SALT LAKE CITY -- After signing an agreement with the United Farm Workers, American Stores Co. here has become one of the largest supermarket operators to declare support for the right of strawberry workers to determine for themselves whether or not they want to unionize.
At press conferences May 30 in several stores in various parts of the country, the chain announced its support of the "basic rights" guaranteed California strawberry workers under state laws, by requiring its growers to meet regulated labor standards.
American owns the chains Lucky Stores, Dublin, Calif.; Acme Markets, Malvern, Pa.; Star Market Co., Cambridge, Mass.; Jewel-Osco Southwest/, Albuquerque, N.M.; and Jewel Food Stores, Melrose Park, Ill.
UFW interpreted American's action as a pledge to endorse "the right of strawberry pickers to organize and bargain under California's farm labor law," as well as "the right to seek enforcement of laws and regulations for proper field sanitation, clean drinking water and hand-washing facilities."
The UFW is seeking to organize strawberry farm workers into a union. The agreement signed between UFW and American Stores, however, does not mention support or disapproval of that specific goal.
Another group, the Strawberry Workers and Farmers Alliance, based in Los Angeles, has since its inception roughly a year ago been outspoken against the UFW's attempts at unionization.
Both groups claim to be looking out for the best interests of California's estimated 20,000 strawberry workers. And like the UFW, the SWFA is also lauding American for the public stance it has taken in the matter.
"We are comfortable that Lucky Stores/American does not take sides, favoring one union over another, one worker over another, or one employer over another, as long as they all respect the rights of individuals to self-determination and obey workplace laws and regulations," said Gary Caloroso, president of SWFA, in a statement.
Caloroso said he's been contacting retailers in an effort to get all supermarket chains to adopt a pledge similar to the one American Stores agreed to.
During the past year, the SWFA has sent a certificate, called the "Respect, Honor and Dignity Award," to about 450 operators of varying size, for what SWFA says is their support of workers' rights.
