Grocery Workers Rising Updates
Dear Ralphs, Albertsons, Vons, Pavilions, Stater Bros., Gelson’s and Super A members,
Grocery workers are struggling. In 2022, we won a contract that led the nation in wage increases and increased hours, but corporate greed and rising inflation have eaten up those gains. And the cost of housing, food and gas continues to spike.
Grocery workers make massive profits for CEOs and shareholders, but these companies don’t care about the well-being of their workers or their families. These jobs should be sufficient to feed a family and provide health benefits and a set retirement at the end of a long career. Unfortunately, that is not currently the case. Now is the time to fight for:
• Living wages
• Affordable healthcare benefits
• A reliable pension
• Better staffing and working conditions
• More full-time jobs
Thousands of hard-working grocery workers in California are rising up like never before to fight for the contracts they deserve from Ralphs, Albertsons, Vons, Pavilions, Stater Bros., Gelson’s and Super A. It’s time to speak out against the corporate greed that keeps stores understaffed and grocery workers’ pockets empty.
We are 50,000 grocery workers are standing strong. We are Grocery Workers Rising.
How Bargaining Will Work
The first scheduled bargaining session with Kroger (Ralphs) and Albertsons is on February 13-14, 2025. Stater Bros. is scheduled to begin in March. A worker bargaining committee and leaders from UFCW Locals that represent grocery workers – 8GS, 135, 324, 770, 1167, 1428, and 1442 – will present proposals to the companies based on the contract surveys you completed.
Throughout the process, both sides will continue to pass proposals back and forth in an attempt to reach a “tentative agreement” on a new contract. This tentative agreement is not final until the members get a chance to review it and vote on whether or not to accept it. If a majority of workers vote to accept the contract, only then would the contract be ratified and go into effect.
At the conclusion of each session, the bargaining committee will send coordinated updates to keep workers informed of what happened at each session, what the companies said or did, and to let you know what you can do to fight for the contract you deserve.
We know the companies will attempt to control the narrative about bargaining with misinformation and partial truths to try and divide us. Just like Kroger did during Food 4 Less bargaining, they’ll tell us that they’re offering a fair wage increase, but that wage increase may not apply to everyone. In addition to wages, the bargaining committee will also be fighting for other critical issues like reasonable staffing levels and improved pension and medical benefits that all workers need. Remaining united and fighting for every grocery member is how we get the contract we deserve.
What We Can Do to Show Our Power
1. Follow the Grocery Workers Rising website and social media accounts! These platforms are where the most up-to-date information will be housed. Workers can find bargaining updates there and other content about the contract fight, so make sure all of your co-workers also follow the accounts to combat the companies’ misinformation campaign!
www.groceryworkersrising.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Groceryworkersrising/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/groceryworkersrising/
Twitter/X: https://x.com/groceryrising25
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@groceryrising25
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/groceryrising25.bsky.social
2. Join our campaign kick-off rally on February 28, 2025, at 3:30 PM in Buena Park. After the UFCW 324 Grocery Steward Seminar, 1000 grocery workers from across Southern California, including our brothers, sisters and siblings from the Teamsters, will converge in Buena Park to show Kroger and Albertsons, Vons, Pavilions, Stater Bros., Gelson’s and Super A just how powerful grocery workers are when they stand together ready to fight for what they deserve. Many local UFCW unions will be providing transportation to the rally. Talk to your union representative or bargaining committee members to reserve a spot.
Register for the rally here: https://ufcw324.org/grocery-rally-228-rsvp/
3. Workers are signing petitions that demand the companies provide fair wages, secure health benefits, a reliable retirement, sufficient hours, more full-time positions and better staffing. These petitions deliver a strong message to the companies that the workers will not settle for less than they deserve. It’s critical that every worker sign it.
Only by rising up together can you make a change in your workplace, not only for you, but for your co-workers as well. This is your union, and it is only as powerful as you make it. Last year, grocery workers took on billion-dollar corporations and defeated them, stopping the merger. Imagine what you can do this year if you get involved.
If you have any questions about bargaining or if there is anything else we can do to support you, please do not hesitate to reach out to your Bargaining Committee Members, Union Representatives or Stewards.
In Solidarity,
Your Grocery Workers Rising Bargaining Committee
