Fry's, Safeway workers to strike?

frenchvanilla said on November 6, 2009 at 1:11 PM

i need a job......

frenchvanilla said on November 6, 2009 at 1:12 PM

ill be needing a job soon.....

theprincess said on November 6, 2009 at 1:36 PM

Don't think we will strike......This coming from a Fry's employee

eastmesamom said on November 6, 2009 at 2:22 PM

The unemployment rate is officially 10.2% and these whiners want to strike. I hope they do strike and see how impossible it is to get a job when they lose theirs.

pandagirl555 said on November 6, 2009 at 3:56 PM

The worst part about this is that the union is not allowing us to vote on whether to strike or not. We voted over a month ago on a previous offer from the company. Now Fry's and Safeway have made us a way better offer that might just get a different vote. UFCW99 needs to let it's members vote again on this new offer. So all of you that think we are whiners...we don't have a say. Our union is making us do this without listening to us. WE WANT A VOTE!!!!!

mluna422 said on November 6, 2009 at 5:27 PM

i wrk at fry's. im no union..whats the piont its a right to work state but the union voted on a stike and any member that did not vote was counted as a yes for the strike frys has st down THREE TIMES and the union keeps walking away they want no comprimise. -yearly gift cards $150-$500 for EVERY employee -health benefits with no premiums, but we must be employees for 9 months and work 20 hours a week ... i locve this because why is kroger going to put money into someone who will quit after 3 months or so. -bumping our pay now by fifty cents and giving us raises in fifty cent increments instead of 35 or 40 -keeping the 401k pension the same two years with this company and im treated like family Kroger offers tons of perks. if the union does strike ALL HOURLY ASSOCIATES union AND non union willl be replaced with salry managers from other states until they can have us permanantlt replaced with whoever needs jobs UFCW99 is not giving any worker a voice. isnt that what they are for?

mluna422 said on November 6, 2009 at 5:29 PM

comment on above ...those are the benifits frys has offered and UFCW99 walked out

hoochone said on November 6, 2009 at 7:12 PM

Do they know that if they go on strike they don't get a normal paycheck? Do they know that 1 out of 10 people are out of work? I don't think the strike will get ANY support from the buying public...me included because the way things are they should thank God they have jobs.

munchkinslayer said on November 6, 2009 at 8:54 PM

For those out there who assume empoyee's of Fry's and Safeway are wanting to strike are very wrong. We are thankful we have jobs, and do you peope not realize that we do not lose our jobs because of a strike, the company hires people to be temporary! I want a vote, as do many of those I work with. For those people who assume they know what is going on, you have no idea, you do not work for Fry's or Safeway. Kroger has taken darn good care of me in the time that I have been there. Get your facts straight before you comment on something you dont know, as for those who work for Kroger, here is to us hoping it all gets worked out so we dont have to strike or be locked out!

theprincess said on November 7, 2009 at 12:09 AM

Well said munchkinslayer!!!! I know people at my store want all the facts. Not a closed door, no hourly employees allowed in, for KTV this morning. Fry's said they will lockout if Union goes for strike. I also heard there is some rallies....Mon and Wed at union office. I will try to go. Good luck! I guess that's all we can hope for.....

analog said on November 7, 2009 at 12:42 AM

IF someone is not in the union can they still work? or do they get locked out too? If they can why join the union? you have to pay fees and cant collect normal sized checks when ppl strike, whats the point?

xoddityxx said on November 7, 2009 at 12:54 AM

to all of those who are calling fry's employees whiners and acting like we have a choice whether or not to strike. no one has been listening to the votes, and the whole thing is a hot mess. trust me, i don't want to not be able to work.... it's pretty much like being laid off. you can't work if there is a lockout, or you can waste time picketing for pennies. the checks you get for picketing are essentially a waste of time.. i hope ufcw and frys are happy. the worst part is no one tells us what our options are. i hope the people who don't work for the company don't remain disillusioned thinking that any of us WANT this. i understand the point of the union and the protections and benefits allows, but when stuff like this happens, it makes it completely NOT worth it. i'm completely annoyed and anxious. i don't want to have to look for a new job.

