Thousands of Safeway supermarket workers in the Bay Area are threatening to strike next week as contract talks resume.
Workers on Tuesday held a rally outside one location on Contra Costa Boulevard in Pleasant Hill. The union representing workers across Northern California said they overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike last week, with a 95% approval.
The union, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 5, is calling for higher pay, better benefits and improved working conditions from the Pleasanton-based grocer.
Safeway's parent company Albertsons released a statement to NBC Bay Area, saying in part, "We are hopeful a resolution will be reached soon, as we have in other parts of the country through successful collaboration with our union partners to secure agreements that recognize and reward our dedicated associates while supporting the company’s ongoing growth."
The union meanwhile said in a statement: "After months of bargaining, including two days earlier this week, the company still refuses to agree to a new contract that provides for meaningful wage increases, necessary benefit funding, and improvements to working conditions that our members deserve. Safeway’s ongoing failure to bargain in good faith has compelled the unions to file federal Unfair Labor Practice charges against the company which resulted in the overwhelming strike authorization."
The union told its UFCW Local 5 members they should continue to report to work until notified by a union representative that a strike has begun.
Source: nbcbayarea.com
