How A Banning, Beaumont Grocery Store Work Stoppage Affects Everyone: Where Will You Shop?

BANNING, CA —Negotiations between some Banning, Beaumont grocery store workers and Southern California supermarket chains have stopped, and a union representing workers authorized a strike vote Thursday.

The voting will take place between March 21 and March 26, according to Bertha Rodríguez, the communications coordinator for United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 770. The union is one of seven representing some 60,000 grocery workers in more than 500 Ralphs and Vons/Pavilions/Albertson stores from the Central Valley, the Inland Empire, south to the Mexico border.

The workers' decision to vote comes after weeks of heated negotiations. A three-year-old labor contract between the grocery workers and supermarkets expired on Sunday, and the two sides remain far apart.

Bertha Rodríguez, the communications coordinator for United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 770, said the vote would occur between March 21 and March 26. The local is one of seven representing some 60,000 grocery workers in more than 500 stores from the Central Valley to the Mexico border.

Talks have stopped, Rodríguez said.

If history repeats itself, a strike would be detrimental to shoppers, workers and grocery chains. In 2003-04, Southland grocery store workers walked off the job over a contract dispute, and the strike lasted 141 days. Patrons, many of who befriend checkout clerks and grocery workers, were forced to decide whether to cross picket lines or travel further afield for their food and sundry items. Some analysts say the work stoppage was estimated to have cost the supermarket chains as much as $2 billion, with the workers losing $300 million in wages.

During the last round of negotiations in 2019, grocery workers voted to authorize a strike, but negotiations continued for two months, and a labor deal was eventually reached, averting a walkout.

A three-year-old labor contract between the unionized grocery workers and Southern California supermarkets expired on March 7, raising fears of a possible strike.

"Bargaining committees composed of front-line grocery workers and union leader came prepared with proposals that would fairly increase wages and improve store conditions to reflect the needs of workers in a pandemic and post-pandemic world," the union said in a statement Thursday.

"The corporations representing the stores offered pennies, a proposal that would ultimately be a pay cut due to inflation."

Ralphs issued a statement Thursday in response to the union's announcement of a strike authorization.

"A strike authorization vote doesn't mean a strike will happen, but it does create unnecessary concern for our associates and communities, at a time when we should be coming together in good faith bargaining to find solutions and compromise. At Ralphs, we remain focused on settling a deal with the UFCW.

The company statement added: "We have three very clear objectives; to put more money in our associates' paychecks, keep groceries affordable for our customers and to maintain a sustainable future for our business. By working together, we win together."

Last week, the union posted a message on Twitter saying that despite the failure to reach an agreement, the terms and conditions of the previous contract are still in effect.

Last week, the union tweeted a series of messages to its members.

"When we began negotiations with Ralphs and Albertsons/Vons/Pavilions in January, we came prepared with comprehensive proposals and a clear path toward negotiating a contract that reflects your value and the sacrifices you have made," they tweeted.

"We are disheartened to inform you that Ralphs and Albertsons/Vons/Pavilions squandered the unique opportunity to propose a contract with better wages and benefits in a time of immense profit. They have failed."

At the time, Ralphs issued a statement saying its stores would remain open and staffed even though the labor contract expired. Customers would need to decide whether or not to cross the expected picket lines.

"It's unfortunate that substantial progress toward reaching an agreement was not made during our 12 total days of bargaining with the union," said Robert Branton, vice president of operations at Ralphs. "While the company made several wage proposals, the union continues to propose very costly items which impacts our ability to meet customer needs and remain competitive.

"Negotiations are a process and we're committed to reaching an agreement no matter how long it takes," Branton added. "We are hopeful the union will return to the bargaining table with renewed interest in reaching a balanced agreement."

Patch Editor Paige Austin, City News Service, contributed to this report.