UNION: GROCERS THREATEN HEALTH FUND.Byline: JULIA M. SCOTT Staff Writer The union representing 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, grocery workers accused three major markets Wednesday of proposing cuts in employer contributions that would bankrupt BANKRUPT. A person who has done, or suffered some act to be done, which is by law declared an act of bankruptcy; in such case he may be declared a bankrupt. 2. It is proper to notice that there is much difference between a bankrupt and an insolvent. a health care fund that buys employee coverage, a claim the markets rejected. "There is no way they are going to bankrupt the trust fund," said Adena Tessler, a spokeswoman for Albertsons, Ralphs and Vons. The unions broke off contract talks earlier this month because of the proposal and are now asking the markets to take responsibility if the reduced contributions end up bankrupting the fund. Union leaders think the proposed reduction will force workers to either pay higher premiums or accept reduced coverage. 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 says the chains want to cut their contributions by almost 50 percent, to $80 per week from $152 per week for each full-time worker. The actual cost of health care coverage for employees, including dependents, is equivalent to about $2.95 per hour, or about $40 million a month for almost 70,000 union workers in Southern California, said Rick Icaza, president of UFCW UFCW United Food and Commercial Workers Local 770. Tessler declined to confirm details because of a news blackout A complete loss of power. See brownout. imposed by a federal mediator mediator n. a person who conducts mediation. A mediator is usually a lawyer, or retired judge, but can be a non-attorney specialist in the subject matter (like child custody) who tries to bring people and their disputes to early resolution through a conference. running the talks. The two sides are in negotiations that started before the original three-year contract covering Southern California union workers expired March 5. The health care fund has a surplus of $500 million. New employees contribute $7 to $15 a week for health care coverage after a waiting period of 12 to 18 months. The employer pays the entire cost for veteran workers. The union planned to rally outside Ralphs headquarters today in Compton. julia.scott(at)dailynews.com (818) 713-3735 |
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