Grocery Workers Rising – Stater Bros. 2025 Updates
March 21, 2025
Negotiations are not a game Stater Bros.
This is our livelihood
Stater Bros. talks to us like we’re idiots. We’ve had four bargaining sessions with the company and it’s clear they don’t know how negotiations work.
They’re hiding their full wage proposal and they’re the ones accusing us of playing games. On the very first day of bargaining, we gave Stater Bros. all of our proposals, including a comprehensive wage proposal. Today they admitted they were holding off on presenting wage increases for meatcutters and courtesy clerks until we respond to their $1 per year increase for only the food, GM and meat clerks at the top rate.
We won’t sit by while they attempt to piecemeal wage increases for some and try to divide us. All of us deserve fair wages, not just the workers who they deem to be the most important.
We also tried to address another big issue to us – staffing. We gave them a full staffing proposal and explained why adequate hours and full time jobs are so important to our stores. But they don’t care. The company just wants to increase their profits while requiring us to do more and more work with less and less staff.
We’ve confirmed April 11 for future negotiations and we’re waiting to hear back from the company on more dates. When we meet again with Stater Bros. we expect them to stop playing games and come prepared to negotiate on the issues that affect our lives.
The federal government offers a service that helps parties resolve contracts to avoid a labor dispute. The bargaining committee requested Stater Bros. to participate in this process to have more productive conversations and the company continues to refuse.
What can you do to stand up to Stater Bros.?
Stay tuned this weekend for a video from your bargaining committee about the company’s misinformation. We’ll post it on groceryworkersrising.org and our social media accounts. In the meantime:
Join us on all Southern California UFCW grocery worker call on Wednesday April 9 at 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM. Join these calls to hear exactly what’s happening at negotiations with Stater Bros. and future actions from the best source – us – your bargaining committee. We’ll be talking about the company’s misinformation campaign, what their proposals are, and what we’re fighting for. Register for the calls with the links below:
April 9 at 9AM: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Rojs95hGSrOHGK1PN0Zxpg
April 9 at 7PM: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Hm_1DzLBQJek_tAMy-F3sA
Join our next campaign action on Monday, April 14, 2025, at 11:00 AM in La Verne, CA. We’ll be marching from Vons to Stater Bros. to show how powerful we are when we stand together. Talk to your union representative or bargaining committee members if you need transportation to the march.
Register for the march here: https://forms.gle/zTyhcqMDGusAL7kv6
Continue to wear your buttons!
The company sees how powerful and united we really are – that’s why they’ve resorted to spreading misinformation and attempting to undermine us, the people at the bargaining table. They’re afraid of us standing together to demand the contract we deserve and they’re doing everything in their power to try and silence our voices and intimidate us. But we know we deserve better. And so does the public, whose support for us has been overwhelming.
We will be continuing to escalate our campaign, and the more we participate in actions like the April 14 march, stay involved in bargaining by joining calls, and stand together, the more power we have at the table to negotiate for the contract we deserve, including meaningful wage increases for every member in every year of this contract. We can’t pit one class of workers against another. We must remain united and strong to ensure we get what we deserve.
If you have any questions about bargaining, or if there is anything we can help you with, please do not hesitate to reach out to your Steward, Union Representative, or Bargaining Committee Member.
In Solidarity,
Your Grocery Workers Rising Bargaining Committee
March 19, 2025
Stater Bros. Talking Out of Both Sides of Their Mouth
Meanwhile, our contract has expired and we deserve meaningful negotiations
We met with Stater Bros. for the four hours they were available today, and while we were at the table their leadership refused to answer our questions about their plans to eliminate all courtesy clerks in all stores and told us they were “still learning” what to do. But while we were sitting across from the company, CEO Van Helden released a new video saying that they were freezing hiring of courtesy clerks and relying on high turnover to eliminate the classification.
CEO Van Helden says in the video that everyone working at Stater Bros. will receive a $3 wage increase. However, Stater Bros.’ negotiators at the table have only proposed a $1 per year wage increase for the food and GM clerks at the top rate of pay. Nothing for meat cutters, nothing for people working to get to the top rate, and nothing for courtesy clerks. Who should we believe?
It’s apparent that the top priorities for the company are rising inflation and costs to consumers. We’re also consumers! We have to buy groceries too and $3 does not even make up for the inflation we’ve already experienced.
We meet with the company again on Friday, March 21, 2025 where we will continue to push the company for answers about these important issues and meaningful negotiations. We will send a full update about this week’s bargaining sessions then. In the meantime, continue to wear your union button! This act of solidarity shows Stater Bros. that we’re all united and standing together for the contract we deserve.
