(The AFL-CIO issued the following news release on February 10.)
Nationwide, Workers and Their Allies Tell Safeway They Will Hold the Line on Healthcare
WASHINGTON — In a dramatic, organized effort, members of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), the AFL-CIO, and their allies in religious communities, student groups, and consumer groups are taking their fight for affordable healthcare to a new stage. In every city where Safeway (NYSE:SWY) has a major market, the union movement and its allies are picketing, rallying, marching, and more.
In San Francisco, hundreds of workers and their supporters are expected at a protest in front of the Pacific Stock Exchange on Wednesday, Feb. 11. In Baltimore, workers will picket at area Safeway stores starting this Friday, Feb. 13, workers will march and picket in Seattle and Portland, and DC union and community members will pass out tens of thousands of leaflets at metro stops. Through the coast-to-coast pickets, marches, rallies, press conferences, the union movement is increasing awareness of grocery chains’ callous assault on affordable healthcare.
Since October 11, 2003, over 70,000 grocery workers have been on strike against Safeway/Vons and locked out by Albertsons and Kroger/Ralphs. The companies are demanding a dramatic, permanent cut in healthcare benefits and two-tiered pay scale in the latest contract, even though they reaped great profits in recent years, gave top executives huge bonuses, and can afford the benefits their workers need.
ACTION CALENDAR:
February 10: Philadelphia, Consumer Justice informational picket and press conference at ACME (Safeway) store
Seattle, Vigil and march to Safeway stores in support of UFCW workers
February 11: San Francisco, Hundreds to rally at the Pacific Stock Exchange
February 12: Washington, DC, Metro station, Supporters to distribute over 20,000 “Don’t Kiss Healthcare Goodbye” leaflets for Valentine’s Week
February 13: Baltimore, Pickets and Press Conference atSafeway store
Los Angeles, Congressional Panel Hearing
February 14: Portland, March from Powell’s Books to Safeway store and rally
Coast to Coast pickets in EVERY city where Safeway has a major market