PHOENIX -- Some 13,000 Fry's and Safeway employees could be walking off the job, but many of them apparently do not want to go on strike.
In the meantime, stores are looking for temporary workers, just in case.
It all about contract negotiations that have been going on for the past year.
The sticking point is health-care premiums. Right now, store employees don't pay for health insurance. Under the company's proposed contract, new employees would pay between $5 and $15 per week, depending on the coverage plan. Current employees would not be affected.
Many workers think it's a fair deal and want to approve the contract, avoiding a strike. The United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 99, however, disagrees. The union, which represents hourly workers at both chains, is not happy with the contract and reportedly plans to reject it without allowing member to vote.
Not wanting to strike, especially with the holiday right around the corner, workers are actually planning a protest outside the union's headquarters on Central Avenue later this morning.
The potential strike could happen as early as this weekend. The deadline for contract negotiations is 6 p.m. Friday
Fry's and Safeway want to assure their shoppers that the stores will remain open if there is a strike, which is why they started running ads over the weekend for temporary replacement clerks.
According to the Fry's recruitment ads, wages for temp clerks will start at $9.50 per hour.
lfu1132 said on November 9, 2009 at 7:55 AM
I haven't had a raise in over two years (in fact I took a 10% pay cut for six months). I pay over $50 a week for my health insurance. I sure wish I could pay $5-$15 a week. The economy is terrible and we're all having to pay more. I, for one, am extremely happy to even have a job (even though I had to cash in a retirement fund to keep my house).
partnership12 said on November 9, 2009 at 8:43 AM
Paying $5-10 on ins. @wkly will NOT fund the fund!!!!!!!!! Frys kns this and will come back and make us pay more money to fund it. Walmart pays $140 a wk what do u think frys motives are???? Frys wants the new hires to voluteer to BUY their ins these kids are ins. by their parents ins co. The fund will be under funded!!!!! We have made them billons of dollars and they should pay for it.THE PRES. GOT 3 MILLION DOLLAR BONUS!!!!!!We just want 45 cent raise per 3 yr contract. Most important, frys wants to take away golden 85 retirement rule. I can retire next month.... Now I have to wk 9 more yrs...First, they said they didn't have enough to fund our retirement then now they can but with ADJUSTABLE BENEFITS!!!!!!!! That means when we retire they are continuing to take aay benefits... WE EARNED mIT now Corporate America Once Again gets there's but screws the employees.... 8 yrs ago we got 25 cent raise JON FLORA, PRES got 3 million wow ho is greedy now?????
laissezfairenow said on November 9, 2009 at 11:58 AM
Rally at Indian Steele Park!!!!!! For all employees who do NOT want the union to call a strike without you getting the opportunity to vote on the company's proposal: There is a rally at Indian Steele Park Tuesday at 6pm! Go and let your union know that they are acting AGAINST you and you will not accept it!
kaptainrandom said on November 9, 2009 at 12:10 PM
I don't understand why the union doesn't vote to accept/refuse company offer, Isn't the union supposed to represent the workers? Shouldn't they at least be voting on wether or not to strike?
doeadeer said on November 9, 2009 at 1:05 PM
I don't get unions....thought they were FOR the workers. Doesn't sound like it in this instance! I WISH I could afford to pay for insurance for my daughter and I. It would cost me $400 / month, and that is with a $2K deductible / year. ! I could squeeze out 5-15/week, given the opportunity.
jrspry2442 said on November 9, 2009 at 1:57 PM
yep our store did a million last week all you frys workers like your insurance and senority right stand be hind the union there fighting for us the corprate office needs to remember who makes there billons of dollars our people are great right but there going to replace us i dont think thats gonna work with the customers
unionman said on November 9, 2009 at 2:00 PM
Excuse me fellow union brothers and sisters I have read some of these comments and honestly you want to be heard thats why you got in UFCWlocal 99. Right? your fight is with the corporate Frys/Safeway YOU STAND UP! STAND UP! I SAY! you want a voice YOU NEED TO FIGHT FOR IT and for those of you who don't know your laws for fedral superseeds state law we go on strike theese companys cannot replace you permanently only temp. You need to look at it like this frys/safeway is a horse she bucks ya off NOW most of you are hangin up THAT saddle. Thats not how we do it WE! get back on that horse and RIDE, NOW I am tellin you get Back on THAT HORSE AND RIDE!!!! you want to take these propasals lyin down without any input from you, you say.... But I SAY this is YOUR TIME! STAND UP! STAND UP! I SAY AND LETS RIDE THIS HORSE TOGETHER.
