DC Pols Join Grocery Worker Rally at O Street Giant's Grand Opening
Thursday, November 21, 2013(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)
Political and community leaders joined an informational picket by Giant and
Safeway workers in front of Giant's grand opening at 8th and O Street NW
Thursday night. DC Council members Tommy Wells and Jack Evans, as well as Rev.
Graylan Hagler of Plymouth Congregational Church were among those showing their
support for the grocery workers who voted last week to authorize the leadership
of their union, United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 400 (UFCW Local
400) to call a strike if the companies refuse to negotiate a fair contract. The
new Giant is in Wells’ district and he went in with a delegation to deliver
petitions signed by community residents supporting the workers, telling store
management “it’s time for Giant to settle a contract with its workers.”
The big issue on the table is health care because of the new Affordable Care
Act. In contract negotiations across the country, companies have tried to
eliminate health care for part-time workers, retirees and spouses. "We are
refusing to go backward," said Vivian Siguion, Bargaining Advisory Committee
member who works at Safeway #1431. "We've worked this hard to earn the benefits
we have and for the companies to propose to eliminate them feels like a slap in
the face to the 29 years I've put in to this company." Giant and Safeway workers
have leafleted stores and gathered thousands of shoppers' pledges, participated
in flash mobs, and have turned in their own pledge cards stating that they will
do "whatever it takes for a fair contract." Other unions like the Teamsters, who
work at Giant's warehouse in Jessup, Md. have supported the retail workers by
wearing buttons and turning in pledge cards, while community groups have joined
rallies and local politicians have written letters of support. "By authorizing a
strike last week, our members put Giant and Safeway on notice that it is long
past time to come to the table with a proposal that provides them with the
security, respect and dignity they have more than earned," said Local 400
President Mark Federici. "We need to keep this momentum up, we have to stand
together and we, as union members need to actively support our decision by
continuing to participate in store actions until a fair contract is reached,"
said LaWanda Nedd-Kea, a Bargaining Advisory Committee member who works at Giant
#140. photo by Bill Burke/Page One
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