UFCW Locals 8GS, 135, 324, 770, 1167, 1424 and 1448 have filed legal charges against Stater Bros. with the federal government’s National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) after hearing from many of you that store managers are circulating surveys with questions about bargaining and trying to bypass your right to union representation.
When management directly approaches and deals with workers about bargaining your contract, that is by definition an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP).
If you, or any of your coworkers have been approached by management to fill out a survey or talk about contract negotiations, please let your union rep know immediately.
Part of the value of being in a union is that you have the right to representation on any and all issues that impact you in the workplace — from wages and benefits, to working conditions, staffing levels, and store safety — and no employer has the right to take that away from you or bypass your legal right to union representation.
Additionally, for the past several weeks, we have been asking Stater Bros. to send over meeting dates so we can begin negotiating your new contract. We have been ready for months to address the issues that matter most to you and your coworkers.
We understand it is upsetting and confusing when — instead of coming to the table to negotiate a contract with your bargaining team like we have been asking them to do — the company decides to engage in delay tactics and play games with last-minute surveys and side-conversations in the stores.
Because of these delay tactics, we will not be signing an extension of the current contract set to expire March 6th (the terms of your current contract will still be in effect after the 6th). If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your union rep.
We have again reached out to Stater Bros. to meet with us immediately to begin negotiations on your contract and have our first meeting scheduled for March 10th. We look forward to discussing a contract with the fair wages essential workers like you deserve and will keep you updated.
