On April 25th-26th, we met with Food4Less / Foods Co. for our second round of bargaining. We were also joined by a Federal Mediator, who will serve as a neutral party who can help us ensure that bargaining is productive and fair. At our last bargaining session, we asked the company to be ready at the table this time with serious answers to our proposals that would move bargaining forward and allow us to reach an agreement on the strong, equitable contract that we deserve.
While we have reached a few agreements on minor issues, the company continues to shoot down our reasonable offers and refuse to share their proposals on some of our most important issues like wages.
We’ve been clear with Food4Less / Foods Co.: we want to reach a fair agreement by the time our contract expires on June 8th. That’s why we gave them all of our proposals on the very first day of bargaining and why we expected them to come today prepared to negotiate on the issues that affect our lives.
We deserve to have a new contract that delivers us equity with other union grocery stores, higher wages, and better staffing by the time our contract expires, and we’re ready to bargain as often and as long as it takes to reach a Tentative Agreement by June 8th. We work hard to make our company successful and it’s time that Food4Less / Foods Co. recognizes that with a fair and equitable contract.
What’s Next?
After our last bargaining session, we asked the company to meet over a dozen more times before our contract expires. They only agreed to meet with us six times.
While we are meeting again on May 7th-8th, we sent the message loud and clear: We don’t want to waste time at the bargaining table, we’re here to bargain for the contract we deserve. But Food4Less / Foods Co. needs to hear from all of us if they’re going to get serious about negotiating for a fair contract.
That’s why your Stewards, Union Reps, and Bargaining Committee members have been circulating a petition in every one of our stores. Thousands of us have already signed, but if you haven’t had the chance, now is the time to make sure your voice is heard.
When the company sees us signing petitions, showing up to rallies, and engaging in bargaining, they’ll know that we are standing strong for a fair contract.
We will continue to push for productive and frequent bargaining sessions that will allow us to negotiate for the contract we deserve. As always, if you have any questions about bargaining or if there is anything we can help you with, please do not hesitate to reach out to your Steward, Union Rep, or Bargaining Committee Member.
In Solidarity,
Your UFCW Food 4 Less/Foods Co. Bargaining Committee
