For too long, the hardworking union grocery workers of Southern California have been overworked, understaffed, and underpaid. These essential workers, who showed up day in and day out during the pandemic to keep our communities fed, now find themselves struggling to make ends meet.
With inflation driving up the cost of living at an alarming rate, it’s time for major grocery corporations — Kroger/Ralphs, Albertsons/Vons, Stater Bros., and Gelson’s — to step up and provide the fair wages and benefits that these workers have earned.
Southern California UFCW locals are gearing up for what will likely be the toughest round of negotiations in decades. Bargaining with Kroger/Ralphs and Albertsons/Vons kicks off on Feb. 13, with Stater Bros. negotiations beginning on March 6. Dates with Gelson’s have yet to be scheduled, but our message to all these companies is the same: Grocery workers are rising for our futures, our families, and our communities.
The grocery industry has seen record profits in recent years, but that success has not trickled down to the very people who make those profits possible. Prices at the grocery store have skyrocketed, but wages for grocery workers have not kept up.
Many of our members — the very people stocking the shelves and ringing up customers — cannot afford to shop in the stores they work in. That is unacceptable. These workers, who once bore the title of “essential,” are still essential today. It’s time they are treated and compensated accordingly.
With the attempted Kroger-Albertsons merger now blocked, we expect these corporations to take an aggressive stance in negotiations, claiming financial hardship and resisting our demands for better pay, improved staffing, and stronger job protections. But we will not back down. Our members are tired of doing more work for less pay while executives and shareholders rake in the money. It is our turn to demand fairness, and we are prepared to fight for it.
The reality in our stores is grim. Chronic understaffing leaves workers stretched thin, forcing them to do the jobs of two or three people. Wages have not kept pace with inflation, making it harder for families to afford housing and other necessities. Stress levels are high, turnover is rampant, and morale is low. This is not a sustainable way to run an industry that millions of Californians rely on every day.
Grocery workers are the backbone of our communities. They were there for us during the darkest days of the pandemic, ensuring that families had access to food and essentials. Now, as they prepare to negotiate their new contract, they need the public’s support more than ever. Fair wages, safe working conditions, and secure benefits aren’t just good for grocery workers — they’re good for all of us.
The coordinated campaign for a strong contract is called Grocery Workers Rising because that is exactly what is happening. Our members are standing up and demanding better. We are rising for fair wages. We are rising for respect. We are rising for our families and our future. And we will not settle for anything less than what we’ve earned.
To the grocery companies, I say this: You have an opportunity to do right by your workers. You can choose to value the people who keep your stores running and ensure that they can live with dignity. Or you can choose to dig in your heels and prolong this fight. But make no mistake — Southern California grocery workers are united, determined, and ready to rise.
We call on our communities to stand with us. Support your grocery workers. Stay informed, follow our updates, and be ready to take action alongside us. Together, we will win a contract that ensures these essential workers are treated fairly and paid accordingly.
The contract fights are just beginning, but one thing is certain: Grocery workers are rising, and we will not be stopped.
Todd Walters is president of UFCW Local 135, representing over 11,000 workers throughout San Diego and Imperial Counties in various fields including grocery and retail; health, pharmacy and dental; meat and sugar processing; casino service; and cannabis.
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