Unfair Labor Practice Charges Filed Against Safeway, Supervalu, and Kroger

Business Wire, Oct 9, 2007

EUGENE, Ore. -- UFCW Local 555 filed charges Friday October 5, 2007, against Safeway, Supervalu (which now owns Albertsons), and Kroger (parent company of Fred Meyer) for failure to bargain in good faith with the Union.

The employees in the Eugene / Springfield area have been working under an extension agreement since February as the Employers and the Union bargain for a new contract. At issue are working conditions, along with economic issues. The employers came to the bargaining table with a proposal of over 40 economic takeaways. Early on the union gave the employers their proposed language changes and their proposed economic package. The employers have failed to discuss any economic issues at all and have refused to provide the union with their economic package so that meaningful discussions can take place.

In July a federal mediator was brought in to help the process. The mediator has told the employers that they need to provide the union with their economic package and the employer's response is still no. Wage issues are a mandatory part of bargaining and the employers refuse to participate. These actions left the union with no other choice but to file Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges against them. The charge reads as follows, "Over the past 6 months of negotiations, the Employer has failed to bargain in good faith by refusing to discuss wages and other economic matters with the Union."

For more information about negotiations in Eugene, or to schedule an interview, please contact Ric Ball at (503) 598-6334.