or raise prices, which could negatively impact consumers who rely on affordable groceries.
So, Mr. Walters, grocery store employees should certainly be compensated fairly for their work, but I urge you to take a balanced approach. Rather than demanding aggressive increases in wages and benefits, I believe it is more prudent to engage in thoughtful, long-term planning that ensures grocery stores can remain competitive, workers are compensated appropriately, and consumers are not burdened by inflated prices.
Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen’s compensation was 502 times that of the median Kroger employee in 2023. Just for general reference.
As a worker I can tell you that there is no inflation but gross company price gouging when the more popular sizes price are greater than the item less popular larger size. Take a 20oz soda vs a 2 liter, the price of the 2 liter item is usually cheaper. This is just one example of the sales cost being inflated to gouge the consumer for not the cost of the item (because the operational costs have been paid for since dare I say 50 years ago) but for the selling quantity.
The price gouging is the real culprit and the Executives are reaping the rewards while shielding themselves under the blanket of “inflation” . When the people become educated in the cost of manufacturing which is 80% automated, and the waste of shipping over long distances (which could be reduced) the actual unit cost of materials spread over the demand volume is basically pennies.
Joe,
Let’s take that 20 0z soda you cited, what does the fact that a 1 liter soda costing less than a 20 0z have to do with supermarkets gouging the consumer? That 5o years of operational costs you mentioned was incurred by the soda manufacturer, not the supermarket it is sold in. It has almost always been the case that a half Gallon of milk cost’s almost as much as a Gallon, that a small container of Orange Juice costs almost as much as a large one, that convenience store pricing is more expensive than supermarket pricing, etc.
Are you against capitalism? Are you against allowing people or corporations to make a profit? Yes, corporate greed is an issue, but no more so than oil company greed, car manufacturer greed, social media greed, etc.
Have you divested your 401K from all corporations that make a profit?
I think you ought to apply to be CEO of one of the fortune 500 companies and join their logistics team so that you can better direct them how to manufacture, ship and stock store shelves without the need to make a significant profit. I mean, it’s so easy right? After all, 80% of the manufacturing process has already been automated right? Human civilization ought to have figured this out by now right? But you’re the smart one.