Stater Bros. admits they’ve been wasting our time at bargaining

May 21, 2025 Bargaining Update

We met with Stater Bros. for our seventh day of bargaining today, where we spent a good portion of the session discussing subcontracting of our work. Stater Bros. wants the right to bring in subcontractors and take away our work and our power in the store. That is totally unacceptable. Our work has to be our work and we won’t allow it to get taken over by subcontractors! We’re outraged at Stater Bros.’ position because Kroger and Albertsons agreed to our proposed language all the way back on February 27, 2025, during our THIRD session!

This issue is one of the most important protections we have in our contract and we must do everything we can to fight against Stater Bros.’ attempt to weaken us.

We also thought you should know that we didn’t receive a single proposal from the company today. The few minutes we met with them they spent asking us questions AGAIN about the health benefits they pay for and backtracking on things they have said in previous sessions. 

At the end of the day, Stater Bros. told us they don’t want to negotiate with us until we have a deal with Kroger and Albertsons. 

What can we do while Stater Bros. stalls until their competitors come to a deal? 

Stand with Kroger and Albertsons members while they are taking their strike vote next month! The contract our brothers, sisters and siblings win from Kroger and Albertsons will directly influence the contract we receive here. If they are forced to go on strike, we must join their picket lines and ensure Kroger, Albertsons and Stater Bros. know we’re all standing together and are willing to fight for what we have earned and deserve. 

Right now, it’s imperative that Stater Bros. knows we’re ready and willing to do what it takes to get the contract we deserve. The more we participate in actions like the march in La Verne or rally in Redlands, stay involved in bargaining, and stand together, the more power we have at the table to negotiate for the contract we deserve. And we deserve better than Stater Bros.’ nefarious actions to intimidate you from participating in union actions. 

We will continue to escalate our campaign with more actions and more ways you can get involved. Stay involved and do not hesitate to reach out to your Steward, Union Representative, or Bargaining Committee Member with any questions.

In Solidarity,

Your Grocery Workers Rising Bargaining Committee