When we finished Wal Mart: The High Cost of Low Price, we knew the fight was far from over but didn't know what the next step would be. Then we discovered a recent UC Berkeley Labor Center study showing that in the last three years, up to 20,000 fewer children of grocery workers have access to the company's health care. While the cost of living is soaring in SoCal, our grocery workers are getting pay cut after pay cut. These folks have not seen one penny in raises in over five years!
It's time to hold the employers at Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons accountable for their greed. These companies made record profits of over $8.3 BILLION last year.
David Dillon, Jeff Noddle and Steve Burd are the CEOs in charge (otherwise known as The Gang of 3) Last year they took home bonuses that amounted to $27.2 Million! That money went directly into their pockets while the families that keep the stores running can't afford even basic, human needs.
We've launched a campaign (with a short film, of course!) to help the grocery workers negotiate a fair contract over the next few weeks. We'll keep the heat on until the 3 guys that make the decisions make the right one.
We know that when you drive by your local Ralphs, Vons or Albertsons things look fine from the outside, but behind closed doors people are getting seriously swindled. The corporate supermarket chains have already announced their intention to lock out all their workers if there is a work stoppage, so it's time for us to show them what the consequences will be if they take such a reckless move.
Please sign the pledge not to shop at Ralphs, Vons, or Albertsons stores if they force a lockout or strike.
What happens here in southern California will have a ripple effect across the country. These local stores are part of the larger grocery industry that is becoming less and less responsible to their employees. This type of corporate greed is having catastrophic effects on communities across the country. Let's set the example here at home and make a difference nationwide.
Thank you for doing something.
