Don't underestimate workers' resolve to fight for affordable health care, union tells Kroger
North American UNI Commerce affiliate UFCW continues its fight for affordable health care for its members and their families. The four month long supermarket strike in California showed that workers are prepared to make big sacrifices to defend this important collective agreement benefit. Now, the union warns U.S. supermarket giant Kroger not to estimate their resolve to hold the line for health care also in the forthcoming collective agreement negotiations.
In the Southern California labour struggle, Kroger entered into an alliance with two other retail giants, Safeway and Albertsons. When the Safeway workers went on strike, Kroger and Albertsons locked out their unionised staff. The three supermarket operators also agreed to share any losses between themselves.
But waging war on workers' health benefits doesn't come cheaply. Now, when Kroger had to pay more than 100 million dollars to its competitors as a participation towards their losses, shareholders have begun to ask questions.
Kroger did not limit its revenue loss to California. It also sent workers into the streets and its customers off to its competitors when it forced a strike over health benefits in West Virginia last year. Now, Kroger is risking a revenue haemorrhage as its short-sighted, benefit-busting demands could send tens of thousands of the company's workers into the streets from Houston to Seattle, and from Cincinnati to Denver. The majority of Kroger's revenue stream could dry up if the company fails to reach agreements that maintain affordable health care.
"For workers health care benefits are a matter of life and death"
"Kroger has consistently underestimated workers' resolve in the fight for affordable health care. For the company health care benefits are a matter of dollars and cents, for workers health care benefits are a matter of life and death," said UFCW International Collective Bargaining Director Pat O'Neill.
In a nationwide effort, the UFCW International is systematically laying the groundwork in preparation for the possibility of multi-city strikes. From picket signs to community outreach, coordinated programs are being planned to mobilize support for affordable health care, as well as to assist the workers forced to strike to keep their health care.
While the details vary from city to city, the thrust of the company's attack is to effectively eliminate affordable health care in the future. Houston is currently the hot spot for a potential strike. Company demands there would impose costs that would push health care out of reach for many workers, and could leave substantial number of workers without any coverage at all.
"Kroger needs to make a commitment to maintaining affordable benefits. The workers have made record profits for the company. Some of those profits now should be used to maintain the workers' benefits. Attempts to eliminate affordable health care will only lead to the elimination of profits, customers and market share. Workers will negotiate in good faith to keep the stores open and the customers served, but workers will fight for health care," stated O'Neill.