Workers at Food 4 Less, a discount supermarket operated by the parent company of Ralphs, have threatened to walk off the job.
Union members, who authorized a strike on Thursday, said they are fighting for fair hourly wages and benefits. The union maintains that some Ralphs workers can make up to $3 more an hour compared to Food 4 Less workers. Both companies are operated by Kroger.
“It’s impossible to ignore the fact that Food 4 Less has been a profit center for Kroger but yet the employees are not being allowed to share in that success,” the union said in a prepared statement released Friday.
Kroger representative Kendra Doyel said Food 4 Less is committed to reaching an agreement that is good for employees.
“We will continue to work with union leadership to negotiate a contract,” she said in a statement. “Our employees do not want a strike and they look forward to serving customers in our stores throughout the holiday season.
Union reps said negotiations are expected to resume later this month.
In Orange County, Food 4 Less stores have diminished over the years. Stores in Santa Ana, Fullerton and Anaheim have closed. According to Kroger’s website, the only four Food 4 Less stores operating in O.C. are in Stanton, Anaheim and Santa Ana (2).
Tell us: Do you like to shop at Food 4 Less? Do you think the workers there should get paid the same money for equivalent jobs at Ralphs?
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Food 4 Less workers authorize strike is a post from: Fast Food Maven
