Solidarity with Shaws Workers

 Shaw's Workers About to Strike!

Workers at your local Shaw's grocery store may be going out on strike Saturday, August 2nd thanks to souring conditions at the bargaining table.  Shaw's wants to cuts to health care, pensions, and sick days in addition to offering substandard wages to workers.  Tell Shaw's cutting health care and low wages are sick ideas!

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Customer Feedback

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am writing to you as a customer of Shaw's Supermarket. I am deeply concerned to hear that your company has proposed cutting health care, pensions, sick time, and holidays for workers at my local grocery store. I shop at Shaw's because of the quality services these workers provide as well at the knowledge that unionized workers have decent wages and benefits. I may change my shopping habits if their working condition and terms change for the worse. Thank you for your time and consideration of this matter.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
July 29, 2008


Background Information

 

Additional info on Contract Negotiations – UFCW Local 791 and Shaw’s Supermarkets

 

  • Contract  between UFCW Local 791 and Shaw's Grocery Chain will expires 8-2-08

 

As of this writing, Shaw’s Supermarkets has proposals on the table that would:

 

  • Severely reduce the level of Healthcare benefits while drastically increasing the employee contribution rate.
  • Eliminate the defined pension plan.
  • Offer lump sum bonuses and substandard general wage increases. 
  • Significantly reduce paid holidays, personal days, vacation time and sick leave for new hires.
  • Reduce sick time for employees appointed to full time after ratification by more than half. 
  • Reduce vacation time for current employees who work less than 26 weeks in a calendar year. 
  • Reduce the number of sick days for newly hired employees and anyone appointed to full time after ratification.
  • Require an employee to pay $50 a week if a spouse has any kind of access to health insurance.
  • Require part time employees hired after ratification to average a minimum of 22 hours a week to be eligible for individual healthcare and average a minimum of 24 hours a week to be eligible for family healthcare.