Labor Leaders to Gather in Los Angeles to Back Possible Strike by Food 4 Less Workers

Prominent Labor Leaders representing more than a million workers in Los Angeles and Orange Counties plan to meet in Downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday July 22 to discuss what measures they can take to support a possible strike by grocery workers at Food 4 Less.

The leaders are expected to formally endorse the goals of the nearly 6,500 Food 4 Less workers at more than 90 stores from Bakersfield to the Mexican border. Those goals include wage increases and benefit protections that would assure Food 4 Less workers’ overall compensation stays in line with new industry standards.

Kroger, which is the parent company of Ralphs and Food 4 Less has recently earned record profits. Food 4 Less has stood out as one of its most profitable chains.

But despite outperforming most of the other brands within the company, Food 4 Less workers are paid less than their counterparts at Ralphs – an issue the UFCW bargainers are seeking to address during these negotiations.

The company’s refusal to negotiate on such fundamental issues as fairness and equality forced workers to authorize their union to call a strike if the company maintains its position.