Fry's, Safeway Hiring to Compensate for Possible Strike

PHOENIX - You might have to cross a picket line the next time you go to Fry's or Safeway stores. Thousands of employees are threatening to go on strike this Friday.

Some long-time employees are anti-strike

Monday afternoon, about two dozen Fry's employees rallied outside the headquarters of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union with the message: call off the strike. Many workers say they want a chance to vote on the new offer -- and say this is no time to walk off the job.

"In this economy... I worked at Fry's for 18 years. I cannot see going on strike for any reason, I would rather pay for my health insurance if that was to be," says Kimberly Cress.

The union is fighting for the rights of new employees and their access to affordable health care. But some long-time employees say, this is their best contract yet.

"Their big thing is they want to fight for the new people. Why do you care about the new people who haven't even come to work for Fry's?" says Cathy Parish.

Some employees are fearful about being out of work as the holidays approach -- or losing their jobs for good.

Meanwhile, Fry's and Safeway are looking to hire thousands of temporary workers. "We will need maybe some replacement workers. We're hoping that isn't coming, but we will be prepared to provide the same service," says Joellen Lynn of Fry's Grocery Store.

So far, Fry's has hired over 2,000 workers and are still looking for more.

Health insurance issues

13,000 workers could be going on strike on Friday, mostly because of disagreements over healthcare costs for new employees.

The union says grocery store workers make an average of about $20,000 a year. But Fry's and Safeway want new hires to pay up to $2,000 a year in healthcare -- and the union says that's unacceptable.

Fry's says the union should let their employees vote on the proposal before going on strike. "We feel that were doing the right thing, we feel that we've offered them a great proposal and we want to give our associates the opportunity to vote on that proposal," says Lynn.

Fry's and Safeway are looking for clerks, stockers, meat cutters, and baggers. Temporary workers who are hired during a strike could get paid $9.50 an hour. The union has said they will pay their members $100 a week to strike.

Will shoppers cross the picket line?

They may not have a problem finding new employees during the recession, but some shoppers have said they'll be going elsewhere if a strike occurs.

"I think we won't go in if they're on strike," says Fry's customer Cary Mabe.

"I think their benefits are important, I think their wages are important," says John Woodman, a Safeway customer. "They should have a raise, but within reason. I don't want it to affect the prices at the grocery stores."

Other shoppers say the strike will not affect their trips to the store.

"I don't have any other options," says Rachel Brown, a Fry's customer. "I'm not prepared to hold out for weeks at a time, I would hope they can get it straightened out though, this is a good place to shop and in my neighborhood."

For more information on the strike:
http://ufcw99.com/negotiations.html