UNION ATTEMPT TO DIVIDE GROCERY COMPANIES WILL FAIL
Joint Statement From Albertsons, Ralphs And Vons

(LOS ANGELES) – In its latest move to divert attention from the real issues behind Southern California’s grocery strike, the union representing grocery workers made an attempt to divide the companies today. By announcing it was taking down its picket lines at Ralphs stores, the United Food and Commercial Workers union acknowledged what the grocery companies already know – there is weakening support from employees and customers for the strike.

The union’s strategy to divide the companies will fail. The employers remain united in our belief that we have made a very good contract offer, which includes some of the best health benefits in the country for our current employees, in addition to some of the highest retail wages in Southern California.

Instead of spending its time addressing the real issues behind the strike – including the intense competitive pressures and skyrocketing health care costs the companies face – the union continues to misrepresent our offer. Today’s announcement is no different. Here are the facts:

• At no time has the union requested that the three companies come back to the table or indicated it was interested in resuming bargaining. Their statement to the contrary made today is just not true.
• The union’s claim today that the companies have threatened to eliminate employees’ medical benefits or pension is just not true. In fact, we offered to increase our contributions to pension benefits and increase our contributions to current employees’ health care coverage.
• Under our most recent offer, our current employees would continue to enjoy some of the best benefits in the country. We offered to increase our contribution to an average of more than $932 per month for health care benefits for each current full-time employee – that is nearly 70 percent more than the national average.
• The union is involved in worst-case scenario predictions that are not based in fact. What we offered to contribute will provide comprehensive benefits for our employees and their families, including excellent health care with well-baby visits, chemotherapy, preventative office visits, dental care, vision care, prescription drugs and hospital care. The union’s claim that it won’t is just not true.
• The companies and the union agreed at the beginning of negotiations that a strike against one is a strike against all. The union’s action today changes nothing.

  All three grocery companies remain committed to serving our customers. Our stores are open and ready for business.

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