Dear Food 4 Less coworkers,
Over the past week, you have made your voice heard by overwhelmingly voting to authorize your bargaining committee to call for a strike to protest unfair labor practices if needed. We sent the message loud and clear that if Food 4 Less / Foods Co. continues to discriminate against us, illegally surveil us, prevent new coworkers from talking to union reps, or prohibit us from participating in union activity, we will take action.
All of us have shown incredible strength during negotiations, and our vote sends a strong message to Food 4 Less / Foods Co. that we have earned and deserve better.
While we spent the week making it clear to our company that we will not tolerate their unlawful behavior at the bargaining table or in the stores, they’ve been getting nervous. They know that we’ve got the law, our coworkers, and our customers on our side, which is why they’ve been doing everything they can to try and convince us that we don’t deserve better.
But if they thought Food 4 Less and Foods Co. members could be scared away from standing up for our rights, they found out tonight that they are very, very wrong.
What does this mean?
This vote prepares all of us to take action if the companies continue to commit unfair labor practices that undermine our ability to get the wages, benefits, and protections we need.
A strike is always a last resort, and we will continue to push for Food 4 Less / Foods Co. to do the right thing and come to the table prepared to bargain in good faith.
You will always be the first to know if we are taking action. There are many ways we can stand up for our rights, and there will be opportunities to attend member meetings, calls, or trainings, where we can ask questions and feel confident about taking action together.
And if our company forces us to strike, we will have strike funds available to support us.
AGAIN: DO NOT WALK OUT UNTIL YOUR UNION NOTIFIES YOU. If you walk out before that, you can be disciplined and/or fired by your employer.
Next Steps
We are set to meet with Food 4 Less / Foods Co. again on June 17th where we will fully discuss the company’s latest offer and make our priorities clear: we need equitable wages sooner, more guaranteed hours, and protection from vendors doing work that should be ours.
We deserve to be treated with respect without the company interfering with our legal rights and we deserve a fair contract, now.
In Solidarity,
Your UFCW Food 4 Less Bargaining Committee
