Updated: Grocery Store Talks Continuing Past Deadline

[nadinbrzezinski]

Update - According to Mike Shimpock, spokesman for UFCW Local 770, talks will continue for a few hours more.

Original Story"

With a 7:10 p.m. strike deadline approaching, prospects don't look good for the ongoing grocery-store-worker negotiations.

http://pacificpalisades.patch.com/articles/no-progress-in-grocery-store-talks-42009a3f

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. My opinion... they made some headway

and the fact that they did not get many scabs and there is actual support...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. That is very good news!

I hope you're right about the reasons.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Anectotally my local nooz channel

was interviewing regular shoppers outside RALPHS and they only got support for the strike. I think they have started to realize that people are behind the workers and that must scare them.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. God, I hope so!

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Update of the update of the same article

The ongoing grocery store worker negotiations will continue for "at least a few hours" past the deadline of 7:10 p.m. on Sunday night, UFCW Local 770 spokesman Mike Shimpock has told Patch.

Also after 7:10 p.m. on Sunday night, the following statement was released by Albertsons:

"Albertsons, Ralphs and Vons are still at the table with the union. Progress is being made, but we do not yet have an agreement. Even though the 72-hour notice period has expired, nothing has changed. The terms of our most recent contract—including wages and benefits —remain in place, and our stores are open to serve customers as they usually are. We are still hopeful that a contract will be reached soon."

A spokesperson for the United Food and Commercial Workers union previously said no progress had been made Sunday. Representatives for Albertsons, Ralphs and Vons are still meeting with UFCW representatives at an undisclosed location.

http://pacificpalisades.patch.com/articles/no-progress-in-grocery-store-talks-42009a3f

When I first posted it, just bullet

[FreeState]

6. Lets hope for the best - and never shop at Krogers (Ralphs) or Alberstons again regardless

Both store's threatened they would just close their stores during the strike - a move aimed at getting the public against the unions. Both stores are not worthy of my money any longer.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/stores-317640-ralphs-strike.html?cb=1316380186

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Their threat came from something else

they did not get enough scabs to operate.

[kestrel91316]

9. It's the only explanation I can think of, because unemployment here

is sky high. Either that, or now they will try to tell us "Americans won't do the work" and start hiring illegal aliens.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Over heard a conversation that I did not connect dots

until I got home... from the manager, He was complaining that they'd not have 'nough workers. That upper management, aka above store level, would get it soon.

It was odd that he chose to have it in front of mere shoppes by the way.

[Selatius]

10. That shows some level of solidarity that is holding, despite high unemployment numbers.

The fear is that high unemployment generates large numbers of scabs.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. Or just jelling, I think it is part of a changing zeitgeist

[kestrel91316]

8. We have so many Ralph's markets around here, if they closed them all

in a strike I am not sure where the hell people would buy their food. Everybody else would have to take up the slack, and the lines would be hours long. And foods would run out PDQ.

[pinboy3niner]

13. Most of the population in the region has many alternatives for shopping

And suppliers cut off by store closures can supply to remaining competitors--who will be ordering to meet any increased demand.

We had one local Ralph's close after the last strike, and a Vallarta quickly moved in--even though they had another store just down the street. That's not unusual--stores often do that to pre-empt the competition. When I lived in McLean, VA, Giant quickly moved into a spot vacated by a competitor's closure--even though that spot was directly across the street from a Giant supermarket. The new store was named 'Gourmet Giant,' and the Kennedys and other local notables showed up for the black-tie opening. Locally, it quickly came to be known as 'Gucci Giant.' :)

Note to Nadin: My memory's a little rusty, but iirc the last time around Ralph's either was struck but not picketed, or the unions stopped picketing there. And again, iirc, serious irregularities were found in Ralph's scab personnel practices during the strike.

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. No and yes

at least my local ralphs had pickets throughout, but scabs, yep, many issues.

[white_wolf]

14. Ralphs must be a regional thing, all we have down here are Krogers and Food City.

Both suck, by the way. I worked for Food City for a year or so and they made me go through an anti-union training video.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

15. Krogers owns Ralphs...

Their in-house brands are labelled Krogers.

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. Kroegers is the parent company

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. Local nooz, all is normal

and the newsies have no clue what is going on.

Oh progress, but no agreement yet (translate this I do not think they want it)

Oh and SDSU Bidness professor, will not happen, everybody will have a lot to lose... rough paraphrase.

This is the same guy who said they would not have any support all but two weeks ago.

[pinboy3niner]

19. Union sites may have more info?

My hands are full, no time to explore this--which is all the more reason to appreciate your updates.

Thanks, Nadin!

:yourock:

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. Union sites are all mum

Call me crazy but I agree with the prof... don't think it will happen and the workers will keep their insurance... the concession will probably be in the salary, aka the freezing of wages for two years.

Oh and waiting for the next update... before I hit the rack

[pinboy3niner]

23. Thanks for the info

Running on fumes here, myself. I think I ned a catnap--or, as joshcryer typo'd it, a 'catnip.' :)

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. More updates now from a business pub

A strike deadline has now passed for Southern California grocery workers, but there is no word of any walkout just yet.

The three-day notice period required before calling a strike elapsed at 7:10 p.m. Pacific time Sunday, but union leaders said they intended to keep negotiating past the deadline.

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 770 spokesman Mike Shimpock said earlier Sunday that workers will stay on the job at least until midnight and possibly longer if talks are moving ahead.

Messages left for union and grocery representatives just after the deadline were not immediately returned.

Some 62,000 grocery employees have been working without a contract since March, while in discussions with negotiators for grocery chains Vons, Ralphs, and Albertsons.

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9PRAK581.htm

Read between lines folks...

[nadinbrzezinski]

22. Local nooz negotiations contnue

they have contacted the... local channel (channel eight)