[mgj-discuss] Stop Safeway! Save Affordable Health Care!

[Joey Hipolito]

Please circulate!

What's At Stake!
Help Stop Safeway! Save Affordable Health Care!

Pledge Your Support!
http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/stopsafeway

    More than 70,000 brave workers in Southern California spent the holiday season on the picket line to stand up to corporate greed.  Since early October, these workers have been holding the line for affordable health care against the Safeway-led charge to destroy health benefits for workers and their families. They are on strike or have been locked out by their employers, including Safeway-owned Vons, Kroger-owned Ralphs, and Albertsons.  These workers and their families urgently need support from people like you across the country.

    Even though operating profits for the grocery chains have risen over 10 times faster than their contributions to worker health care in Southern California, employers are demanding the workers accept what amounts to a 75% cut in health coverage for new workers and a 50% cut for current employees. Like employers across America, they are trying to boost their profits at the expense of workers and their families.

    Burd has been the driving force behind the company's resistance to negotiate a fair contract. He has even characterized the employers' attempt to hold down labor costs--forcing a strike--as "an investment in our future."  Meanwhile, Burd cashed out over $5 million in Safeway stock right before talks broke down and the stock lost value.

    These workers are on strike for all workers―union and non-union―here and across the country because they know that if these three supersize, super-profitable, supermarket chains can cut benefits in California, then every worker is at risk.

     Locally, the contract for Safeway and Giant Food stores in Baltimore and Washington, DC expires in March, when our community will likely face the same attach on working families and health care.

    TAKE ACTION NOW!

    First, participate in this alert and pledge not to shop at the Safeway grocery stores during the strike. 

    Then, organize a solidarity action in support of striking grocery store workers! You can do guerilla theater, a balloon release, demand a meeting with managers, leafletting, etc. Contact us for a packet of organizing materials, and try to take action on February 5th, a national student day of action to support grocery workers and save affordable health care!

    Finally, by clicking on the link below you also can donate to a special strike fund set up to help these workers. Some workers are in dire straits, especially if somebody in the family is sick. 

https://secure.ga3.org/08/groceryworkerholiday/