What happened during our first bargaining session?
We’re dealing with inflation too, Stater Bros.
Today, we met with Stater Bros. for our very first day of bargaining, with the biggest bargaining committee we’ve ever had, made up of workers from across Southern California.
We showed up as a strong, united force of proud members, ready to secure the contract we deserve. We began the bargaining session by presenting all of our proposals, including fair wages, benefits, and safe staffing levels.
We had a lot of passionate discussions about the company’s perspective on the grocery industry and rising inflation—and how they want to address it on the backs of us, the workers. What they don’t understand is that we’re suffering from inflation too.
Stater Bros. has the best customer service. Stater Bros. is profitable. Stater Bros. is able to remodel and open new stores. We are the reason Stater Bros. has been successful. We should be able to put food on the table, have access to healthcare, and retire at the end of a long career. Unfortunately, that is not currently the case.
Our contract expired on Sunday, March 2, 2025, and the bargaining team made the strategic decision not to agree to a contract extension because an extension would limit our ability to fight for the fair contract we deserve.
Remember, when a contract expires, our current wages, benefits, and protections—including our health insurance—do not change. We should continue reporting to work as usual while we fight for the new contract we deserve.
We will meet with the company again next week on March 14 and then again on March 19 and 21. Between now and then, we must show how united and strong we are. How do we show our power?
- Join us for an all–Southern California UFCW grocery worker call on Thursday, March 13, at 9:00 AM and 6:30 PM. Everyone needs to join these calls to hear exactly what’s happening in negotiations and learn about future actions directly from the best source—us, your bargaining committee. Register for the calls here:
- March 13 at 9:00 AM: Register Here
- March 13 at 6:30 PM: Register Here
- Sign the petition demanding that Stater Bros. provide:
- Fair wages
- Secure health benefits
- A reliable retirement
- Sufficient hours
- More full-time positions
- Better staffing
Union representatives and SPURs will be visiting stores with these petitions.
Stay Informed & Combat Misinformation
Follow the Grocery Workers Rising website and social media accounts for the most up-to-date information, bargaining updates, and content about our contract fight. Make sure all your co-workers follow these accounts to counter the company’s misinformation campaign!
- Website: www.groceryworkersrising.com
- Facebook: Grocery Workers Rising
- Instagram: @groceryworkersrising
- Twitter/X: @groceryrising25
- TikTok: @groceryrising25
- BlueSky: groceryrising25.bsky.social
We will send another update after our next session on March 14, 2025. These updates—directly from your union co-workers on the bargaining committee—contain the most current and accurate information about bargaining, always with your best interests in mind.
If you have any questions about bargaining or need assistance, please reach out to your Union Representative or Bargaining Committee Member.
In Solidarity,
Your Grocery Workers Rising Bargaining Committee
