SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Two Northern California locals of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union said Sunday they have called a strike against Raley's Supermarkets, West Sacramento, citing management's decision last week to unilaterally implement a new contract that the union said included takeaways and unfair labor practices.
The strike, which had been authorized by workers last spring, followed a couple of days of "intense negotiations" between the union and the company in the presence of federal mediator Greg Lim, the union noted. The labor action is directed at Raley's, Nob Hill, "and in all likelihood, Bel Air," the union said. Nob Hill and Bel Air are subsidiaries of Raley's.
The union also said its attorneys filed charges of unfair labor practices against the chain last Thursday — the day Raley's said it planned to implement new contract rules — citing violations of laws prohibiting harassment and intimidation of union members; circumventing the union's authority as a bargaining agent; and "regressive bargaining," which it defined as submitting proposals that were worse than previous offers. The union also said Raley's was unlawfully threatening to implement changes to the collective bargaining agreements.
Read more: Raley's Plans to Implement New Contract
UFCW Locals 5 and 8 said its strike has been endorsed by the UFCW International; the teamsters; locals of the bakery, confectionary, tobacco workers and grain millers union; and stationary engineers.
Raley's officials could not be reached for comment.
| Suggested Categories | More from Supermarketnews |
 |
|
|
|
