August 28, 2024 — In coordination with UFCW Locals 5 and 648, we are bargaining with Save Mart. In recent bargaining sessions, we were met with troubling company proposals which would drastically reduce worker protections and lower standards across the board. The company’s aggressive push for contract language takeaways threatens not only the quality of life for our members but also the availability of good jobs in the communities Save Mart serves.
To date, Save Mart has proposed:
- Eliminating hours traditionally worked by employees by allowing more vendors to stock all products while removing penalties for “clerks’ work” violations.
- Adding exempt positions, further diluting member hours and protections.
- Reducing the Full-Time ratio and eliminating hundreds of Full-Time positions across our communities.
- Undermining retail meat industry standards, by allowing part-time meat cutters, removing the Night Premium, and eliminating the Head Meat Cutter on duty contractual language.
- Forcing disciplinary actions for ABC violations to remain on an employee’s permanent record, contrary to existing practices for other disciplinary actions.
These proposals would erode decades of progress and diminish the high-quality jobs which have been essential in building stable careers and strong communities. We remain steadfast in our commitment to achieve an agreement which upholds the dignity and value of our members’ work.
Discussions on fair and necessary wage increases have also begun and we are resolved to ensure Save Mart recognizes and rewards the important contributions of our members.
As we resume bargaining, member support is critical. Stay strong and united as we work together for a fair contract. We will continue to keep members updated as negotiations progress, and they should contact their District Union Representative with any questions.
When we stand together in unity, we have proven, and will continue to demonstrate, again and again … Solidarity Works!
