PRESS RELEASE
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, June 14, 2024 CONTACT: Heather Rutman (213) 705-2377 heather.rutman@ufcw770.org Food 4 Less/Foods Co. Workers Overwhelmingly Vote to Authorize Strike |
| Los Angeles County, CA – Today, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Locals 8GS, 135, 324, 770, 1167, 1428 and 1442, together representing more than 6,000 Food 4 Less/Foods Co. workers across California, announced an overwhelming membership vote in favor of authorizing their Food 4 Less / Foods Co. bargaining committee to call for an unfair labor practice strike should one become necessary. The UFCW Food 4 Less/Foods Co. Bargaining Committee said the following: “Food 4 Less executives have decided to resort to unlawful tactics instead of following federal labor law and treating the bargaining process with the respect and seriousness that it deserves. Today’s overwhelming strike authorization vote sends a clear message to the company: we will not be divided. “It’s us and our fellow members that are in the stores day in and day out, making record profits and keeping customers happy. But Food 4 Less is trying to intimidate, bully, and strong-arm us into accepting a contract that is less than what we deserve and far less than what their parent company, Kroger, offers to other union grocery workers in the area. “We know our customers and our communities are on our side, and if Food 4 Less/Foods Co. continues to play games with our livelihoods and drag its feet at the bargaining table, we will be forced to take action. We look forward to continuing negotiations this Monday where we will continue to stand together for the contract we deserve.” BACKGROUND The UFCW Food 4 Less/Foods Co. bargaining committee, made up of members and all seven UFCW Locals representing Food 4 Less/Foods Co. workers across California, has been in negotiations with the company since April. Following numerous labor violations by their employer throughout contract negotiations, Food 4 Less/Foods Co. members from all seven UFCW Locals held strike authorization votes from June 10 – June 14, with an overwhelming majority of members voting to authorize their bargaining committee to call for a strike at any time should one become necessary. Today’s statement comes shortly after the expiration of UFCW’s contract with Food 4 Less/Foods Co. on June 8 and on the heels of all seven UFCW Locals representing Food 4 Less/Foods Co. workers filing unfair labor practice (ULP) charges against Food 4 Less/Foods Co. for undermining negotiations and workers’ right to representation by: Discriminating against employees based on union activity; Prohibiting employees from participating in union activity; Monitoring employees engaging in union activity; and Unilaterally changing contract terms outside of the legal bargaining process. Charges were filed with the National Labor Relations Board on May 22. Bargaining resumes Monday, June 17. |