March 5: Strike Vote at Safeway, Contract Vote on Giant Proposal

On Thursday, March 5, we will be holding contract meetings for Giant and Safeway members. Join us!

Safeway Update:

After six months of negotiations, Safeway refuses to negotiate a fair contract with wages we can live on, schedules we can depend on, healthcare we can afford, and a pension we can count on. Safeway’s proposal is a slap in the face to the hardworking men and women who have made this companies successful. Safeway is proposing to:

• Freeze new hires in DC and Maryland at minimum wage for the next three years
• Maintain a 24-hour cap on weekly hours for part-timers hired after Oct. 30, 2013, making them ineligible for benefits
• Provide top-of-scale increases far below other parts of the country
• Cut healthcare funding while increasing our weekly premiums
• Break their promise to secure pension benefits
• Cut future pension benefits

We cannot recommend this proposal for ratification. Our hard work has made Safeway one of the top grocery chains in the region and we have earned a better deal.

We know Safeway can do better because we have a better deal on the table from Giant, which we have reached a tentative agreement on. Now it is time for Safeway to do the right thing as well.

We must take a stand to get the fair contract we deserve. Join us on Thursday, March 5. If Safeway’s offer does not improve, we will be recommending you vote to reject Safeway’s insulting offer and to authorize a strike. We need to show this company that we are united and we will do whatever it takes to get the fair contract we have earned.

Giant Update:

Meanwhile at Giant, we are pleased to announce that we have reached a tentative agreement with the company. Join us on Thursday, March 5, to review the details of the proposal and cast your vote on the contract.

We are recommending Safeway members vote to reject the company’s offer and authorize a strike at their stores if the company’s offer has not improved. As Giant workers, we must support our brothers and sisters at Safeway so they can get the same fair offer.

If Safeway workers go on strike, we know we can count on our members at Giant to have their backs. We will share ways you can take action to support them. Together, we will stand united and we will win the fair contract we have earned.