SAN DIEGO — Contract talks will resume Wednesday in hopes of avoiding a walkout by thousands of Southern California grocery workers who have already authorized their union to call a strike if negotiations break down.
The United Food and Commercial Workers union announced late Saturday that its members had "overwhelmingly" voted to authorize a strike if necessary against stores including Ralphs and Vons/Pavilions/Albertsons.
The "yes" vote does not automatically result in a strike -- it only authorizes the union to call one if no progress is made in labor negotiations.
Roughly 47,000 workers represented by seven UFCW union locals between Central California and the Mexico border were eligible to cast ballots. The membership covers workers at more than 500 stores.
"Over the past week, you and your fellow Ralphs, Albertsons/Vons/Pavilions members have made your voice heard by overwhelmingly voting to authorize your bargaining committee, made up of your union and fellow co-workers, to call for a strike if needed," the statement said.
Early Sunday, a statement was released on behalf of all seven UFCW Locals that participated in the weeklong voting process.
"Through the past two years of the pandemic, it was the hard work and sacrifice of our members that helped these...companies earn billions in profits," it said in part. "As we continue at the bargaining table, all of our Local Unions are committed to getting a contract that reflects everything these essential grocery workers have contributed to their employers, their customers, and their communities."
Representatives for Ralphs, which has 184 stores and 18,000 employees in Southern California, called the union's strike authorization "unrelated to Ralphs' labor negotiations" and said it will not derail the company from resuming bargaining for a new contract.
"Our proposal invests $141 million in new wages and prevents increases in health costs. This is a serious commitment by Ralphs to Southern California and to our exceptional associates," said Robert Branton, vice president of operations at Ralphs. "Our three goals throughout negotiations are to reward and invest in our people, keep groceries affordable for our customers and maintain a sustainable business that creates jobs in the future. Ralphs' proposal meets all three goals. The current UFCW proposal only meets one of those goals. We encourage the UFCW to join us in meaningful and balanced negotiations to promptly deliver wage increases to our associates."
Union officials announced earlier this month that contract talks had stalled. A three-year-old labor contract between the unionized grocery workers and Southern California supermarkets expired March 7.
Grocery employees are continuing to work under the terms of the previous contract.
"Bargaining committees composed of front-line grocery workers and union leaders came prepared with proposals that would fairly increase wages and improve store conditions to reflect the needs of workers in a pandemic and post- pandemic world," the union said in a statement earlier this month. "The corporations representing the stores offered pennies, a proposal that would ultimately be a pay cut due to inflation."
Ralphs responded with a statement noting that "a strike authorization vote doesn't mean a strike will happen, but it does create unnecessary concern for our associates and communities, at a time when we should be coming together in good faith bargaining to find solutions and compromise. At Ralphs we remain focused on settling a deal with the UFCW."
"We have three very clear objectives; to put more money in our associates paychecks, keep groceries affordable for our customers and to maintain a sustainable future for our business," according to Ralphs. "By working together, we win together."
Grocery employees are continuing to work under the terms of the previous contract.
Ralphs has said its latest proposal includes investments in wages of more than $141 million over the next three years, while not increasing healthcare costs for associates.
"We will continue to do everything we can to balance investments in wages and overall well-being of associates while keeping food affordable for our customers," Robert Branton, vice president of operations at Ralphs, said in the statement. "Our current offer adds to our associates' paychecks, while providing them with premium healthcare coverage and a company funded pension -- which many of our competitors do not offer."
Ralphs says it pays an average hourly wage of $19 an hour, with more than half of associates having been with the company for more than 10 years, and more than one-third having been with Ralphs for more than 20 years. Ralphs also provides healthcare benefits and a pension for retired associates.
"Ralphs has always been and continues to be a workplace where our associates come for a job and stay for a career," Branton said.
Union officials said they are seeking a $5-per-hour wage hike, phased in over the next three years, along with bolstered safety standards and "adequate scheduling and hours."
The grocery stores have offered annual 60-cent-per-hour wage increases over the next three years, totaling $1.80.
Ralphs has said its proposal also will not increase health care costs for associates. Ralphs says it pays an average hourly wage of $19 an hour, with more than half of associates having been with the company for more than 10 years, and more than one-third having been with Ralphs for more than 20 years.
Ralphs also provides health care benefits and a pension for retired associates.
"Ralphs has always been and continues to be a workplace where our associates come for a job and stay for a career," Branton said.
Union leaders have accused the supermarket chains of committing unfair labor practices, including conducting unlawful surveillance of workers who are protesting and refusing to implement wage increases as required under the previous contract.
In 2003-04, Southland grocery store workers walked off the job over a contract dispute, and the strike lasted 141 days. That work stoppage was estimated by some analysts to have cost the supermarket chains as much as $2 billion, with the workers losing $300 million in wages.
During the last round of negotiations in 2019, grocery workers voted to authorize a strike but negotiations continued for two months, and a labor deal was eventually reached, averting a walkout.