coasty said on November 9, 2009 at 5:27 PM
Seems to the unemployment problem in AZ well get a turn for the better. If the union makes these workers go on strike I hope 13,000 of the unemployed take their jobs for jobs for the duration of the strike. Unions are a waste. SUCKERS go on strike, you will never make up what you loose, LOOSER.
cinder15 said on November 9, 2009 at 6:56 PM
I was an employee of Fry's for 13 years. I left Fry's in 2004. I paid union dues all of those years. I was a union steward for part of that time. The union is there to help the employees. Do you think as an employee, you would have the wages and benefits that you have now without the union? It is a very hard decision to walk out right before the holidays with the economy as bad as it is, but if you don't stand up now, you can't complain later about what you don't have.
pitizenlyn said on November 9, 2009 at 9:23 PM
Wow. $5-$15 a week eh? Where do I sign up??? I pay a total of about $400 a month to insure my family. I say strike! Walk out!! I will go support the non-greedy workers who take your places for $9.50 an hour because they understand how fortunate you are to have a job right now. Maybe in a few weeks (or months) of standing in front of the place that used to cut you a paycheck, you'll understand that too.
grannyklump said on November 9, 2009 at 10:08 PM
HA! yeah, that WHOLE paycheck that pays you $7.50/hour or $8.00/hour that is nowhere near 40 hours a week! Yeah! talk about greedy people!! But they're gonna pay scabs $9.50/hr to work??
finishblade10 said on November 9, 2009 at 10:49 PM
Unions are a waste of time.They maybe needed 30 yrs ago but they are junk now. As a member of local #428 here in Phoenix I have seen developers pass up union contractors for jobs and give them to non union companies. They still have the arrogance to want to go on strike for more money. Wake up people. We will be the highest paid people in the unemployment line but by god we will be union. Oh yes, I forgot. They still want the dues to be paid even though you DON'T HAVE A JOB!!!!!! I will shop at Fry's and Safeway now even though I don't usually frequent these stores. I will also cross the picket line holding my Operating Engineers card out the window for all to see. Just try to stop me. Unions don't deserve any respect. They are more than willing to put your family in harms way in an effort to flex what muscles they think they have. Self centered I think. No wonder Obama gets their support. Look at the shape this country is in now not even a year in office.
theprincess said on November 10, 2009 at 12:13 AM
Just remember, all those who are saying that Fry's workers are whining.....They only HAVE to guarantee you 4 hours a week......How do you think you'll afford the $15 ins per week for your family when you make $33 per week before taxes??!!
theprincess said on November 10, 2009 at 12:13 AM
Just remember, all those who are saying that Fry's workers are whining.....They only HAVE to guarantee you 4 hours a week......How do you think you'll afford the $15 ins per week for your family when you make $33 per week before taxes??!!
dalebev said on November 10, 2009 at 2:37 AM
I've been a union member since 1976 this is the first time that the union has actually caused distension in its rank and file instead of the solidarity it so ;oudly preached. We as dues paying members deserve the right to have a REAL strike vote ( I.D. required) not a show of hands some of which were family members not just union members. I personally am not concerned with the future employees, if they want to hire on knowing their pay scale and medical co-premiums let them. I believe the companies will only suffer HUGE turn over, I for one will make sure that I educate new hires as to what they do not have that we do. Mr McLaughlin LET US VOTE
sullinma said on November 10, 2009 at 10:05 AM
Yes, unions were organized for the benefit of the workers and yes, they have done some great things for everyone. I, for one, know that I owe my wages to efforts of unions. However, as my wages went up, so did the cost of the necessities. I am facing a no-wage increase year and I pay more than the amount you say you all are looking at for my insurance. Some times, you have to take a look at the "bigger picture". When your customers see this going on and they are having a hard time making ends meet and you all are looking at these increases - it is just hard to get behind. I realize that there is greed involved here and, yes the companies make money - LOTS of money - but, please - one battle at a time. The issue is if you guys fight for what the average joe cannot get and the price of items rises to cover that, we average joes are left out in the cold. I have to wonder if the stores are the only ones who are guilty of greed.
jrspry2442 said on November 10, 2009 at 11:45 PM
everyone that is saying that frys is whining about 5to 15$ for insurance is stupid because thats how it starts then next contract it will be 50 it will continue to go up if its not stoped now and you people who pay 400 a month oh well thats the job you choose ive been with the company for 15 years and the pension ,insurance and golden 85 are the reasons im still there frys is greedy top pay people who cross the line will probley get fired any way!