A possible strike by Safeway, Albertsons and QFC grocery workers looming on the eve of the Thanksgiving rush wouldn’t affect the North Olympic Peninsula — but it could disrupt Christmas shopping.
The contract for grocery workers at those major stores in Clallam and Jefferson counties won’t expire until Dec. 5, said Tom Geiger, communications director for the United Food and Commercial Workers 21, which represents grocery workers on the Peninsula.
Those workers did not participate in Wednesday’s vote, which rejected a contract proposal and authorized the union to declare a strike if last-minute negotiations scheduled this week don’t result in better terms.
But “the contract in negotiation would apply to stores in Jefferson and Clallam counties,” Geiger said Friday.
So, if the issues aren’t resolved by early December — when the Peninsula union members’ contract expires — then it could be recommended that they consider a strike vote, he said.
The contract covers all grocery store workers except those in meat and seafood departments, Geiger said.
That includes cashiers, stockers, baggers, deli workers — anyone not cutting meat or handling seafood.
In Wednesday’s vote, 94 percent of some 25,000 workers rejected a contract proposal from Fred Meyer, QFC, Albertsons and Safeway and gave the union the approval to declare a strike if new negotiations are unsuccessful.
Voting were grocery store workers from across King, Snohomish and Kitsap counties attending meetings in Seattle, SeaTac, Lynnwood, Bremerton and Bellevue.
On Friday morning, the union and employers set new bargaining dates, arranging to continue negotiations Thursday and Friday.
“The proposal from the employers includes cuts in pay, health benefits and pensions,” Geiger said.
But the stores, represented by Allied Employers, claim a proposal to raise pay and put more money into pension and health plans is on table, KOMO-TV said.
“I think we are ready to meet the needs of what the employees have,” Scott K. Powers with Allied Employers told KOMO.
“So I think we need to get back to the bargaining table and finish that process.”
Negotiations have been under way since mid-March.
Three unions are bargaining together: UFCW 21, UFCW 81 and Teamsters 38.
________
Managing Editor/News Leah Leach can be reached at 360-417-3531 or leah.leach@peninsuladailynews.com.
