Members Vote Overwhelmingly for New Agreement to End Four Month California Supermarket Strike/Lockout

Posted to the IUF website 13-Mar-2004

Share this article.



The 140 day strike and lockout of 70,000 UFCW members in Southern California ended on February 26 when members voted overwhelmingly (86 percent) in favor of a new three-year agreement with the supermarket companies.

Standing up to employer demands which would have resulted in the effective elimination of health care and retirement security benefits, the members held firm on the picket lines and won

• Employer contributions of nearly $190 million to re-build the health plan reserves
  
• A combined pension fund for new hires and current employees, ensuring the future of the pension fund
  
• a minimal increase in employee contributions to the health plan limited to the third year only.

The union was however ultimately forced into concessions on a tiered system of wages for current employees and new hires.

The members persistence and determination, according to the union, succeeded in putting "health care on the national agenda and sent a message to employers everywhere that attempts to eliminate health care benefits will come at a high price. The strike also raised the alarm for national health care reform."