Are you paid too much?

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“The employers should not think that just because we are younger and have not been through bargains before that we are going to give up. No way! —Jaime Fajardo (FM #658, Apparel) |
Are you paid too much?
At our March 31st bargaining session, the multi-billion dollar companies we work for proposed cutting our wages and our rights at work. Why? They said we cost too much!
When the grocery chains talk to Wall Street about their business prospects,they say they’re winning market share, and benefitting as consumers eat out less. They’re doing well and “optimistic” about the future.
The top executives of Safeway, Albertsons, and Kroger make more than $30 million a year. But these same companies said our wages and benefits cost too much.
Stand UP
Together
Are you wearing
your Stand UP button yet?
We’re fighting back against the employers’ proposals to:
- Cut holiday pay
- Eliminate 6th day time-and-a-half
- Reduce or eliminate Sunday pay and evening pay.
- Cut job protection language, particularly for grocery checkers and meat cutters.
- No full-time vacation for full‑time workers.
- No new schedule posting rights.
Remember the union proposals we’re fighting for:
- Fair wage increases for everyone
- Protected health care benefits
- Secure retirement
- Sick leave we can use the first day we’re sick.
- Fair scheduling that ensures hours are available to more senior employees before the newest hires.
- Job protections for helper clerks, U-scan checkers, meat cutters, and more.
Click here for more info about the employers' proposals and our proposals.
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“We are wearing our union Stand UP buttons to show we are united. Every day we provide quality service and quality food to our customers and treat them with respect. We expect our employers to treat us with respect. —Ricke Egtvet (Safeway #1803, Meat Cutter) with Joan Hicks (Albertsons #476, Meat Wrapper) |
Consider the Source
You may receive letters about bargaining from corporate management. The letters will probably try to convince you the companies are struggling to make ends meet.
But their CEOs say otherwise:
Safeway CEO Steve Burd:
“I think for several months now, people have been saying, ‘Well, where are you in this baseball game.’ And I am now telling you the game is over in the U.S. and we won.”
Source: Forbes, 2/25/2010
Kroger CEO David Dillon:
“We think we stand out ... I think that does distinguish us from Wal‑Mart, and I think there’s plenty of room for our success, even with their success.”
Source: AP, 3/23/10
Albertsons/Supervalu CEO Craig Herkert:
“With the start of the New Year I want you to know that I am approaching fiscal 2011 optimistically....because I believe Supervalu is running its business better and that means we are in control of our own destiny.”
Source: Supervalu earnings call, 12/5/2009
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