Employees of the Hollister Raley’s Nob Hill returned to work Tuesday after a 10-day strike ended with a tentative agreement between the United Food and Commericial Workers Local No. 5 and Raley’s Family of Fine Stores.
Workers walked out on Nov. 3, after the union and company failed to come to an agreement on a contract after 15 months of negotiations. Employees of the Hollister Nob Hill picketed outside the store, starting early Nov. 3, encouraging local residents to shop at other grocery stores during the strike. On the first day of the strike, the parking lot was largely empty of shoppers on Airline Highway.
Throughout the week on Facebook, local residents commented about whether to cross the picket line. Some complained about long lines at other grocery store chains and that they hoped the strike would end soon so they could return to Nob Hill, which has become known for carrying a large range of organic and specialty products.
The union and company went back to negotiations Saturday, with a tentative agreement reached early Tuesday. Details of the settlement have not been released, pending a vote by union members.
In a release issued Tuesday morning on the UFCW Local 5 website, the union officials wrote “Members can hold their heads high and proudly return to work knowing that they have done what it takes to be able to continue to keep their families healthy and provide for them and also insure retirees their medical coverage.”
The union called the settlement a “resounding victory.” Members of the union went on strike at 95 stores throughout Northern California, based on what they said were “illegal negotiation tactics.” They said they went on strike over healthcare benefits, while company officials said in the last contract offer that healthcare benefits had not been mentioned.
“This is very exciting because this contract provides us with the cost savings we need to fund our vision and the initiatives to make us more competitive in the 21st Century,” said Mike Teel, the president of Raley’s Family of Fine Stores. “I greatly appreciate the incredible effort put forth by our employees and company during this time as well as thank the many customers who continued to support us. As one of the last large family-owned grocery chains, it will be great to have everyone back working again.”
Raley’s officials said it was the first strike in the 77-year history of the company, which purchased the Nob Hill chain from former owner Mike Bonfante, and that they have been forced to cut costs due to the increase in the number of non-union retailers that have opened or expanded their stores specifically to sell groceries.
“It is important to remember that everyone including our employees, our customers, our company and the communities we serve have suffered in this labor dispute,” Teel said. “So it gives me great pleasure to know that as of today our employees will be back to work serving our customers with the same attention and care as we have always served our customers at Raley’s and Nob Hill.”
