Members of the union representing 6,000 Food 4 Less workers were voting this week on whether to authorize a strike now that their current contract has expired without a tentative agreement on a new one — including workers in San Diego.
The results will be announced after voting ends on Friday, according to a statement by United Food and Commercial Workers Locals 8GS, 135, 324, 770, 1167, 1428 and 1442.
The contract expired Saturday.
The union's demands include higher pay and safety improvements.
Get top local stories in San Diego delivered to you every morning. >Sign up for NBC San Diego's News Headlines newsletter.
"When we started contract negotiations with Food 4 Less/Foods Co., we made it clear that it (was) important to us that we reach a tentative agreement before contract expiration and we came to the table willing to put in the time and work to get that done," union officials said in a statement Saturday. "But instead of working with us towards a reasonable contract, our employer would rather play games with our livelihoods and offer proposals that grossly underestimate our value and their wealth.
"Everyone deserves a wage that reflects their work and no one deserves to be bullied at their job. By violating our rights, Food 4 Less and Kroger are making it harder to help our customers and keep our stores well- serviced, which is why we've been forced to take a strike authorization vote."
A representative for Food 4 Less did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Local
Food 4 Less, which has six stores in San Diego County, four being in the city of San Diego, is a subsidiary of The Kroger Co., along with Ralphs. The company has 15 stores in the Los Angeles area.
Kroger issued a statement over the weekend saying the company has "remained committed to negotiating in good faith."
"From the start, our focus has been on reaching an agreement that benefits our hardworking and dedicated associates," according to the company. "We are deeply disappointed that UFCW Southern California chose to leave the bargaining table before contract expiration, rather than working together to prioritize the needs of their members -- our valued associates. It remains our goal to put more money in our associates' pockets, maintain industry leading healthcare and provide retirement benefits for their futures.
"We will continue to balance our desire to invest in our associates with the need to keep groceries affordable for our customers. Our associates are the most important piece of our business, and we hope to reach an agreement that is beneficial for all parties."
On May 22, the union locals filed unfair labor practice charges against Food 4 Less/Foods Co., alleging the company undermined negotiations and workers' rights to representation. Union officials said the company has engaged in unlawful surveillance of workers, prohibited them from participating in union activity, blocked them from talking to union representatives and unilaterally changed the contract.
The union also claimed the company is attempting to strong-arm workers into accepting an offer that is less than what parent company Kroger provides other grocery workers in the area.
Shoppers and employees react to possible vote to strike
NBC 7's Allison Ash spoke with some Food 4 Less shoppers and employees on Monday ahead of the vote.
"I actually didn’t know about it until I came here on Saturday and I was like, they’re looking for temporary workers? What for?" shopper Tracey Lane told NBC 7's Allison Ash. "I don’t feel that it [the strike] will affect me. I don’t come here that often, maybe once a week.”
"I understand. Things are getting really expensive and wages aren’t rising, so it makes sense," said shopper Charles Martinez. "I understand that this is a business decision to keep the doors open and they’ve got, you know, it’s a business that we need."
"Our hours have been cut. They want us to increase production. We’ve been lacking the cleaning resources and stuff," said employee Brennan Dutt.
"I can walk across the street to Chick-fil-A or any other fast food place and make 21 or 22 dollars an hour at base and right now I think its like 17-something. I’m making 18, the temporary workers are gonna be making 21 and more power to them for making money," Dutt said.
Dutt added that he doesn't blame the temporary workers for taking the jobs. But for their employer, it's a whole other deal.
"I do blame Kroger for putting on this kind of show of force, saying that they can just replace us, but they can’t, they’re gonna be closing down my department, the bakery-deli. They won’t be able to do all the things that the trained workers can do," Dutt said.
"Morale is at an all-time low. If I do lose my job, it's not a big deal, right, because there are a lot of places that pay a lot more already. I don’t have a problem moving on if they’re not willing to treat us like the trained and hard-working people we are," Dutt said.
Todd Walters, President of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 135, is getting ready in case a strike does happen.
“If a strike does occur, we’re asking the public to support the workers and shop somewhere else. When they’re telling workers, 'Don’t worry, we’re gonna hire replacements for you.' How does that make the workers feel? They’re scared for their jobs," Walters said.
