July 1st - Contract Update

Ralphs spokesperson admits that the Employers' proposal would make health care unaffordable for grocery workers.

According to an article in the "Voice of Orange County" this week, Ralphs' spokeswoman Kendra Doyle acknowledged that the out-of-pocket maximum would go up under the company proposal but said the top amount would be $8,000 not $11,000.

This is true, but when you include the $2,000 deductible and premiums of $1,196 per year that the Employers are proposing in addition to the out-of-pocket maximum, the total that a member could be forced to pay for health care is $11,196 per year.

That is totally unaffordable for the average grocery worker who earns about $25,000 per year and that is why grocery workers are standing together to keep their health care affordable.

While there was no progress at the bargaining table this week, thousands of grocery workers along with community members, clergy, and elected leaders rallied at the corporate headquarters of Vons, Ralphs and Albertsons to insist that grocery workers have affordable health care rather than being pushed on to Welfare. More negotiation dates are scheduled for next week. Stay united. Stay strong.

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