Grocery workers’ union making last effort to resolve contract negotiations before strike

It sounds like this may be the final day to avoid a grocery workers strike. The unions are calling Thursday their final effort to try and resolve this labor contract.

“We hope that the employers, if they want to be avoiding a strike, come and present us with proposals that are different than what we’ve heard to date,” said union representative Tom Geiger.

Union representatives say Safeway, QFC, Albertsons and Fred Meyer have not done enough at the bargaining table to avoid a strike.

“We’re encouraging our members to make sure they’ve made any final strike preparations for a strike, including signing up for the picket schedules in their stores and also making arrangements with their families for a strike,” Geiger said.

Negotiators are haggling over the health benefits package and wage issues.

Shoppers will still have some time to prepare if the union votes to strike. The unions need to give three days notice before workers could actually walk off the job. Should the union decide to strike Thursday, workers could not walk off the job until Sunday.

A strike would impact stores in King, Pierce, Snohomish, Kitsap, Thurston and Mason Counties.

The group “Stand With Our Checkers” created a map of alternative grocery stores (below) of “home grown local union employers” that won’t face strikes.

The stores are also preparing for a strike, hiring replacement workers.