The fight for a fair contract is over in Southern California. In what was the longest strike and most successful strike in UFCW history. The members approved a new contract by 86% after being on strike for five months. However, the fight to save healthcare and resist the grocery industries attack on good jobs is by no means over. It just moves to Indiana, Kentucky, Northern California and other parts of the country as contracts expire. The sacrifices made by the members in California, Missouri, and West Virginia have sent the message to the grocery industry that the attempts to eliminate good jobs and good benefits will come at a high cost.
These negotiations will be the most challenging that we have faced and membership participation and support will be crucial to the bargaining process.
More than 500 members have participated in the 110 meetings we have held over the over the past 6 months to educate members for the Retail Advisory Board and Contract Negotiations Committee. We are very proud of the One-hundred and two members who completed 4 of the 6 courses that were required to serve on the RAB. Listed below are the members who gave up their free time to help work toward a good contract. Thank you.
Abell, Irvin 730
Adams, Don 394
Allen, Richard 722
Ashley, Phyllis 352
Bailey, Tazzie 387
Baker, Linda 901
Beard Jr, Michael 710
Blackwell, Judy 403
Blakely, David 903
Bolanowski, Yvonne 276
Boston, John 346
Bray, Jamie 269
Brothers, Kevin 339
Brown, Dennis 346
Brown, Jennifer 721
Brumfield, Charles 407
Burchett, Ricky 376
Carlton, Dennis 309
Case, Christopher 903
Chandler, Janet 402
Chaney, James 721
Clark, Jerry 276
Cole, Lori 721
Davidson, Mark 713
Dean, Geraldine 713
Dishman, Lisa 901
Donnelly, Danny 394
Easterly, Martin 269
Farmer, Doug 336
Ford, Kay Linda 739
Fraddosio, Pat 713
Gensheimer, Mark 739
Gilpin, Trina 356
Girdler, Eddie 269
Goldberg, Stan 346
Goldey, Larry 713
Grant, Wannah 356
Gray, Terry 734
Green, Mark 739
Hagan, Barbara 385
Harris, Cooper 220
Haynes, Marvin 369
Hendricks, Bobby 350
Heuser, Richard 739
Hewitt, Danny 710
Hopkins, Stephen 396
Howard, Doug 407
Hughes, Donald 710
Hughes, John 733
Hunt, Shannon 713
Johnson, Teresa 734
Kamer, Dave 707
Kearns, Phyllis 411
Kearns, Robert 411
Keeton, Linda 348
Keeton, Mike 348
Kendrick, Mary 901
Kennedy, Steve 729
Kibler, Josh 903
Kilner, Jason 376
King, Judy 718
Larkin, Marty 269
Lewis, Phil 707
Logsdon, James 713
Logsdon, Lisa 717
Lowry, Don 411
Masters, David 734
Maxwell, Robert 348
McCauley, Robert 385
McCubbins, Mike 366
Merrick, Janet 345
Messex, Elisa 385
Miller, Michael 220
Mills, Jerry 717
Newberry, Earl 713
Nichols, Kevin 717
Ott, Kenny 744
Pegram, Jonathan 903
Perkins, Joyce 741
Phillips, Carol 739
Reed, Robert 366
Roberts, Rebecca 411
Rogers, Melanie 411
Russell, Terri 387
Sears, Christina 901
Shelton, Ronnie 717
Shuffett, Karen 408
Smith, Saundra 903
Spaulding, Paul 362
Steudle, Gale 739
Thomas, Jerry 710
Thompson, Earl 403
Vincent, John 707
Voelker, lee 372
Walker, Johnia 402
Walls, Marilyn 315
Warner, Mike 712
Weiter, Larry 385
Weiter, Martin 224
Wilson, Debbie 352
Wine Steve 309
Young, Shirley 789
About 80 of the qualified members expressed an interest in serving on the Negotiations Committee. This led to the difficult task of selecting 20-25 members to represent us in negotiations. The selection was controlled by a formula to ensure the best possible representation and balance by job classification and geographic location. The other RAB members will still have an important role to play and will be involved as the negotiations proceed.
Our Bargaining Committee for the 2004 contract will be the following members.
Harris, Cooper 220
Nichols, Kevin 717
Kennedy, Steve 729
Hopkins, Stephen 396
Chaney, James 721
Bailey, Tazzie 387
Walker, Johnia 402
Fraddosio, Patricia 713
Weiter, Mary 224
Johnson, Teresa 734
Spaudling, Paul 362
Brown, Dennis 346
Donnelly, Danny 394
Voelker, Lee 372
Young, Shirley 389
Hughes, Don 710
Messex, Elisa 385
Phillips, Carol 739
Blackwell, Judy 403
Keeton, Linda 348
Brumfield, Charlie 407
Larkin, Marty 269
In addition to the general negotiations committee, there will be a Sub-Committee to deal with pharmacy issues.
Burchett, Rick
Merrick, Janet
McCauley, Robert
A Bargaining Committee for the Country Stores will meet concurrently.
Sears, Christina
Case, Christopher
Roberts, Rebecca
It is the Union's intention to have our first meeting with the Kroger Company on week ending March 6th or March 13th, and then bargain for the remainder of March and the first part of April.
Shortly after March 1st we will be upgrading our website on Union negotiations and will also create a call in hotline for members who do not have internet access so they can review a timely update.
Together with solidarity, we hope to be able to ratify a fair and equitable agreement.
Marv Russow, President Gary K. Best, Secretary/Treasurer
Kroger members should log in to the "Members Only Retail" site for future updates.