Workers at Six Kowalski’s Stores Inch Closer to a Strike
[Editor’s note: On Friday, July 28, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 663 announced that it has reached a deal with Kowalski’s to avert the strike.]
Hundreds of unionized workers at six Kowalski’s Markets stores are slated to strike next week if they can’t reach an agreement on a new contract with management.
On Tuesday, the local chapter of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union formally announced plans to strike Aug. 4-6 and accused Kowalski’s management of intimidating employees. Members of UFCW Local 663 voted to authorize the strike on Monday.
“Kowalski’s has engaged in unfair labor practices meant to stop us from exercising our rights despite our tireless efforts to serve customers every day,” the union’s bargaining committee said in a press release issued Wednesday.
The Local 663 chapter represents more than 600 Kowalski’s workers. If no agreement is reached by Aug. 4, unionized workers will carry out a three-day strike at Kowalski’s stores in Eagan, Eden Prairie, and Excelsior, along with three locations in Minneapolis.
UFCW said that members have been working without a contract since March. The union has filed unfair labor practices charges against Kowalski’s with the National Labor Relations Board.
Unionized Kowalski’s workers released this video on YouTube on July 25.
Kowalski’s management disputes the union’s claims. In an email, chief operating officer Mike Oase said that the company has “been and will continue to bargain in good faith with the union.” On Tuesday, the grocery store chain held its 13th meeting with the union, he noted.
“We have been completely transparent in our dealings with the Union bargaining committee about the improved benefits and cost savings to our employees under our health insurance plan,” Oase said. “Unfortunately, the Union did not agree to our health insurance plan saying it is ‘under review’ even though it was presented to the Union’s bargaining committee months ago.”
Oase maintained that Kowalski’s has presented an offer that would include “historically high wage increases as well as a more comprehensive health care plan that is less expensive to the employees.” Counter to the union’s allegations, Oase said that UFCW is “misleading our employees with both false information and intimidation tactics.”
It’s been a fairly active year for UFCW. In early July, unionized workers at 22 Lunds & Byerlys stores had also threatened to strike but ultimately struck a deal with management to avert it. UFCW members also reached a last-minute deal to avert a strike at Cub stores around the Easter holiday this year.
Other local retail chapters of UFCW have been active, too. In mid-July, Half Price Books workers walked off the job amid contract negotiations.