molliever127 said on November 7, 2009 at 11:40 AM

why would the union walk away from that? That's a huge improvement! TAKE IT! TAKE IT! You can't force me to strike, I voted against it! NOT the time! Beggars can not be choosers! This stike is ridiculous! I am a Safeway employee of 7 years!

azdb04 said on November 7, 2009 at 2:56 PM

I NEED a job! Tell me where to sign up!

scorpion22 said on November 7, 2009 at 4:13 PM

Please, people who have no idea what's going on need to get the facts or stop posting! Frys employees DO NOT want to strike. It is NOT up to them! munchkinslayer got it right. .....a Frys employee

mistressofpain06 said on November 7, 2009 at 6:46 PM

wow. people calling us whiners? get your facts straight. none of us wanted a strike. i voted against it. the union did not give us a voice when safeway and frys gave them a better offer. i love my job and im GLAD i have a job. i don't want to lose it either! i've been a deli clerk for safeway for 2 years. do you think we want this? no! think about it this way, the strike is a bluff for safeway and frys to make a better offer. safeway pays $1,000 to hire just 1 person. 250 people in my store are part of the union. 250,000 times 4 safeway stores, thats $1,000,000. do you think safeway wants to pay 4 stores $1,000,000 to hire people and train them? hell no. this goes for other stores. if this was to happen the companies of safeway will go bankrupt. this most likely won't happen. to those that are calling us whiners and looking for jobs, good luck because we will not lose our jobs over a strike.

nana24kids said on November 7, 2009 at 7:48 PM

I have a whole different opnion after reading all these messages. I see the people do not want to strike, the union does. That is sad,,, I thought the union was protection for the employees. I do not have a job and would LOVE to get a chance at one. I will be filling out an application. I do need the job, but I feel for the working people that I might replace. Let's just hope it does not come to a strike.

oolalaluvme said on November 7, 2009 at 9:07 PM

This is all about the Union being on a power trip! They aren't even thinking of the workers! They are offering them only $100 a week to picket, that doesn't come any where near what my fiance makes, and won't cover us at all! Did they even think about the fact that unemployment is so high, and we need what we can get?! My fiance was told he will be fined $100 each day he goes to work, is this true? Can they do that? He was underage when they had him sign the papers to be in the union, so now he is trying to get out of the union, since he did not understand at the time what it was. We don't even use the health benefits, so why should he fight for it, and lose out on good paychecks? Especially since we are a right to work state, if you do strike you can lose your job with nothing legal to back you! Fry's has been good to us, I would much rather support Fry's!

americanandproud said on November 7, 2009 at 10:13 PM

Shame on you for wanting free medical. Everyone wants everything for free, that greed is why we are in the shape we are.

fryslave said on November 7, 2009 at 11:13 PM

As usual, the amount of misinformation among the opinions here is staggering I work for Fry's and have joined the Union. According to my supervisor at Fry's, if a strike is called against Safeway, Fry's will lock-out all current employees, Union or not. If the strike is called against Fry's, Union members may be fined if they cross picket lines. Be aware that the starting wage in the grocery industry is the minimum wage, currently about $7.20 an hour. You will not be getting any benefits until you have worked 9 months minimum. Even then, if you do not work 80 hours or more in a calendar month, you do not get benefits. Basha's, a non-Union chain, has reduced the monthly hours of most of their part-timers so that they do not qualify for benefits. And most of them are part-timers. I hope all those who say they would be glad to have our jobs get out there and apply. Fry's pays scabs $9.50/hr which is about $2.30 more than they pay their starting help. That's why we're striking.

theprincess said on November 8, 2009 at 11:06 PM

Americanandproud, I am not sure you understand. It isn't about the medical insurance being free or even for us to pay for it. We make measly wages. That is another perk to working there. I can say for myself, if I had to pay for my insurance, then fine. I pay. But give me the wages necessary to do so and still support my family!!! When I worked for Kroger in CO, I made $16 an hour and paid for my insurance for my spouse and I. I could still pay my bills. Here? I make $12 an hour and have had NO RAISE in 6 years!! tell me how that is fair?? Most people get a cost of living increase or even a regular wage increase. Nothing for us. I think those who have their opinions about the are entitled. But, if you do not know the facts, (just what the media tells you) then keep your comments. IF you would like to know more, go to the union web site. ufcw99.com There is all sorts of info there.

