{"id":2884,"date":"2024-01-19T08:07:11","date_gmt":"2024-01-19T14:07:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ufcw663.org\/blog\/?p=2884"},"modified":"2024-04-21T07:39:34","modified_gmt":"2024-04-21T12:39:34","slug":"brainerd-grocery-reject-second-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ufcw663.org\/blog\/2024\/01\/19\/brainerd-grocery-reject-second-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Brainerd Lakes Essential Grocery Store Workers Reject Employer Offers for Second Time at Cub Foods, SuperValu, Super One Foods"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friday, January 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brainerd Lakes, MN <\/strong>\u2013On Thursday, members of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 663 who work at Quisberg\u2019s and Miner\u2019s grocery foods stores overwhelmingly voted to reject their employers\u2019 offers for a second time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the Christmas Holiday, workers went out on a four-day Unfair Labor Practices (ULP) strike against the grocery employers for engaging in tactics meant to stop workers from exercising their rights in the workplace. This was the largest Minnesota grocery worker strike in forty years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Members met with employers for negotiations on December 27 and were given a final offer that was similar to the offer they rejected earlier in the month. Employer proposals continue to leave the most vulnerable part time workers behind and have not kept up with inflation and rising costs of living in the Brainerd Lakes area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Workers have requested future bargaining dates from Quisberg\u2019s and Miner\u2019s.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The<\/strong> Union bargaining committee made this statement:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur resounding vote to reject our employers\u2019 final offer is yet again another demonstration of unity. The results strengthen our resolve to hold the line and fight for a better future together. <\/p>

Despite our employers who say it is \u201cnot appropriate\u201d to pay workers the industry standard, we are holding the line for each other because we know that quality standards create good jobs. Good jobs help us pay the rent, car insurance, bills, and buy food for our families. Everyone should have a good job. We expect our employers to do better.<\/p>

As union members of these communities, we will continue to work together to secure more for our families, communities, and customers. <\/p>

Last month we stood together and demonstrated our power on the strike lines. We know we are not alone. Hundreds of loyal store customers did not cross the picket line. Instead, they joined us on the line, dropped off food, honked as they passed by, and continue to urge Quisberg\u2019s and Miner\u2019s to do the right thing for their employees.<\/p>

We hope the employers will realize the value of us, the employees, and take pride in the fact that paying better wages can improve our lives which in turn, improves theirs.<\/p>

The union bargaining committee welcomes good faith bargaining with our employers that resolves in a quick tentative agreement.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

BACKGROUND:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Essential grocery store workers have been exercising their rights to take collective actions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n