(65,000) Grocery workers seek offer by June 21

Source: LA Times

Grocery workers seek offer by June 21
By Jerry Hirsch, Times Staff Writer
June 9, 2007

Southern California's grocery workers union demanded Friday that the big supermarket chains present a comprehensive proposal by noon June 21 for the 65,000 workers who are overdue for a new contract.

Union officials said they set the deadline out of concern that talks "could drag on indefinitely." The employees' contract was set to expire March 5 but has been extended twice as the two sides negotiate raises and healthcare benefits.

"This is not a call to battle," said Rick Icaza, president of United Food and Commercial Workers union Local 770. "We are just trying to bring this to completion."

Icaza, who heads the UFCW's largest local in Southern California, said there "has been some progress…. I am optimistic that we can reach a fair agreement, but it isn't over until it's over."


Read more: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-grocers9jun09,1,7122775.story?coll=la-headlines-business

lock out was rough...

from the same article:

In 2003, a breakdown in contract negotiations resulted in an acrimonious, 141-day strike and lockout that drained workers' savings and cost employers $1.5 billion before it ended with the contract agreement that is still in force.

who spent 25 days on "sabbatical" in 2003 and is awaiting the results of our negotiations right now, I would urge our California Brothers & Sisters to be very careful what the wish for at this time. They are operating under contract extensions as are we, I would see no real hurry in a rush to completion. Yes, everyone wants to know what the deal is going to be, I do to (I want to know how badly, I will be getting screwed), but it will all come in time.