Safeway employees in Northern California are prepared to strike if union leaders and the company fail to agree on a contract by midnight Friday. They are requesting wage increases and better benefits, citing the high cost of living. The strike, affecting over 100 stores and potentially involving 25,000 union members, is set to start at 12:01 a.m. Saturday. Unions have been in negotiations for five months, targeting pension plan improvements and emphasizing Safeway's substantial profits, including $4 billion in dividends paid in 2023 and nearly $1 billion in net profit from $80 billion in revenue.
"We are seeking improvements in the pension plan for the first time in over a decade," Jim Araby of UFCW Local 5 told KGO-TV. "We know Safeway can afford it. In 2023, Safeway paid a dividend to their shareholders of $4 billion. This year, they reported $80 billion in revenue and nearly $1 billion in net profit."
Safeway's statement expressed disappointment over the potential strike but reiterated respect for associates' collective bargaining rights, emphasizing hope for a resolution that supports both associates and the company's growth.
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