UFCW 8 Corrects Raley’s Misleading Representation of Union’s Offer

Workers subjected to harassment, intimidation as Union keeps seeking rational solutions

ROSEVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--UFCW 8-Golden State today corrected Raley’s misleading description of the Union’s most recent proposals for resolving their disagreements at the bargaining table.

“Either they are being deliberately deceptive or they simply don’t understand what they’re doing”

“In a press release sent out earlier today, Raley’s referred to two proposals made by our negotiating team, but merged them to give the false impression we were making unrealistic requests,” UFCW 8-Golden State President Jacques Loveall said.

“Under the first proposal, Union and company auditors would examine Raley’s books and work together to determine a realistic budget for labor-related expenses,” Loveall continued. “Then the Union would use its expertise to design a package of wages and benefits that would serve the needs of both the employer and the workers.”

Loveall noted such agreements are common in other industries, especially in the construction trades, and they have been useful in resolving stubborn problems in contract negotiations.

“Unfortunately, Raley’s negotiators took this olive branch, broke it in half and threw it in our faces,” he said.

After Raley’s negotiators summarily rejected the offer, UFCW 8 then submitted another proposal for a fair and equitable agreement.

“Raley’s may not like our second proposal, but the company needs to take responsibility for its failure to provide adequate access to its financial records,” Loveall said. “That leaves us little option but to guess at the company’s ability to pay wages and benefits.”

Loveall noted the Union’s negotiators have been “level-headed, patient, creative and open-minded” throughout the bargaining process. “We’ve produced dozens of innovative solutions to help Raley’s control costs and reclaim market share, while at the same time addressing the real and legitimate needs of the Union work force,” he said. “Our ideas have been rejected out of hand without any original ideas proposed by Raley’s negotiators.”

Raley’s inaccurate description of the Union’s proposals reflect inexperience and lack of expertise in the company’s negotiating team, Loveall said. “Either they are being deliberately deceptive or they simply don’t understand what they’re doing,” he said.

In the meantime, managers in Raley’s stores are resorting to harassment and intimidation of Union workers in violation of federal labor laws. Dozens of reports of complaints alleging Unfair Labor Practices by the company have been received by the Union in recent days, Loveall said.

UFCW 8 and UFCW Local 5 have been meeting with the employer’s representatives since last summer to negotiate a new labor contract for Union workers at Raley’s stores in Northern and Central California. Members of both Local Unions have voted to authorize a strike against the company, if and when such an action becomes necessary to reach an acceptable agreement.