Workers at 33 Cub Foods locations vote to authorize strike, plan to picket starting Friday
UPDATE (April 7): Tentative agreement made to avoid strike at 33 Cub Foods locations Friday
MINNEAPOLIS -- Thousands of grocery store workers in Minnesota have voted to authorize a strike.
Union employees of Cub Foods said the potential strike is over alleged unfair labor practices, wages and working without a contract for a month.
According to the union, the strike involves roughly 3,000 workers at 33 stores owned by UNFI, mostly located in the Twin Cities area.
In a Wednesday morning news conference, the union said they plan on picketing in front of stores on Friday and Saturday.
A list of affected stores (right side):
"We were here for our communities during COVID. I couldn't go upstairs, I lived in my garage, because I had a stage 4 cancer patient living with me. I served all of you. I couldn't hug my friend. Couldn't say goodbye when she died. Now, I'm only asking for a raise," added Sue Sami.
Cub General Counsel Laura Daly says the company is offering $2.75 increase over two years. Daly describes it as a historic raise, but the union is asking for $4.
Cub Foods released a statement in response to the strike authorization:
Cub cares greatly about its team members and has negotiated diligently and in good faith with UFCW local union #663 to finalize a new collective bargaining agreement. As part of its current offer, Cub has proposed historic wage increases and agreed to ongoing union health and pension plans on terms specifically requested by the union.
We're deeply disappointed that the union elected to spend yesterday taking a strike authorization vote instead of using that time to meet with us to reach agreement on terms for a new contract. It is our strong hope that the union will choose to continue negotiations rather than pursue a strike. In the even there is a strike, we are prepared to implement contingency plans to ensure the continued availability of the products and services our guests have come to count on from Cub.
The next bargaining session is on Tuesday.
