As you may be aware, Safeway put out notice to the entire company of the potential stores that would be divested to C&S distributors in the event the merger was actually approved. The company also held huddles with employees insinuating that the merger would happen. This proposed merger is in no way a done deal as the FTC and California Attorney General Rob Bonta have sued to block the merger, hearing dates have been set in August because this merger would be bad for workers, consumers, farmers and our communities.

We have maintained that for Nor Cal, the proposed merger’s direct downside for Local 5 Safeway workers is the potential to have to negotiate and bargain with 1 very larger employer (Kroger) across the country, most likely resulting in higher grocery costs for all. We never expected many stores to be impacted as Kroger does not have a large footprint currently in Nor Cal, but 1 store is on the list. Divesting a single store for the entirety of Northern California underlines the concerns we have raised with the FTC about C&S’s ability to operate these stores.

We know this has been a trying year and a half for Safeway workers, and the latest mis-information tactic has led to more confusion. Again, rest assured that this proposed merger is in no way a done deal. UFCW 5 will continue to fight for our members to maintain our industry best level of wages, benefits and working conditions.