DC Pols Join Grocery Worker Rally at O Street Giant's Grand Opening
Thursday, November 21, 2013(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)
Political and community leaders joined an
informational picket by Giant and Safeway
workers in front of Giant's grand opening at
8th and O Street NW Thursday night. DC Council
members Tommy Wells and Jack Evans, as well as
Rev. Graylan Hagler of Plymouth Congregational
Church were among those showing their support
for the grocery workers who voted last week to
authorize the leadership of their union, United
Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 400
(UFCW Local 400) to call a strike if the
companies refuse to negotiate a fair contract.
The new Giant is in Wells’ district and he
went in with a delegation to deliver petitions
signed by community residents supporting the
workers, telling store management “it’s
time for Giant to settle a contract with its
workers.” The big issue on the table is
health care because of the new Affordable Care
Act. In contract negotiations across the
country, companies have tried to eliminate
health care for part-time workers, retirees and
spouses. "We are refusing to go backward," said
Vivian Siguion, Bargaining Advisory Committee
member who works at Safeway #1431. "We've
worked this hard to earn the benefits we have
and for the companies to propose to eliminate
them feels like a slap in the face to the 29
years I've put in to this company." Giant and
Safeway workers have leafleted stores and
gathered thousands of shoppers' pledges,
participated in flash mobs, and have turned in
their own pledge cards stating that they will
do "whatever it takes for a fair contract."
Other unions like the Teamsters, who work at
Giant's warehouse in Jessup, Md. have supported
the retail workers by wearing buttons and
turning in pledge cards, while community groups
have joined rallies and local politicians have
written letters of support. "By authorizing a
strike last week, our members put Giant and
Safeway 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 Federici. "We need to keep this
momentum up, we have to stand together and we,
as union members need to actively support our
decision by continuing to participate in store
actions until a fair contract is reached," said
LaWanda Nedd-Kea, a Bargaining Advisory
Committee member who works at Giant #140.
photo by Bill Burke/Page
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