Giant and Safeway Workers "Ready for Battle" as Contract Expiration Looms

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)As the clock ticks toward Thursday’s midnight expiration of their contract, supermarket workers at Giant and Safeway are standing strong in solidarity. “We need to stand shoulder to shoulder, arms locked together,” said Michele Hepner, a UFCW 400 bargaining committee member who works at Giant. “We need to roll up our sleeves and prepare to get our hands dirty…we need to be ready for battle.” Local 400 President Mark Federici briefed Giant and Safeway shop stewards last Friday on negotiations. “The strength of the union is each one of you all and each of your coworkers back at your stores,” said Federici. Recent actions by Giant and Safeway stewards and members to garner community support and shopper solidarity have been effective at getting management’s attention, reported Local 400 members who have been sitting at the bargaining table. Immediately following Friday’s briefing, groups of stewards took action by going to the stores near their home areas, talking with customers, and asking them to sign support cards to hand to the manager on duty. After just two hours and 15 stores, customers turned in over 2,000 support cards to management in stores across metro Washington area.NOTE: UFCW 400 members will be out at dozens of area Giant and Safeway supermarkets today informing the public about their ongoing contract negotiations and the issues involved. Click here for specific stores, locations and times. Adapted from a longer report on UFCW 400’s website. photo: Giant and Safeway shop stewards gather outside the Aspen Hill Giant to talk to customers about their upcoming contract and what's at stake; photo by Sonny Garibay/UFCW 400.