Union Calls For Nationwide Boycott of Safeway
By George Anderson
The AFL-CIO called for picketers to take up positions at Safeway-owned stores across the U.S. to pressure the grocery company into dropping its hard line negotiating posture
with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) in the Southern California lockout/strike.
Sarah Massey, a spokesperson for the AFL-CIO said, “The full strength of the labor movement is behind these 70,000 workers and we are committed to holding the line one day longer
than the employers.”
The grocery workers also picked up support from unions representing Southern California longshore workers’ unions who pledged to raise $1 million to cover health insurance for
UFCW members. Health benefits for the striking UFCW workers ran out three weeks ago, according to Reuters.
Moderator’s Comment: What are your thoughts on the latest developments in the Southern California grocery workers lockout/strike?
UFCW spokesperson Barbara Maynard expressed appreciation for the support coming from the other unions.
She told Reuters, “We absolutely welcome (the AFL-CIO’s) involvement. They are bringing in a lot more unions, working families, resources to help
with the strike. It’s incredibly helpful four months into a strike to get some fresh thinkers.”
Frankly, we fail to see any fresh thinking on the part of the unions or the chains in this stalemate. –
George
Anderson – Moderator