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CWA Gives $100,000 to Support Striking California Grocery Workers
Washington, D.C. -- The Communications Workers of America is donating $100,000 to aid 70,000 locked-out and striking grocery workers in California who are on the front lines of a national fight to preserve health care benefits for workers and families. The grocery chains want to shift more costs to workers, especially new hires.
"Their fight is our fight," CWA President Morton Bahr said. "The grocery chains are among many profitable companies that are slashing health benefits for working families across the country. There's no question that health care costs are rising, but simply shifting more costs to workers does nothing to fix the problem.
"Today, too many workers have to choose between paying hundreds of dollars per month for health care coverage or feeding and housing their families and dropping medical coverage altogether. This is simply not acceptable," he said.
In addition to the $100,000 contribution, CWA members and locals have made individual donations to the United Food and Commercial Workers' strike fund. They include a $10,000 donation from Local 9400 in southern California and a pledge of 1 percent of monthly dues from Local 9413 in Sparks, Nev. CWA also is working with the AFL-CIO to "adopt" striking families to help provide additional assistance.
The grocery workers, who are picketing at Albertsons, Kroger-owned Ralph's stores, and Safeway-owned Vons chains, have been without paychecks for nearly four months and some have lost their cars and homes. CWA members have joined UFCW members on picket lines in California. They have also taken part in informational pickets at stores owned by the chains in other regions, including recent actions in the Baltimore area.
"Their fight is our fight," CWA President Morton Bahr said. "The grocery chains are among many profitable companies that are slashing health benefits for working families across the country. There's no question that health care costs are rising, but simply shifting more costs to workers does nothing to fix the problem.
"Today, too many workers have to choose between paying hundreds of dollars per month for health care coverage or feeding and housing their families and dropping medical coverage altogether. This is simply not acceptable," he said.
In addition to the $100,000 contribution, CWA members and locals have made individual donations to the United Food and Commercial Workers' strike fund. They include a $10,000 donation from Local 9400 in southern California and a pledge of 1 percent of monthly dues from Local 9413 in Sparks, Nev. CWA also is working with the AFL-CIO to "adopt" striking families to help provide additional assistance.
The grocery workers, who are picketing at Albertsons, Kroger-owned Ralph's stores, and Safeway-owned Vons chains, have been without paychecks for nearly four months and some have lost their cars and homes. CWA members have joined UFCW members on picket lines in California. They have also taken part in informational pickets at stores owned by the chains in other regions, including recent actions in the Baltimore area.