Around 6,000 Food 4 Less workers in California have voted to authorize a strike if owner Kroger continues alleged labor violations during contract negotiations.
The vote followed multiple claims of unfair labor practices filed by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union with the National Labor Relations Board in late May.
The union accused Food 4 Less managers of undermining negotiations.
It also accuses the company of surveilling and discriminating against union members.
It also claims efforts were made to prevent employees from participating in union activities.
“They are trying to intimidate, bully, and strong-arm us into accepting a contract far inferior to what their parent company, Kroger, offers other unionized grocery workers in the area”
After a five-day voting period, union officials announced that workers had overwhelmingly approved a potential strike.
However, they did not disclose the exact number of votes in favor or against the authorization.
The union said: “Food 4 Less executives have chosen unlawful tactics over adhering to federal labor law and respecting the bargaining process.
“They are trying to intimidate, bully, and strong-arm us into accepting a contract far inferior to what their parent company, Kroger, offers other unionized grocery workers in the area.”
A Food 4 Less spokesperson criticized the union’s decision to seek strike authorization.
Salvador Ramirez, corporate affairs manager at Food 4 Less/Foods Co, said: “Our goal is to increase our associates’ earnings.
“We’ve been committed to negotiating in good faith and are disappointed that UFCW Southern California left the bargaining table before the contract expired.”
The strike authorization gives the union’s bargaining committee more leverage.
It means they can call for a walkout at any time.
Negotiations began nearly three months ago and have been tense.
This is according to Kathy Finn, president of UFCW Local 770.
The union represents grocery workers in several counties and is one of seven union locals involved in the talks.
Finn said the union is not planning an imminent strike and is preparing to resume negotiations.
Food 4 Less workers are pushing for pay parity with Ralphs employees.
Kroger owns about 300 Ralphs and Food 4 Less stores in California.
Clerks at Food 4 Less earn about $4 less per hour than their counterparts at Ralphs.
This is partly because Ralphs is classified as a supermarket and Food 4 Less as a warehouse store.
The union also alleges racial disparities in pay.
This is because Food 4 Less stores are typically located in lower-income communities of color.
Ralphs stores tend to be in wealthier, predominantly white areas.
Food 4 Less declined to comment on this allegation.
Need Career Advice? Get employment skills advice at all levels of your career
The company’s latest proposal includes a $3.25 hourly wage increase over the contract’s duration.
The union is demanding about double that amount.
Bryan Kaltenbach, president of Food 4 Less, said: “Hardworking and dedicated associates are the heartbeat of our company, and our goal is to continue to provide market-competitive wages and benefits that we know are so important to our associates and their families.”
However, workers have reported an increase in Kaltenbach’s recent visits to stores.
They said these have increased to about four times in recent weeks.
Workers said the visits feel like intimidation tactics.
The union claims during recent bargaining sessions, company negotiators arrived late and took long breaks, further indicating bad faith bargaining.
