Workers plan picket at Cub Foods a week after threatening a strike
Workers plan to picket a Minnetonka Cub Foods just a week after the UFCW announced that grocery store workers around the Twin Cities rejected a contract proposal from a series of Twin Cities retailers.
On Friday, May 23, workers will protest outside a Haug's Cub Foods at 4801 County Rd. 101 in Minnetonka, continuing their demands for better wages, affordable healthcare, and other benefits, the UFCW said Thursday.
Last week, the UFCW Local 663 said workers rejected a contract offer from Cub Foods/United Natural Foods (UNFI), Haug's, and Knowlan's Festival, claiming it would have shifted a larger share of healthcare costs to workers and failed to offer raises that met worker demands.
Additionally, the UFCW said it filed unfair labor practice charges against UNFI/Cub Foods, contending that the companies have not bargained in good faith. It also alleges violations of the NLRA by Haug's and Knowlan's Festival, which operates as Festival Foods.
"As part of the negotiations, we've offered strong wage increases, continued market leading union health care and significant increases in our contributions to the union's pension plan to help address underfunding and protect the benefits of all participants," UNFI told Bring Me The News last week.
It added that the company "is prepared to implement contingency plans to ensure the continued availability of the products and services our customers and communities have come to count on from Cub."
Workers with UFCW Local 663 began negotiations with seven grocery companies earlier in the year. However, workers came to an agreement with Lunds & Byerly's, Jerry's Enterprises, Kowalski's, and Radermacher's Shakopee Cub this month.
In response to the stalemate, workers have threatened a strike that representatives previously told Bring Me The News could start as soon as Memorial Day. A strike could involve as many as 2,800 workers across 38 Twin Cities area grocery stores.
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