2016 2017
In 2016 , we were successful in negotiating some very important contracts :
At the Bargaining Table
NEGOTIATIONS : SUCCESSES IN 2016 AND CHALLENGES AHEAD IN 2017
2016 2017
In 2017 , we will have to tackle a number of challenging negotiations as well :
• Master Food Agreement covering Albertsons / Vons and Ralphs – Ratified on August 8 , 2016 , this new 3-year agreement protected the members ’ health care and retirement benefits while providing substantial wage increases to both senior and newer members . In addition , this Agreement provides a full week ’ s notice of the work schedule – a substantial improvement over the three days notice required in the expired Agreement .
• Gelsons , Stater Brothers , Red Shell , Vicente Foods – Once the Master Food Agreement was settled , these other grocery store Agreements were also settled with substantially similar wage and benefit packages .
• Super A - Super A members also ratified a new 3-year agreement that protects health care and retirement benefits and provides substantial wage increases . Unfortunately , Super A is the only remaining independent chain operating in areas of the city where their competition is mostly non-union . As a result , the union had to make some compromises to reduce some operating costs on Sundays to make sure that Super A remains in business .
• Food Pharmacy Agreement covering Pharmacists in Grocery Stores – Ratified in October 2016 after a long struggle , this Agreement also protects the Pharmacists ’ health care and pension benefits , provides wage increases , including a retroactive wage increase of $ 2.00 per hour , and increases scheduling notice to a full week .
• Farmer John Agreement – Ratified on August 17 , 2016 , this historic 2-year Agreement brings union solidarity , strength and fairness back to Farmer John workers after struggling for years under a system where workers could receive union representation without paying their fair share . This Agreement provides significant pay increases to most classifications while also guaranteeing workers the fundamental right to use the restroom when needed , restoring the use of frozen sick leave banks , and strengthening worker involvement in the health and safety committee .
• Baker Commodities Agreement – Ratified in October 2016 , this 3-year Agreement protects current health care benefits , improves pension benefits , and provides increases of at least 3 % each year of the Agreement for all classifications . In addition , the Company agreed to a new boot allowance and faster accrual of vacation for new employees .
• The Food 4 Less Agreement covering close to 3,000 Local 770 members as well as members of other UFCW Locals throughout Southern California expires June 4 , 2017 . In 2014 , we learned that the Kroger Company , owner of both Food 4 Less and Ralphs , is not always willing to follow the pattern set in the Master Food Agreement . If that happens again in 2017 , we are prepared to mobilize an aggressive contract campaign to improve the livelihoods of our Food 4 Less members .
• The CVS Agreement covering both Clerks and Pharmacists expires June 30 , 2017 . For the Clerks , this will be our first opportunity to negotiate a new contract since we organized hundreds of new stores in Southern California . Wages that keep pace with the increasing minimum wage in California and some municipalities as well as affordable health care in our newly organized “ B ” stores will be our priorities . These goals may also require an aggressive contract campaign and significant membership involvement .
We also have a number of packinghouse agreements set to expire this year :
• The Cenveo / Nashua Agreement covering a small group of paper processing and printing members expires April 1 , 2017 .
• The Goldberg & Solovy Meat Agreement and Poultry Agreement expire April 24 , 2017 .
• The Overhill Agreement covering several hundred food processing members expires September 15 , 2017 . These negotiations could present new challenges as well because this Company was recently purchased by CP Foods , a large food conglomerate from Thailand ,
• The Roger ’ s Poultry Agreement covering about 100 members also expires later this year on October 1 , 2017 .
We have a number of challenges ahead in 2017 but we can succeed by preparing for negotiations early and planning aggressive contract campaigns with significant member involvement . If the members stand together , they can achieve successful contracts that protect their livelihoods .
KATHY FINN Director of Collective Bargaining ,
Research and Education
7 Issue 4 THE VOICE December 2016