In the Feb. 19 editorial “Three Years Later: California Labor Pacts' Aftermath,” David Merrefield makes some inaccurate statements about United Food and Commercial Workers members in the supermarket industry. He bases his editorial on the notion that two-tier contracts aren't a big deal.
He's wrong. Jack Brown, Stater Bros. chief executive officer, made a point of addressing the second tier when connecting his company's newly ratified agreement with UFCW members. Gelsons agreed to a similar settlement, and both regional chains now have contracts in place that will enable them to maintain a quality, career-oriented workforce for their customers.
UFCW members in Southern California and across the country are mobilized and unified on bargaining issues like affordable, quality health care. Workers are absolutely willing to walk picket lines again, if forced, in order to create good jobs in the supermarket industry that treat all workers equally.
The UFCW has led a broad coalition to wage a highly successful program to educate consumers about Wal-Mart's substandard workplace practices. We will continue our work to “level the playing field” in this industry, but not to the lowest common denominator. It's time for the retail and supermarket companies to invest in their workforce and create good jobs that can support strong local communities.
Finally, Merrefield relies on a “labor observer” as a basis for his position. SN would do its readers a far greater service if it turned to established analysts and bona fide academics for comment.
Patrick J. O'Neill
United Food and Commercial Workers
executive vice president and director
collective bargaining
Washington
Editor's note: The point of the editorial was that two-tier wage rates are a “big deal” indeed, from labor's viewpoint, since previous wage scales are virtually impossible to wholly restore, once relinquished.
