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Union Votes to Authorize Raley's Strike

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Negotiations were scheduled to resume Friday between Raley’s and United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 8 following a vote earlier in the week in which 80% of Raley’s employees voted to authorize a strike.

The vote came a few days after Michael Teel, president and chief operating officer of the chain, sent a letter to employees asking them to vote “no," warning them a strike “could prove fatal to our company.” In the letter, released to the press Thursday, Teel said, “We are aware that union representatives have been in our stores spreading falsehoods and inaccurate information regarding what we are proposing. Therefore I am enclosing additional information on our proposals for your review.”

In addition to the outline of Raley’s proposals, the mailing also included a comparison of the chain's health proposal with the one offered by the union. “By presenting you with this information, I am not intending to bargain with you individually,” Teel wrote, “but I believe very strongly that you need to be fully informed.

“Rather than work toward a reasonable agreement that is fair to both you and Raley’s, the UFCW seems intent on destroying our family business based on their … proposals, which would increase, not decrease, our operating costs. If they truly cared about your job and our company, there is no way they would have offered new proposals that the company simply cannot afford.”

A union spokesman called the letter "mumbo jumbo." He also said the union is contemplating its next move following receipt of a "last, best and final offer" from Save Mart earlier in the week.

UFCW Local 8 and UFCW Local 5 are negotiating separately with Raley’s, Save Mart and Safeway.

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