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Strike averted at Safeway
By Inside Tucson Business staff & Ainslee S. Wittig/Arizona Range News
A potential strike against Fry's Food Stores and Safeway was averted less than 24 hours before it was scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Friday (Nov. 13) when management reached a tentative settlement with the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 99 late Thursday, Nov. 12.
According to a statement released by all parties, negotiators came to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement to be submitted to Fry's and Safeway employees with the recommendation from union leaders that it be approved.
Union members will be able to review the tentative new three-year contract in the coming weeks before voting on it, said the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 99 website.
As a result, there was to be no work stoppage.
The Willcox Safeway is operating normally. Three employees interviewed were happy that the strike did not occur.
Sam Young, an employee here since Safeway opened in Willcox in 1984, said Friday, "I'm glad - I'm relieved. We didn't want to go on strike. I think most people here are happy."
Young is a union employee.
Wally Taylor, a non-union employee, said he has worked at the Willcox Safeway for 17 years and used to be a union member, but he is still covered under the same contract.
"I'm happy we averted the strike. I've got bills to pay, so I want to work. My (wages and benefits) weren't going to change -- only those of new hires. Safeway has always paid our (health care) benefits," Taylor said Friday.
Recent hire Tama Atwell said she is also pleased to have averted the strike.
"I'm very happy. I'd rather be in here (working) - it keeps me busy," she said.
Terms of the agreement were not released pending its presentation to union members. The major point of contention had been a management requirement that employees begin contributing between $5 and $15 per week toward their health care insurance premiums.
Leading up to the agreement both sides prepared for the possibility of a walkout.
The UFCW had been negotiating with the two chains since before their last contract expired in October 2008.
"Nothing is going to be accomplished by continuing to stall," Ellen Anreder, a representative of the UFCW, said during the week.
Meanwhile, Fry's had hired 5,000 temporary replacement workers and Safeway said it had also hired replacements, but wouldn't disclose how many.
Fry's Food Stores, owned by Cincinnati-based Kroger Co., is Arizona's second largest chain grocer; and Safeway, headquartered in Pleasonton, Calif., is the No. 3 chain.
According to a statement released by all parties, negotiators came to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement to be submitted to Fry's and Safeway employees with the recommendation from union leaders that it be approved.
Union members will be able to review the tentative new three-year contract in the coming weeks before voting on it, said the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 99 website.
As a result, there was to be no work stoppage.
The Willcox Safeway is operating normally. Three employees interviewed were happy that the strike did not occur.
Sam Young, an employee here since Safeway opened in Willcox in 1984, said Friday, "I'm glad - I'm relieved. We didn't want to go on strike. I think most people here are happy."
Young is a union employee.
Wally Taylor, a non-union employee, said he has worked at the Willcox Safeway for 17 years and used to be a union member, but he is still covered under the same contract.
"I'm happy we averted the strike. I've got bills to pay, so I want to work. My (wages and benefits) weren't going to change -- only those of new hires. Safeway has always paid our (health care) benefits," Taylor said Friday.
Recent hire Tama Atwell said she is also pleased to have averted the strike.
"I'm very happy. I'd rather be in here (working) - it keeps me busy," she said.
Terms of the agreement were not released pending its presentation to union members. The major point of contention had been a management requirement that employees begin contributing between $5 and $15 per week toward their health care insurance premiums.
Leading up to the agreement both sides prepared for the possibility of a walkout.
The UFCW had been negotiating with the two chains since before their last contract expired in October 2008.
"Nothing is going to be accomplished by continuing to stall," Ellen Anreder, a representative of the UFCW, said during the week.
Meanwhile, Fry's had hired 5,000 temporary replacement workers and Safeway said it had also hired replacements, but wouldn't disclose how many.
Fry's Food Stores, owned by Cincinnati-based Kroger Co., is Arizona's second largest chain grocer; and Safeway, headquartered in Pleasonton, Calif., is the No. 3 chain.
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