UFCW 400 Members Authorize Strikes Against Giant & Safeway
Wednesday, November 13, 2013(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)
Fired up about management intransigence at
the bargaining table, members of United Food
& Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 400 on
Wednesday voted overwhelmingly to authorize
strikes against Giant and Safeway. Their
current contract originally expired on October
31st, was extended for two weeks and has since
been extended through December 20th, while
bargaining takes place on a new agreement.
"Today’s vote does not mean that a strike
will occur," Local 400 said in a press release,
but "it sends a strong signal" to both
supermarkets "that members will do whatever it
takes to get a fair contract." Tasha Schrantz,
a Local 400 member serving on the Bargaining
Advisory Committee who works at Giant #749,
said that “We’re the ones making all their
money and it’s about time they recognize that
and start respecting us.” “We need to keep
this momentum up," added LaWanda Nedd-Kea, a
Bargaining Advisory Committee member who works
at Giant #140. "We have to stand together and
we as union members need to actively support
our decision by participating in store
actions.” “The big issue at the table has
been health care and today, our union brothers
and sisters refused to go backward and
authorized our local union leadership to call a
strike,” said Vivian Sigouin, a Bargaining
Advisory Committee member who works at Safeway
#1431.“Today, our members put Giant on notice
that it is long past time to come to the table
with a proposal that provides them with the
security, respect and dignity they have more
than earned,” said Local 400 President Mark
P. Federici. “All our members ask of
management is a fair deal that reflects all
they contribute to the bottom line. No one
wants a strike, but if that is the only way to
get a contract providing living wages and
health and retirement security, that is what we
will do.” photo courtesy
@UFCW400