Shoppers Pledging Support for Giant & Safeway Workers

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)Shoppers across the region yesterday pledged to support supermarket workers fighting for a fair contract at Safeway. “Our family shops almost exclusively at Giant and has since it opened,” wrote Emily Citkowski, one of dozens to sign the Giant/Safeway Worker Support Pledge. “We support the employees and will not cross a picket line.” Pledge signers commit to visiting store managers at their local supermarket as the Saturday contract expiration deadline looms. “I was shopping at about 7 pm Tuesday night and spoke to a few employees wearing union buttons to offer my support,” reported AFSCME Council 26 Executive Director Carl Goldman. “While waiting at the pharmacy I checked Facebook on my Blackberry and noticed that I had a bargaining update from ‘Occupy Giant and Safeway.’  So I went back to some of the people I had already spoken with and some other employees and gave them the latest news from their bargaining team. I explained that they would have the support of their customers -- we see them every week and some of us are on a first-name basis. Those I spoke with were grateful for the information and support.” Added SEIU 32BJ’s Rich Gibson, “The only reason I shop at Giant and Shoppers is because they support good union jobs.” Click here to sign the Pledge and follow @dclabor and @local400ACT on Twitter for the latest on support activities and news. - report/photo by Chris Garlock; photo: a community member from Faith Strategies talks to a customer about Local 400 members' fight for a fair contract on 3/22/2012