Unfair Labor Practice Strike Authorization Vote for Union Grocery Workers
UFCW Members at Albertsons, Pavilions, Ralphs, and Vons Set to Vote June 8-11
San Diego, CA — United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Union Local 135 has announced an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) Strike Authorization Vote for grocery workers at Ralphs, Vons, Albertsons, and Pavilions locations across San Diego County. The vote will begin at 8:00 AM on Sunday, June 8, and close at 5:00 PM on Wednesday, June 11. Voting will be conducted electronically via text and email to maximize participation.
The vote comes as over 7,000 union members at 87 stores in San Diego County and more than 65,000 across Southern California unite under the Grocery Workers Rising campaign to demand respect and a fair contract. Other UFCW Locals throughout Southern California are conducting similar strike authorization votes.
Workers are responding to multiple ULP charges filed against Kroger and Albertsons—parent companies of the four chains—during ongoing contract negotiations. These include:
Unlawful surveillance of members involved in union activities
Interrogation of workers participating in actions
Threats and retaliation against members engaged in protected union activity
“These companies are trying to silence and intimidate our members who are standing up for their rights,” said Todd Walters, President of UFCW Local 135. “This strike authorization vote is our response—and our warning—that we will not be pushed around. Unity and solidarity are our greatest strengths. Our members are united, standing shoulder to shoulder, ready to fight against these ULP's and for the fair contract they’ve earned.”
The Grocery Workers Rising Bargaining Committee has met with company representatives sixteen times since February, yet progress has been minimal. Additional bargaining dates are scheduled in June, but workers have made it clear: unfair labor practices will not go unanswered.
Vote results will be announced to the members first after all UFCW Locals in Southern California have finished voting, then shared with the public.
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UFCW Local 135 is San Diego's largest private sector union with over 11,000 members in various industries including grocery, retail, healthcare, food processing, and cannabis. UFCW Local 135 is part of the 1.3 million-member strong UFCW International Union.