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2003-12-14 -- Support Grocery Strike for Healthcare


               P I C K E T   A N D   R A L L Y :

S U P P O R T   T H E   G R O C E R Y   W O R K E R S

S A T U R D A Y ,   D E C E M B E R   2 O TH,    1 1 : 0 0  A M

   S A F E W A Y   A T   M A R K E T   A N D   C H U R C H


Support the 70,000 Striking UFCW workers in Southern California
Saturday, December 20 at 11am
Safeway store at Market & Church Streets
San Francisco
(Muni cars K, L, M, and N)

Sponsored by the San Francisco Central Labor Council

Southern California grocery store workers have been on strike for
affordable  health insurance and against a two-tier wage cuts for new
hires at Safeway/Pak-n-Save since October 11, 2003 and locked out  at
Albertson's and Ralph's. 70,000 people are without paychecks this
holiday  season.

They are standing for their families and for yours. We need to stand
with  them.

An injury to one is an injury to all!

For more info, call SF Labor Council/Labor Neighbor at  415-440-4809
http://www.bayareacoalition.org/dec_20_rally.htm


PLEASE FORWARD THIS MESSAGE:

(1000 UFCW rally at Southern California site Saturday Dec 13th, see
below.)


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Note added: The  grocery chains are demanding:

Two-Tier wages: For example, new cashiers would get $10 an hour after
30 months on the job, which is 44 percent lower than the current
$17.90 maximum.  New cashiers would be paid $15.10 per hour after 8
years.

Two year wage freeze for current workers: Current workers are making
between $7.40 an hour for baggers after 30 months to a $17.90 maximum
for cashiers.  These workers would get a two-year wage freeze.

Health premium increases and benefit caps: $780 in annual premiums for
family health coverage, and a cap on annual employer health
contributions, which would most likely cause a decrease in benefits.
(Source:  NY Times, 11-10-03)

Safeway has already lost $400 million on this strike, Ralphs has lost
$145 million, a 57% drop in earnings.  They would not be holding out
this long without the intention of major theft from the working class
over the long haul.

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NBC San Diego, December 14, 2003

Grocery Clerks Rally In Lakewood

Union Expects More Activity On Supermarket Picket Lines

LAKEWOOD, Calif. -- Union officials expect more activity on the picket
lines as the grocery clerks' strike moves into its 10th week.

They believe the lines will be extended in major cities and more
people will be out showing their support for the workers.

Negotiations between the big three chains and the union broke off Dec.
7 with new talks scheduled. The parties talked for six consecutive
days, but the union says they have very different ideas on how to
resolve the key issues involved in the dispute especially the health
care plans.

Grocery clerks held a massive rally Saturday to draw attention to
their cause. An estimated 1,000 grocery workers rallied at a Pavilions
in Lakewood.

According to a joint statement from Albertsons, Ralphs and Safeway,
the grocery companies presented a "revised comprehensive offer" to the
union last Tuesday, but have not received a counter offer from the
union.

The strike and lockout involves some 70,000 unionized workers in
Southern and Central California. Some 21,000 workers at Vons and
Pavilions markets walked off the job after contract talks broke off on
Oct. 11. The operators of Ralphs and Albertsons markets then locked
out about 59,000 workers in an act of solidarity with Safeway.

Rising health care costs are at the heart of the dispute. The union
opposes efforts by the three chains to have their employees pay more
for rising medical benefits.

It also rejects a proposed two-tier system of pay for veterans and new
hires.

Chain executives have said they need to reduce costs to remain
competitive with nonunion stores, including Wal-Mart, which plans to
open "superstores" that will include grocery departments.