Eugene Members Begin Bargaining with Kroger, Safeway and Supervalu

UFCW members of Local 555 in Eugene, Oregon began negotiations with Kroger, Safeway, and Supervalu on March 9. Members presented the employer group with a comprehensive Retail proposal that would provide a living wage, quality affordable Health Care coverage and a secure retirement for all workers.

In response, the employer group made opening remarks centered on the competition and their need to become more competitive in the market. In order to do this the employer group stated that they needed a less restrictive contract as well as economic relief if they are to fund health care, pension and provide wage increases for “current employees.” After the opening remarks the employer group presented their Retail Proposal which contained 44 costs saving measures, including the following:

• All future stores would open non union
• Delete Transfer of Ownership Clause (if stores were sold, such as Albertsons, the contract would not apply to the new owner)
• Delete Overtime requirement for:

                                     over 8 hrs. in a day / 32 in a holiday week and 6^th day

• Reduce call in pay from a 4 hr. guarantee to a 2 hr. guarantee
• Reduce Leaves of Absence from 12 months to 6 months
• Mandatory Store meetings (even on your day off)
• Christmas Day company option to be opened
• New crossover language allows the employer to utilize employees in different departments to perform work that crosses “classic” bargaining unit lines
• Maximum back pay of 60 days for wrongful discharge, lay off etc. even if the employer is found at fault by an Arbitrator
• 5 year contract
• Wages (no proposal yet from the company)
• Courtesy Clerk Work  company wants to increase the number of hours a courtesy clerk can work from 25% to 35% of the total man hours worked by employees in the bargaining unit
• Ancillary Departments future ancillary departments opened by the employer and not currently represented by the union, would operate non union
• New Hires:

            No Sunday Premium

            No Evening Premium

            $1.00/hr premium on holidays after 1 year if you average 32 hrs/wk for                                           the 4 weeks preceding the holiday

• Vacation

                        New employees to work longer to qualify for a 2^nd and 3^rd week

                        Must average 32hr/wk to qualify

• Sick Leave   Must work 1 year and average 32hr/wk to qualify
• Funeral Leave

                        Must work 1 year and average 32hr/wk to be eligible for pay

• Jury Duty

                        Must work 1 year and average 32hr/wk to be eligible for pay

• Probationary Period

                        Increase to 90 days

• Health and Welfare           

                        Company wants longer eligibility periods and less expensive benefits (no specifics yet)

                        Company wants to discuss Courtesy Clerk coverage

• Pension

                        Company wants to eliminate pension contributions on Courtesy Clerks

                        Company wants to discuss and identify an appropriate age to become eligible

• Wages

                        Company wants longer progressions for new hires

                        Company wants to delete the 10 cents above minimum wage language