ROSEVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 20, 2004--The following announcement was made today by UFCW 588-Northern California President Jack L. Loveall at 8:00 a.m. in front of the Union's headquarters here:
Good morning ladies and gentleman.
I'd like to take a moment to introduce the rest of the UFCW 588 negotiating team: Jacques Loveall, Executive Vice President and Mike Tursky, Secretary-Treasurer.
Late last night, five months of extensions of our previous labor contracts with Safeway, Albertson's and Ralphs came to an end. We informed the companies that the 19,000 members of UFCW 588 had waited long enough for a new contract. We told them we must reach a satisfactory agreement by midnight Sunday, Dec. 19, or we would recommend that the members authorize a strike.
Our challenge from the start was to protect the superior wages and benefits "588" members have enjoyed for decades, while addressing the competitive atmosphere in the supermarket industry and skyrocketing health care costs.
I am pleased to announce we've succeeded In that challenge.
We approached our negotiations with these goals in mind:
No employee-paid premiums for health care benefits.
We've done it!
No two-tier wage structure.
We've done it!
No two-tier health care benefits.
We've done it!
Maintain the finest contract in the supermarket industry.
We've done it!
UFCW 588-Northern California and Albertson's, Ralphs and Safeway have agreed on tentative terms for a new labor agreement that will set the standard and formula for other negotiations facing these complex issues.
This agreement averts a strike and maintains the finest contract in the supermarket industry with no employee-paid health care premiums and no two-tier wages or benefits.
These negotiations, which began in February, were extraordinarily complex. As in negotiations elsewhere in the industry, the primary issues dealt with company proposals to shift the cost of health care and pension benefits to employees, two tier wages, health care and pension programs, and weak job protection language.
We salute the heroes of the Southern California strike and lockout who, for 20 weeks, fought bravely on behalf of UFCW members and all working people around the country. Their courageous fight and sacrifice helped win this agreement.
We are extremely proud of the members of UFCW 588-Northern California for making this success possible. We thank them for strengthening our negotiating position by demonstrating solidarity and pride in their union.
They proved once again that "Solidarity Works!"
Thank you, and good morning.