STRIKES LOOM IN CALIFORNIA, MIDWEST

David Ghitelman / Elliot Zwiebach

Labor tensions are mounting in various parts of the country, with a contract vote scheduled this week in Southern California and a strike vote scheduled in St. Louis, while in Milwaukee negotiations continued late last week although union members had already rejected what management insisted was its "last, best and final offer."

More than 70,000 members of seven locals of United Food and Commercial Workers Union in Southern California are scheduled to vote this week on whether to accept a new contract offer from Albertsons, Kroger-owned Ralphs and Safeway-owned Vons or to authorize a strike against one of them, which would be tantamount to a strike against all three.

The prospects for a quick settlement without a strike and lockout appeared dim late last week, with both sides digging in as the contract expiration neared.

The contract was scheduled to expire at midnight Sunday, and the unions have arranged for membership meetings for this Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to consider the employers' "last, best and final" offer. Those votes will not be tallied until Friday; if the locals do not approve the offer, it will take a two-thirds vote to authorize a strike.

At issue are a series of employer proposals on pension, medical insurance, a permanent two-tier wage system, use of outside stockers and elimination of Sunday premiums, "every one [of which] is a potential strike issue," a union spokesman said.

Each of the supermarket chains has posted signs seeking temporary workers in the event of a strike. They've also sought to shore up their positions with their employees on their Web sites.

"Given the union's threats and reluctance to enter into a productive dialogue, you may soon be asked to make a decision that could have a profound effect on you, your family and your company for years to come," Ralphs said. "A decision to strike is not a company decision. It is your decision, and you should not be bullied into it. We trust you will consider all of the facts, along with all that is at stake, and make that decision wisely."

According to Safeway's Web site, "We had been hopeful that a settlement might be reached by the contract expiration date, [but] it seems like this may not be possible. There are only [a few] days left before the agreement expires. This does not leave much time to discuss more than 100 union and industry proposals."

Albertsons said the parties remain "far apart on all the major issues of these negotiations."

UFCW Local 1442, representing employees in Santa Monica, Calif., offered a note of caution on its Web site. "Union members are well aware that most contracts are settled as a result of give-and-take by both sides, [and] as a result, strikes rarely occur. Only one-half of 1% of all working time is lost annually because of labor disputes."

However, it warned that "a strike is not a vacation. Every member must actively participate and do his or her share. Remember that you outnumber management when you put on a united front. ... Therefore, management is not capable of producing the quality or quantity of work that the bargaining unit produces collectively."

Mickey Kasparian, president of Local 135 in San Diego, said the union's goal is to avoid a strike. "But know that an overwhelming strike vote sends a very powerful message of solidarity to the employers and tells them we are willing to strike if necessary. A strike vote also gives negotiators more leverage at the bargaining table.

"So we're doing everything possible to avoid a stoppage, but in the meantime we must prepare for a strike. Picket signs have been printed and a picket captain meeting was held."

Kasparian also urged union members not to work if a strike occurs. "Managers may make promises to entice you to 'scab' on your union brothers and sisters. Do not, under any circumstances, agree to work behind picket lines. You can be sure that once the strike is over, none of the glorious promises made will be kept. In addition, know that working during a strike weakens your negotiators' positions and sabotages our efforts to preserve your medical and pension plans."

In St. Louis, members of UFCW Local 655 are scheduled to hold a strike vote Oct. 7 at 5 a.m., a vote that requires a two-thirds majority to result in a strike, according to a union spokesman.

Last week, local members voted down by a nearly 2-to-1 margin the contract its leadership had spent six months negotiating with the St. Louis metro area's three largest supermarket companies, Dierbergs Markets, Chesterfield, Mo.; Schnuck Markets, here; and Shop 'n Save, Kirkwood, Mo., a subsidiary of Supervalu, Minneapolis.

The local represents some 10,000 clerks for the three companies, and the union leadership, which had recommended voting for the contract, is now urging its members to vote for a strike, the spokesman told SN. He noted the contract that had been so strongly rejected would automatically go into effect if the local votes not to strike.

In a joint statement, the three supermarket companies said they were disappointed at the result of the contract vote, but added that the rejected contract was "our best and final offer."

In Milwaukee, negotiations were scheduled to continue late last week between Jewel-Osco, the Chicago-based subsidiary of Albertsons, Boise, Idaho, and UFCW Local 1444.

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service has also been involved in the negotiations, according to the union.

Last month, union members "overwhelming rejected" Jewel's final offer, according to Dan Welch, president, Local 1444. However, he said the union is still waiting to see what the company will offer before it takes a strike vote.

Welch identified three major issues in the negotiations: wages, health care and a contract provision that would give Jewel the right to open new, non-union stores.

He noted that Jewel's offer would limit top-wage employees to a 50-cent per hour raise. "We need more than 50 cents," Welch said.

He observed that the health care offer would force all workers to a company-controlled plan. "They say they have the same plan in effect in Chicago, but there, people have the right to negotiate changes," Welch said. "They won't give us the same right."

Welch explained that the reason Jewel wants the right to open non-union stores in Milwaukee is that the company plans to buy some of the 23 Kohl's units A&P, Montvale, N.J., closed last month.

A Jewel spokeswoman told SN that wages and health care were the principal issues in the negotiation, but the non-union store provision was no longer a concern for the company.

"We're not buying any more stores in Milwaukee," she said. "It's a dead issue." She noted that the company had attempted to work out a deal to buy 10 Kohl's units, "but the union squashed it. It's dead in the water now."

She added, "At this point our last, best and final offer is still on the table. We have no intention of changing that offer."