If you have any questions about bargaining, or if there is anything we can help you with, please do not hesitate to reach out to your Steward, Union Representative, or Bargaining Committee Member.
In Solidarity,
Your Grocery Workers Rising Bargaining Committee
March 14, 2025
Wages for some, not for all
It’s clear Stater Bros. doesn’t care about workers at all
We met with Stater Bros. for another day of bargaining where the company began by doubling down on its mistreatment of courtesy clerks. At the last session, we asked why the company was hiring courtesy clerks at some stores and laying them off at others. Today, they responded to that question by informing us of a freeze on hiring new courtesy clerks.
And the day only got worse after that. They provided us with a wage proposal of $3 over three years, but only for the workers at the top rate. Don’t we all work hard? Don’t we all deserve a wage increase that recognizes the increasingly high cost of living in California?
Relying on California’s mandated minimum wage increases is not enough. We’ve presented a wage proposal to increase top wages by $5.50 and with fair increases for every single worker at Stater Bros. We all contribute to Stater Bros.’ prosperity and we all deserve to be able to pay our rent and put food on the table.
Stater Bros. continues to come to negotiations and disrespect us, our union representatives and the role we play in the company. They refused to allow the federal mediator to come to negotiations today. The mediator’s job is to serve as a neutral party to help ensure that bargaining is productive and fair. Even Kroger and Albertsons have welcomed the mediator to help the bargaining process along. We strongly encourage Stater Bros. to reconsider having the mediator here at our next session.
What can you do in the meantime? Your union representatives and SPURs will be out in the stores distributing buttons to all Stater Bros. members. Wear the button! This act of solidarity shows Stater Bros. that we’re all united and standing together for the contract we deserve. When our customers ask about the button, tell them that we’re fighting for a fair contract and that Stater Bros. is disrespecting us and our contribution to their success.
Continue to stay in touch with your co-workers. Tell them that we work hard to make our company successful and it’s time that Stater Bros. recognizes that with a fair contract for all workers. Stay involved with the Grocery Workers Rising campaign! Updates are on our website and social media accounts at www.groceryworkersrising.org.
We will send another update after our next session on March 19, 2025. Remember, these updates come directly from your co-workers on your bargaining committee and have the most up-to-date information about what is happening at bargaining. We’re here fighting for the best interests of all Stater Bros. workers to ensure we all get what we deserve.
If you have any questions about bargaining, or if there is anything we can help you with, please do not hesitate to reach out to your Steward, Union Representative, or Bargaining Committee Member.
In Solidarity,
Your Grocery Workers Rising Bargaining Committee
March 6, 2025
What happened during our first bargaining session?
We’re dealing with inflation too Stater Bros.
Today we met with Stater Bros. for our very first day of bargaining with the biggest bargaining committee we’ve ever had made up of workers across Southern California.
We showed up as a strong, united force of proud members ready to get the contract we deserve. We began the bargaining session by presenting all of our proposals, including fair wages, benefits and safe staffing levels.
We had a lot of passionate discussion about the company’s perspective on the grocery industry and rising inflation and how they want to address it – on the back of us, the workers. What they don’t understand is that we’re suffering from inflation too.
Stater Bros. has the best customer service. Stater Bros. is profitable. Stater Bros. is able to remodel and open new stores. We are the reason that Stater Bros. has been successful. We should be able to put food on the table, have access to healthcare and be able to retire at the end of a long career. Unfortunately, that is not currently the case.
Our contract expired Sunday March 2, 2025 and the bargaining team made the strategic decision to not agree to a contract extension because a contract extension would limit our ability to fight for the fair contract we deserve. Remember that when a contract expires, our current wages, benefits, and protections don’t change, including our health insurance. We should report to work as usual while we continue to fight for the new contract we deserve.
We will meet with the companies again next week on March 14 and again on March 19 and 21. Between now and then, we must show how united and strong we are. How do we show our power?
- Join us for an all Southern California UFCW grocery worker call on Thursday, March 13 at 9:00 AM and 6:30 PM. Everyone needs to join these calls to hear exactly what’s happening at negotiations and future actions from the best source – us – your bargaining committee. Register for the calls with the links below:
March 13 at 9:00 AM: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WjdcyVKyQmmKHfIJwuWVEQ
March 13 at 6:30 PM: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_46yCkrLvQPO_3V0kWVRovw
- Sign a petition that demands Stater Bros. provide fair wages, secure health benefits, a reliable retirement, sufficient hours, more full-time positions and better staffing. Union representatives and SPURs are in the stores currently with these petitions.
- 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!
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
We will send another update after our next session on March 14, 2025. These updates that come directly from your union co-workers on your bargaining committee have the most up-to-date information about what is happening at bargaining with your best interests in mind.
