Sayara
Mar 30, 2008, 10:13 AM
[spoiler-box]
Thousands of area grocery workers at Giant and Safeway stores may strike next week.
Their contract expires on Saturday, but if they can't reach an agreement, they could vote to strike on Tuesday.
The contract involves 23,000 workers in the Baltimore-Washington area from United Food and Commercial Workers Union Locals 27 and 400.
Many workers are rejecting the companies' demands that, among other things, they pay health insurance premiums.
"They're not asking for a raise, but they're also asking not to have them come out of their pocket to pay for insurance, and we believe that's fair," said the Rev. Raymond Bell, pastor of First Rising Mount Zion Baptist Church.
Ministers gathered at Israel Baptist Church in Northeast on Friday to show support for the workers.
The ministers said if the workers strike, they will tell members of their congregations not to cross the picket lines.
"As people of faith, we're standing up with the workers, and we're urging people that, if there is a lockout or strike, we're called to support the workers," said the Rev. Graylin Hagler of Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ. "If there's a strike, we're not to cross picket lines."
Neither side would go into detail about the negotiations, but according to Local 400's Web site, health and welfare benefits, wages and pension benefits are the key issues.
Giant and Safeway are gearing up for a possible strike. They're holding job fairs and hiring potential replacement workers so they can keep the stores open if the workers walk.
"That really raises questions about the company's hard line and the company's negligence in terms of approaching workers with fairness," Hagler said.
Many residents in the District and Maryland suburbs shop at their neighborhood Giant and Safeway stores.
"I blame the union for everything," said shopper Harry Thompson. "That's why everything is so high priced, because they keep striking for more money, more benefits."
The lead negotiator for Giant and Safeway said they are trying to reach a settlement that will be fair to all parties.
[/spoiler-box]
Sauce: http://www.nbc4.com/news/15735819/detail.html?rss=dc&psp=news
tl;dr
If BOTH Safeway and Giant cannot agree to a new contract i am not able to work.
The union is so cute, they haven't done anything for me besides take away my money and when i NEED to make money they wont let me work. Lol go figure.
Thousands of area grocery workers at Giant and Safeway stores may strike next week.
Their contract expires on Saturday, but if they can't reach an agreement, they could vote to strike on Tuesday.
The contract involves 23,000 workers in the Baltimore-Washington area from United Food and Commercial Workers Union Locals 27 and 400.
Many workers are rejecting the companies' demands that, among other things, they pay health insurance premiums.
"They're not asking for a raise, but they're also asking not to have them come out of their pocket to pay for insurance, and we believe that's fair," said the Rev. Raymond Bell, pastor of First Rising Mount Zion Baptist Church.
Ministers gathered at Israel Baptist Church in Northeast on Friday to show support for the workers.
The ministers said if the workers strike, they will tell members of their congregations not to cross the picket lines.
"As people of faith, we're standing up with the workers, and we're urging people that, if there is a lockout or strike, we're called to support the workers," said the Rev. Graylin Hagler of Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ. "If there's a strike, we're not to cross picket lines."
Neither side would go into detail about the negotiations, but according to Local 400's Web site, health and welfare benefits, wages and pension benefits are the key issues.
Giant and Safeway are gearing up for a possible strike. They're holding job fairs and hiring potential replacement workers so they can keep the stores open if the workers walk.
"That really raises questions about the company's hard line and the company's negligence in terms of approaching workers with fairness," Hagler said.
Many residents in the District and Maryland suburbs shop at their neighborhood Giant and Safeway stores.
"I blame the union for everything," said shopper Harry Thompson. "That's why everything is so high priced, because they keep striking for more money, more benefits."
The lead negotiator for Giant and Safeway said they are trying to reach a settlement that will be fair to all parties.
[/spoiler-box]
Sauce: http://www.nbc4.com/news/15735819/detail.html?rss=dc&psp=news
tl;dr
If BOTH Safeway and Giant cannot agree to a new contract i am not able to work.
The union is so cute, they haven't done anything for me besides take away my money and when i NEED to make money they wont let me work. Lol go figure.