What happened during our first Stater bros. bargaining session?
We’re dealing with inflation too Stater Bros.
Today we met with Stater Bros. for our very first day of bargaining with the biggest bargaining committee we’ve ever had made up of workers across Southern California.
We showed up as a strong, united force of proud members ready to get the contract we deserve. We began the bargaining session by presenting all of our proposals, including fair wages, benefits and safe staffing levels.
We had a lot of passionate discussion about the company’s perspective on the grocery industry and rising inflation and how they want to address it – on the back of us, the workers. What they don’t understand is that we’re suffering from inflation too.
Stater Bros. has the best customer service. Stater Bros. is profitable. Stater Bros. is able to remodel and open new stores. We are the reason that Stater Bros. has been successful. We should be able to put food on the table, have access to healthcare and be able to retire at the end of a long career. Unfortunately, that is not currently the case.
Our contract expired Sunday March 2, 2025 and the bargaining team made the strategic decision to not agree to a contract extension because a contract extension would limit our ability to fight for the fair contract we deserve. Remember that when a contract expires, our current wages, benefits, and protections don’t change, including our health insurance. We should report to work as usual while we continue to fight for the new contract we deserve.
We will meet with the companies again next week on March 14 and again on March 19 and 21. Between now and then, we must show how united and strong we are. How do we show our power?
Join us for an all Southern California UFCW grocery worker call on Thursday, March 13 at 9:00 AM and 6:30 PM. Everyone needs to join these calls to hear exactly what’s happening at negotiations and future actions from the best source – us – your bargaining committee. Register for the calls with the links below:
March 13 at 9:00 AM: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WjdcyVKyQmmKHfIJwuWVEQ
March 13 at 6:30 PM: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_46yCkrLvQPO_3V0kWVRovw
Sign a petition that demands Stater Bros. provide fair wages, secure health benefits, a reliable retirement, sufficient hours, more full-time positions and better staffing. Union representatives and SPURs are in the stores currently with these petitions.
Follow the Grocery Workers Rising website and social media accounts! These platforms are where the most up-to-date information will be housed. Workers can find bargaining updates there and other content about the contract fight, so make sure all of your co-workers also follow the accounts to combat the companies’ misinformation campaign!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Groceryworkersrising/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/groceryworkersrising/
Twitter/X: https://x.com/groceryrising25
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@groceryrising25
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/groceryrising25.bsky.social
We will send another update after our next session on March 14, 2025. These updates that come directly from your union co-workers on your bargaining committee have the most up-to-date information about what is happening at bargaining with your best interests in mind.
If you have any questions about bargaining, or if there is anything we can help you with, please do not hesitate to reach out to your Steward, Union Representative, or Bargaining Committee Member.
In Solidarity,
Your Grocery Workers Rising Bargaining Committee