If you have any questions about bargaining, or if there is anything we can help you with, please do not hesitate to reach out to your Steward, Union Representative, or Bargaining Committee Member.
In Solidarity,
Your Grocery Workers Rising Bargaining Committee
_________________________
March 4, 2025
Stater Bros. Workers are Rising Up for a Fair Contract Throughout Southern California
Bargaining with Stater Bros. for a new contract starts on Thursday March 6!
Dear Stater Bros. members,
We know Stater Bros. is a different company today than it was under Jack Brown. They’re putting profits over people and calling us a team instead of a family. They’re laying off critical team members, adding to your already overwhelming responsibilities, and attempting to intimidate you into not fighting for what you deserve. We can’t let that stand.
These contract negotiations are the time to start putting protections into place to keep workers safe, and ensure Stater Bros. remains a company we are proud to work for. It’s time to speak out against the corporate greed that keeps stores understaffed and grocery workers struggling.
It’s time for thousands of hard-working grocery workers in California to rise up like never before to fight for the contracts they deserve from Stater Bros.
Now is the time to fight for:
- Living wages
- Affordable healthcare benefits
- A reliable pension
- Better staffing and more full-time jobs
- Better working conditions
We are 50,000 grocery workers standing strong together. We are Grocery Workers Rising.
How Bargaining Will Work
The first scheduled bargaining session with Stater Bros. will begin on Thursday, March 6, 2025. We, the worker bargaining committee and leaders from UFCW Locals that represent grocery workers – 8GS, 135, 324, 770, 1167, and 1428 – will present proposals to Stater Bros. 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. If we reach tentative agreement, it will be presented for your approval before it becomes final. If we are not able to reach a tentative agreement with Stater Bros., we may need to escalate our actions. However no economic action like a strike will occur unless you vote to authorize it.
At the conclusion of each session, we, the bargaining committee, will send coordinated updates to keep workers informed of what happened at each session, what Stater Bros. said or did, and to let you know what you can do to fight for the contract you deserve.
Stater Bros. has already tried to stop workers from speaking out against the layoffs and the company’s anti-union behavior. Bargaining won’t be any different and they will continue providing misinformation and partial truths to try and divide us and prevent us from asking for what is rightly ours. In addition to wages, the bargaining committee will also be fighting for other critical issues like reasonable staffing levels, more full time jobs and improved pension and medical benefits that all workers need. Remaining united and fighting for every Stater Bros. worker is how we get the contract we deserve.
What We Can Do to Show Our Power
- 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!
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
- Join Stater Bros. workers on March 5, 2025, at 3:00 PM in Costa Mesa to call on Stater Bros. to “Stop the Layoffs.” Stater Bros. recently announced that they are laying off courtesy clerks, valued members of our union. These members deserve better from a company that was founded on family. Join us at an action to tell Stater Bros. they need to STOP THE LAYOFFS!
RSVP for the action here: https://ufcw324.org/stop-the-layoffs-action-rsvp/
- Workers are signing petitions that demand Stater Bros. provide fair wages, secure health benefits, a reliable retirement, sufficient hours, more full-time positions. These petitions deliver a strong message to Stater Bros. 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.
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
February 17, 2025
Attention Stater Bros. Members!
This morning Stater Bros. announced that they are laying off courtesy clerks at a couple of different stores in Southern California. Courtesy clerks are valued members, bagging groceries for customers, cleaning and more, and deserve better from a company that was founded on family.
This is no longer Jack Brown’s Stater Bros. This is the new corporate Stater Bros., and this announcement is just another tactic the company is trying to use in their strategy to distract you from fighting for what you deserve and paying you the fair wages you have earned. We know they have the money for a fair contract because Stater Bros. has recently spent millions of dollars to remodel stores. Turning around and laying off the very people that make up the backbone of the company is just wrong.
If you are a courtesy clerk affected by this layoff, reach out to your union representative. They can help you access resources and navigate filing for unemployment, Covered California, CalFresh and more.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to your union representative, steward or bargaining committee members.
In Solidarity,
UFCW Local 324
February 10, 2025
Attention Stater Bros. Members!
Stater Bros. has sent out a “survey,” but don’t be misled—this isn’t a genuine effort to hear your concerns. It’s a union-busting tactic. With bargaining starting in March, the company is using leading questions to manipulate responses and create division among you and your co-workers.
The timing is no coincidence—it’s a bad-faith move meant to weaken our collective strength before negotiations even begin, and we’ve filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge against Stater Bros. because of it.
Stay informed, stay united, and don’t let the company’s tactics distract you from fighting for the fair contract you’ve earned!
If you have any questions, reach out to your union representative, steward or bargaining committee members.
In Solidarity,
UFCW Local 324
