This bargaining recap contains incredibly important updates in regards to the status of contract negotiations, and a new strike authorization vote. Please read to the end.
Bargaining Update: October 23-24
NSM squirms over strike threat
New Seasons opened bargaining on Wednesday morning by asking the bargaining team to waive membership’s right to strike in exchange for double-time pay the day before Thanksgiving and Christmas. NSM said they intended to offer this to non-union store employees without any stipulations. We asked for the same treatment, and countered by asking for double-time pay for two additional days without additional discriminatory conditions due to our union status. New Seasons has so far refused to give us two additional double pay days.
While that amount of money would make a difference for all of us, we need that kind of pay increase in every paycheck. Signing away our right to strike would allow New Seasons to take away our single strongest tool in negotiations, the power to strike. Our ability to strike is what won us four articles in a single bargaining session last month, and it’s the leverage that will win us our contract.
The company said they intend to offer this benefit to non-union stores without conditions, a difference in treatment which violates the law. If NSM goes through with this plan, the union intends to file an Unfair Labor Practice. It is possible that the double-time pay for NSLU members will be recovered later through this unfair labor practice charge by the union.
Company to Slash Insurance
New Seasons prefaced these bargaining sessions by springing cuts to our current insurance on us. We attempted to bargain to maintain the health insurance currently in place. The company refused to meet our offer, and plans to implement dramatic cuts on January 1st, 2025
NSM’s Insurance Plan Highlights:
Increase deductible $250-$500 (individual/family) for Standard and High-Deductible plans
Increase out-of-pocket max $500-$1000 for Standard and High-Deductible plans
Increase annual premium $130-560 for the PPO plan and $52-$364 for the High-Deductible plan
Cut HSA Contribution $200-$400 for High-Deductible plan
No increase in wages were offered to offset increased cost
NSM plans to impose further increases to costs for copays and premiums. NSLU proposed maintaining costs at current levels. NSM outright rejected our proposal to maintain costs at current levels as it was supposedly unaffordable for the company. We are well aware what unaffordable health care costs are. Members shared details about how these cost increases will reduce or eliminate access to mental health care, emergency medical visits and even life-saving medication.
When asked if they would be able to respond to our proposal to keep costs to members the same, the company said our proposal to maintain the status quo was completely “outside their universe,” and refused to provide a counter. The company later expressed they never intended to actually bargain over their imposed changes to healthcare. The proposed changes clearly violate the company’s legal obligation to maintain the status quo of working conditions during the first contract bargaining process.
Economics Enigmatic
New Seasons presented the Company’s long-awaited “economic understanding” presentation. This presentation failed to provide any detailed information about the company’s finances. Our bargaining committee has asked multiple times for access to NSM’s financial statements.
Regarding our economic platform demands of a $27/hr living wage, more PTO, etc. NSM’s spokesperson stated “We’re not saying that we couldn’t afford to pay any particular part of the union’s proposal”, while simultaneously saying that our demands were “not sustainable.”
New Seasons has yet to provide a first offer for a compensation package, despite having had our economic articles for fifteen months. However, the bargaining team was able to get NSM to promise their first counteroffer to our economics proposal at our next bargaining session.
Our next bargaining session is on November 7th. You can sign up to attend bargaining at NSLU.org/observe.
Statement from Co-Chairs on Strike Authorization Vote:
Witnessing New Seasons’ slow-roll at the bargaining table over the almost two years in bargaining, and particularly these last two days, the Steering Committee has approved sending a second strike authorization vote to membership. New Seasons management wants nothing more than to get through the holiday season without disruptions to their business, and yet they cannot stop treating workers unfairly, committing Unfair Labor Practice violations, and dragging out negotiations even further. If New Seasons wants “labor peace” for the holidays, they know how to get it - make the progress we need towards a fair contract.
We know how important this upcoming season is, as we work harder than ever to create New Seasons’ wealth, with nothing to show for it. We are also entering a pivotal point in bargaining, finally getting to the economic offer that New Seasons has refused to show us for months. It is more important now than ever, that the most powerful tool in our arsenal is ready.
That’s why we are asking membership to approve an open-ended strike authorization, giving our Steering Committee the authority to call a strike if and when it becomes necessary. If New Seasons continues their trend of committing Unfair Labor Practices, and refuses to bargain with us in good faith, we need to be prepared to act. A standing authorization provides us the power to do so, and lets the company know that we won’t take their disrespect lying down. The vote will be sent out via email and will be open from Oct 28th to Nov 11th.
We know that this is a difficult ask to make of all of us. Approving a strike and going on strike are big sacrifices. However, this is a pivotal moment in our contract fight, and one that we must be ready for. We already know how powerful it is to stand together and fight for better in the workplace, and how much we can accomplish when we do. It is time to show New Seasons they cannot continue to take our work for granted while they mistreat us. We are closer now than ever before to a livable contract for everybody.
For this vote and potential strike to succeed, it will take all of us. Please, speak with your coworkers, attend an Organizing Committee or Contract Action Team meeting, learn where you can get involved, and help make sure that our contract fight is a success. When we fight, we win!
In Solidarity,
Ava Robins and Janet Shek
NSLU Co-Chairs
