MINNEAPOLIS — Union members at UNFI/Cub Foods stores voted to reject contract offers from employers Tuesday as the risk of a strike looms.
UNFI/Cub Foods is the largest grocery store owner in Minneapolis with 33 stores and about 3,000 employees, according to Local UFCW 663. In a press release Tuesday, the union shared that workers at Haug's and Knowlan's Festival also voted to reject the latest contract offers from employers.
If negotiations are not successful, strikes could impact up to 38 grocery stores in the Twin Cities area, according to Local UFCW 663. The union filed unfair labor practice charges alleging that UNFI/Cub Foods is not bargaining in good faith.
“I have a wife and three kids, so my healthcare plans would triple every week if we accepted the company’s offer,” said Nate Moist, meat manager at UNFI Cub Foods in Monticello. "More money out of pocket means less for my family. UNFI is not countering that increased cost with higher wages.”
Local UFCW 663 represents grocery workers across several companies in the Twin Cities. Over the weekend, workers at Lunds & Byerly's, Jerry's Enterprises, Kowalski's and Radermacher's Shakopee Club agreed to new contracts.
UNFI/Cub Foods sent KARE 11 the following statement:
"Cub cares greatly about its team members and has been negotiating diligently and in good faith with the local union to finalize a new collective bargaining agreement. As part of the negotiations, we’ve offered strong wage increases, continued market leading union health care and significant increases in our contributions to the union’s pension plan to help address underfunding and protect the benefits of all participants. It is our strong hope that the union will choose to meet with us to continue negotiations toward a new contract. Our team is prepared to implement contingency plans to ensure the continued availability of the products and services our customers and communities have come to count on from Cub."
Source: kare11.com
