Supermarket Strike Vote by Meatcutters Due Sunday

Nearly 10,000 meatcutters will vote Sunday on whether to strike if no contract agreement is reached before their union contract expires Nov. 4 with Southern California supermarkets.

Officials of the Food Employers Council, representing the 10 supermarket chains, said only that they hope a settlement can be reached without a strike, but if there is a walkout, the stores will remain open.

Union leaders say consumers would be able to buy adequate supplies of food from non-struck, independent supermarkets and small neighborhood stores.

Food Clerks Too

But they predict the major supermarkets would be crippled by a walkout because they expect thousands of food clerks to respect the meatcutters’ picket lines even though the clerks’ contract doesn’t expire until next year. The clerks and the meatcutters are members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union.

The Teamsters Union is also in negotiations with management for a new contract covering more than 12,000 supermarket truck drivers and warehouse workers, and they could also be on strike during a walkout by the meatcutters. The Teamsters have not taken a strike authorization vote.

Talks Called ‘Meaningless’

Gerald McTeague, chief negotiator for six UFCW locals and head of Local 421 in Los Angeles, said negotiations with management have been “meaningless,” and there is a real possibility of a strike.

The major food chains are trying to “emasculate long-standing working conditions and fringe benefits” of their workers, McTeague said.

The employers council says companies involved are Albertson’s, Alpha Beta, Boys’ Markets, Foods Co., Hughes Markets, Lucky Stores, Ralphs Grocery Co., Safeway, Stater Bros. and Vons.