minncat said on November 9, 2009 at 2:18 PM

There are so many misconceptions out there!!No one wants to strike,but we also want whats fair!These companies have made good profits(because of us)!They aren't loosing money(Thanks to us)!!i've worked for Sfwy for 14 years(no pay raise for a while by the way).With their new deal,people who are at top wage would get a .25 raise,those who aren't, wouldn't.New hires would all start at 7.25 an hr(which by the way is state min wage thanks to our Union).I have always been proud to work for Sfwy until now.They want to exploit their employees!!Pay min wage, then make employees pay for health care,who by the way would have to get 20 hrs a week to maintain them.Not always easy!!There are some who have to fight for hrs every week!!This isn't just about paying for healthcare!It's about making a living & raising a family above the poverty level.

realitybyte said on November 9, 2009 at 7:02 PM

You have a choice. Leave the Union. If they are not listening to the people what good are they. You always have a choice and in this economy I would choose to keep my job.

fryslave said on November 9, 2009 at 9:16 PM

Here's a reality byte for you. If I defy the Union and cross the lines, I'll be fined. I cannot quit the Union except for a 2-week period during the year that corresponds with the date I signed up. If I choose to be a scab, I have no benefits and no rights. Fry's could fire me the first day I crossed the line and I'd have no redress. Explain to me how you keep your job when you are locked out, Union member or not. I've read all the stupid comments on here and all are obviously from people who aren't Fry's or Safeway workers. If you are going to spout off, you should have a clue about what you are saying. Easy to hide behind an alias. I'd tell you who I am but it might cause me problems at Fry's and I have enough already. You CAN choose to keep MY job. My store has an inch-thick stack of scab applications. When you cross the picket line, wear a shirt with your alias on it so I know who you are. Hope the car you arrived in to scab is there when you leave. I'm just sayin'.

theprincess said on November 10, 2009 at 12:16 AM

Well, no need to worry. The scabs they are hiring, will be terminated immediatley upon ratification. You can leave the union. You are allowed to opt out. BUT, they will still take the dues all the way up until the anniversary date of when you signed the card to join

dancingalong said on November 10, 2009 at 3:27 PM

I just left the only grocery store I shop, Fry's, 43rd & Cactus. Anywho......thought I would stock up before the possible strike that I had every intention of supporting . After today I have decided to not support the strike. Got to the deli counter as another customer just approached. There were 4 employees behind the counter, only one was working, she was putting way the meat she had just cut for a prior customer. The other employees were talking and as they grew louder one of the employees indicated with a waive to go into the back. Then the employee putting away the meat turns to the customer before me in line and says she will be right back and goes in the back. I waited approximately 10 minutes with the other customer and then asked had they already gone on strike. When I was checking out, ......the person behind me at the cash register was the customer I met at the deli, he waited another 5 minutes and then left without his lunch meat. NO WORK ETHIC, I NEED A JOB.

climacus said on November 10, 2009 at 4:57 PM

To those of you calling these workers "whiners" (and then whining about how unemployed you are and how bad the economy is and how you *wish* you had a union job with health benefits) . . . Everyone has a right to keep what they work for. Fry's and Safeway union workers earned their jobs, work hard, and deserve to be paid what they're really worth to these companies. They don't have to settle for any less than that. A strike is their way of making sure they get it. Of course, you don't like that -- you're a customer. You expect people behind the counter to *serve* you and treat you like you're important and to feel oh so bad that you didn't get your precious lunch-meat. Oh my, those "greedy" workers (many of whom make barely over minimum wage) are going to disrupt your afternoon of convenience and low prices! If you're a worker who doesn't support the strike, that's your right. But if you're a customer who doesn't support the strike, then you can take that VIP Card and *****.

ashsmi said on November 10, 2009 at 10:08 PM

i cdurrently work for bofa inside frys, and recently i worked for safeway in oregon and our workers hated the union. if nobody wants to strike why arent the workers doing anything about it. i mean i just recently moved here from oregon so maybe the laws are different but we had one person started a petition to vote out the union and after a few weeks process we voted them out and you know what safeway actually gave me a raise and i got more vacation time and better benefits than what the union was offering me, in all honesty what is the union really doing for anyone, but costing them time and money. Their suppose to help these people and represent them, but seems to me like the have no conern for the employees if they cant even listen to what they have to say, clearly their fine with whats happening and their the ones doing the work, the unions just a middle man taking your money... vote them out!

