wyldeguns- In reference to the latest fry's and safeway proposal regarding healthcare: the stores say that they have increased what they are willing to put towards healthcare. A 4% increase when medical inflation is 10% per year. How long will it take for the healthcare fund to be depleted? What will happen then? Our medical benefits will be reduced and/or we will be forced to take a cut in pay by having to pay weekly premiums. What happens when all of these new hires have to choose between paying union dues and paying health insurance premiums? Will the union be as strong when the next contract comes around? If we don't stand up for ourselves now and protect what we have worked so hard for, we will never have the opportunity again. All of the sacrifices we have made in the form of not having raises in the last 5 years will be for nothing. I could understand the company's issue if they were not making any money, but they are; a net income of $128.8 million in the third quarter alone is not a sign of a company that can not afford to compensate its employees. And no one shops at Safeway or Fry's because our prices beat Walmart. They come because of the employees and all of the work that we have done to make the shopper's experience a pleasant one. A clean store, helpful floor staff, beautiful departments and fast friendly checkers that try their best to make their customers happy. These are the people that the stores are lying to and trying to divide. These are the people that are being hurt by the stores. And these are the people that union is trying to protect by not accepting an unsuitable contract.

Hopatfrys- I know for a fact that Safeway employees that had earned full time status (by working 16 consecutive 40+ hour weeks with management working you 15 weeks at 40+ then the sixteenth week at 32 hours to make you start over) were forced to choose to step down from full time status to part time or receive a pink slip. This was several months ago.

I would support the strike and not shop at these stores, and all of those that will cross the line to shop...shame on you for not supporting unions that keep our wages, health care premiums, and work conditons fair for all. Do you want to work for a company that will only pay minimum wage and keep all profits for themselves?...NOT ME!!! Watch the movie Norma Rae good depiction of what a union will do for all of the work force. Once the company takes something away from the workers, they will never put it back on the table, no matter what they promise verbally, that's why unions get in down in writing and make the companies stick to the contract they all agreed on, the UNION watches out for the little guy that is intimidated by management and big companies and can't stand up for themself....SOLIDARITY!!!

No one has confirmed or denied about what I said, about Safeway threatening to take away full time. Doesn't ANYONE have any valid info to offer? I'm surprised at the lack of activity in this thread. =(

A rumor flying around is that Safeway counter proposed an agreement that takes away all full time and makes them part time. If that is true and I doubt it is, that would give Safeway employees no choice but to strike. If that happens, then under the collective bargaining agreement, Safeway strikes and Fry's people get locked out. If THAT happens, Safeway succeeds in hurting their bigger competitor "FRY'S" since their people will have the option to cross the line and Fry's people will not. And if all THAT is true, then it's a sick world we live in where all these employees are used to hurt a larger competitor for the sake of a few points of the market share. I welcome feedback on this rumor and my hypothesis, please!

Fry's and Safeway are number 2 and 3 in the grocery business. They are not hurting financially. Steve Burd made 10 MILLION last year and the previous 4 years. Bust the union and ALL employees will be working under the Third Tier proposal or WORSE... minimum wage, MAYBE health insurance IF and WHEN you qualify, no retirement, no seniority, etc.

wyldeguns...WOW! What does your current CBA state concerning the right to vote on all new proposals? That's the key, right there. If your union is not in compliance with the CBA (and any agreed upon extension), then you have many avenues you can take. Please let me know (if you see this post).

in regards to khoshaba's insulting remark about people who work at Safeway or Fry's are uneducated and have no talent...you are the one who is ignorant. You are probably one of those that live off the government welfare...and expect to have everything given to you...I hope you get what you deserve in life , which is nothing

You're all stupid. Here's the facts. People hired within the past 5 years top out at $12.05/hr no matter what position (non-management). People hired before 5 years ago top out around $15. Meat Cutters do have a different pay scale, but no where near $30. The Union had a strike meeting a month ago and the members voted for a strike based on the presented contract (no raise, pay for insurance and removing an early retirement plan.) A newer proposal has been submitted (raise, no cost insurance & company adding to the pension) and the Union is stating it is not an appropriate proposal. The Union is not letting the workers vote on this new contract. Also, when we voted for the strike, a date was never set. The Union believes the Holidays is the best time to strike. The majority of the workers DO NOT want to strike. We are happy with the contract proposal. The Union is telling stores that they are the minority against the strike. Walk into to any Safeway or Fry's, ask around. See for yourself. The Union tells Safeway one thing and Fry's another thing. The Union told Fry's employees that Safeway will strike and Fry's will lockout (only salaried management is allowed to work) and they tell Safeway the opposite. During the protest on Monday, the Union separated Safeway employees from Fry's. Bottom line, Fry's is #1 in AZ, so they get the press. The Union is worried about the new hires, notice my first point. As of right now, there is a $3 difference between the most recent hires and the previous contract. Why is the Union concerned about new hires now? They weren't concerned 5 years ago. CanOrAz - I think it's great you worked for Union and back them. What about when your Union lies to you? Who do you turn to then? We've caught the Union in lies. The outline is the same, but the details are different. I've talked to five different reps this week. The CA strike was brought up, when people losing their homes was brought up, each had a different answer.

LaserJet, as you can see from my prior posts, I am absolutely pro-union for all the previously stated (many) reasons - and I'm glad to hear that your son has secured a union job that will pay him a decent wage and benefits. However, I must take umbrage with your statement that your son, who failed to finish high school, should make the same money (or more) as a college graduate. I don't feel there is any comparison to one who didn't finish high school to one who has completed 16 years of education; not just for the added education, but also the commitment and temerity to complete something valuable. Just my opinion (and you know what they say about those....)