El Super boycott kicks off as union, workers seek better benefits

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/super-647551-union-workers.html

Jan. 8, 2015 Updated 8:29 p.m.

BY JOANNA CLAY / STAFF WRITER

The union representing workers of grocery chain El Super launched a boycott of the Mexican-owned company on Thursday, complaining of low wages and insufficient sick pay.

Picketing by the union and employees who support it began in Los Angeles Thursday and will likely spread soon to Orange County, where the chain has five stores in Anaheim, Garden Grove and Santa Ana.

The grocer is largely a non-union shop, but it acquired seven unionized Southern California stores in 2008 from the now-defunct Mexican chain Gigante. In September 2013, El Super opened talks with the union representing workers at those seven stores, after a five-year contract expired. Last spring, the company made what it called its “best and final offer.”

El Super offered immediate hourly wage increases for employees ranging from 26 to 80 cents per hour. It also said workers would get two paid sick days after working for one year and one personal day a year after three years of service.

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Shoppers watch a group of protesters gather at the El Super grocery store in Highland Park in 2014. A dispute over wages and benefits continues between the store and union organizers.
BILL ALKOFER, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER


The unions involved:
Southern California United Food and Commercial Workers Union locals 324, 770, 1428 and 1167, which represent approximately 575 employees at seven El Super stores in southern California.

Key points of El Super's offer:
- Hourly wage increases ranging from $0.26 to $0.80 for all employees
- 37 percent of workers would get a 10 percent increase, 9 percent would get a 22 percent increase and 5 percent would get a 30 percent increase
- Time and a half pay for employees who start their shift less than 10 hours after their previous one ended
- Two paid sick days after a year of service
- One paid personal day after three years of service; two paid days after five years
Source: El Super

What unions and workers are asking for:
- Living wages: They assert many workers make barely above minimum wage. They would like wages on par with grocers such as Food 4 Less, which pay $14-$15
- Seniority rights
- Affordable health benefits
- Paid sick leave, higher than new mandated minimum
- 40 hours a week for full time workers, who are currently guaranteed 32 hours

Contact the writer: jclay@ocregister.com