mluna64 said on November 10, 2009 at 11:48 PM

To eastmesamom, before you make uneducated comments and call people you don't even know whiners why don't you review. Do you honestly think that anyone wants to strike? Please, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out. I am a former Safeway emplyoee of 13 years and former union steward that went back to school at age 45 to find a job that would pay me enough to support myself and my children should something happen to my husband. When I hired out at Sfwy years ago, that job would have done it. Not anymore because corporate greed has madei it impossible for those of us on the old contract that are dedicated and have been with the sfwy for years to even get 20 hours which will allow us to keep our benefits in tact. They not only want to give us another contract with no raises like the last one, they want to take away our benefits. So please, the next time you decide to call someone a whiner, walk a mile in their shoes first.

mluna64 said on November 10, 2009 at 11:55 PM

To Americanandproud, shame on you for using such a name and spouting such garbage. I am a proud American. My husband faught in Vietnam, I have to sons in the Marines and one that was in the Navy. Two fought in Desert Storm and one has been back to Iraq three more times. How dare you use such a name to bad mouth people for wanting their benefits to stay the same. I no longer work there as stated earlier because corporate greed made it impossible to make a living. I resent you hiding behind that title. Americans fought years ago to form unions to get fair wages and healthy working conditions. That is what I'm about. I don't hide behind a title like you do when you obviously have no right to call yourself as such.

sfwyemployee said on November 11, 2009 at 12:23 AM

I would like to start by saying that I have worked for Safeway for 8 years. I have been a member of the union since I began at Safeway. Though I do not want to go on strike I am in solidarity with those who support their families working at Safeway. I am more than willing to suffer through this recession with Safeway if given a reasonable offer. Steve Burd (our CEO) chose to forgo his bonus last year (which accounts for 4% of his $11,000,000 income) as a gesture of his own personal sacrifice. This meant that his flying yacht could not be filled with premium fuel. You people who are upset about your own joblessness who are targeting people who are fighting for a living wage and health care need to set your sights on the over payed corporate weasels who would like to see Safeway and Fry's function like Wal-Mart while they collect fat six figure paychecks. If you are unable to stand behind people like us you better get used a food stamps and the disappearing middle class. -Thanks

fryslave said on November 11, 2009 at 12:37 AM

Love your sarcasm, theprincess. Yes, I can opt out of the Union and still pay dues. That seems fair to me. I could have NOT joined the Union and paid NO dues. Like them or not, the Union is all that is standing between us and the Universal WalMart. Witness Basha's, with whom the workers had no contract. Management arbitrarily changed the terms of their employment and cut benefits to most part-time employees and most are part-time. WalMart gives you an AHCCCES application with your hiring papers. THAT'S their health plan! A lot of people think we're whining for more. They don't realize what's been taken away as Kroger and Safeway seek to emulate WalMart's practice of low wages and few benefits. They claim that is the only way to compete. But Kroger's profits and stock are up. They paid Fry's President, Jon Flora, a $3 million bonus and he built a $13 million home, from what I've heard. Can I come by sometime for a pool party, Jon? I'll bring my own beer!

lopaka said on November 12, 2009 at 3:18 PM

Lot a people don't realize that this strike is not just for current employees but also for future Fry's and Safeway employees. Everyone is quick to focus on the health care issue but there is more then just that on stake. New courtesy clerks hired if this strike doesn't happen will be stuck at minimum wage. The proposal for the current courtesy clerks is to "red circle" them. They would be frozen at current wage until minimum wage catches up. Other new employees would also start at minimum wage and be cap at $11. However after crunching some numbers and looking at the wage scale they want to use combined with, if lucky, a 20 hour average work week , it would take close to 10 years to cap at $11. For a lot of these workers this isn't a job, it's a career. Their pensions are being threaten. Some of them have not received raises in years and the original proposal was only 25 cents If you don't agree with the strike, that's fine, but at the very least these people deserve respect