Grocery Union Authorizes Strike Over Health Benefits
On Sunday, a spokesperson for the United Food and Commercial Workers union announced that more than 90% of the union's members who are employed at three Southern California supermarket chains -- Albertsons, Ralphs and Vons -- have voted to reject the chains' latest health care benefits proposal. The vote automatically authorizes union officials to call for an employee strike after 72 hours. The grocery store chains have indicated that they want to increase workers' share of health insurance premiums and eliminate HMO coverage as an insurance option.
- "Southland Grocery Workers Authorize Strike"Â (Hennigan, Los Angeles Times, 8/22).
- "Grocery Workers Overwhelmingly Call for Strike" (Mannes, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8/20).
- "California Grocery Workers Vote To Reject Deal" (Washington Times, 8/21).
- "Southern California Grocery Workers Authorize a Strike" (Dobuzinskis, Reuters, 8/21).