GROCERS', UNIONS' TALKS BREAK DOWN.Byline: JULIA M. SCOTT Staff Writer Just days before a grocery contract expires for some 70,000 union workers in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, , negotiations between Vons, Albertsons, Ralphs and the unions have broken down. The three grocery chains refuse to talk and have dismissed union proposals because the members have not authorized a strike, said Rick Icaza, head of United Food and Commercial Workers The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union is a labor union representing approximately 1.4 million workers in the United States and Canada in many industries, including agriculture, health care, meatpacking, poultry and food processing, manufacturing, textile and Local 770. "They're really not under the gun until we have a strike vote," Icaza said. Not true, said Adena Tessler, a spokeswoman hired by the chains. Each has offered dates to sit down and meet. "The grocery companies will tell you that the union is not responding to them," Tessler said. "That's why there's no dates as far as we're concerned." When negotiations fell apart three years ago, workers went on a 139-day strike -- the largest in the nation's history. One of the results was a two-tier benefits system for employees, which still remains a point of contention. The system gives veteran employees richer benefits than new hires, which has led to high turnover and training costs, the union said. But the chains say the system is working just fine. Now, there is only a sliver of a chance for a new deal before the contract expires at 11:59 p.m. Monday. As time runs out, the possibility of a strike is gaining ground. To strike, union members must take a strike-authorization vote, which could happen next week. If approved, it would allow workers to strike at any time. Union members can also work without a contract or agree to extend the current contract. The chains are not without recourse A phrase used by an endorser (a signer other than the original maker) of a negotiable instrument (for example, a check or promissory note) to mean that if payment of the instrument is refused, the endorser will not be responsible. , either. They can lock out employees if no deal is in place. They have made it clear they don't mind waiting for a resolution. "We've been pretty consistent in saying that Monday's date is not a significant date in the negotiations because it's very common for these negotiations to go on months past the expiration of a contract," Tessler said. The seven UFCW UFCW United Food and Commercial Workers unions decided to negotiate individually with each of the three chains this year, creating 21 sets of negotiations. Two other grocery chains, Stater stat·er 1 n. A resident of a particular state or type of state. Often used in combination: Lone Star staters; farm staters; the struggle between slave staters and free staters. Noun 1. Bros BROS Brothers BROS Benefits and Retirement Operations Section (King County, Washington) BROS Barnes and Richmond Operatic Society (London, UK) . and Gelson's, have negotiated a new contract. Both ended a two-tier system The two-tier system, in the context of labor relations, is a type of contract employed by companies to scale back negotiated wages and benefits. When a two-tier system is in place in a new contract, workers hired before ratification of that contract have a wage progression , the unions said. julia.scott@dailynews.com (818) 713-3735 |
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