Nine thousand area members of UFCW Locals 881 and 1546 are locked in difficult contract negotiations with California-based Safeway Corporation. The company is demanding that workers for Safeway-owned Dominick's Food stores in metropolitan Chicago accept cuts in wages and sweeping rollbacks in pensions, healthcare and seniority benefits. Last Sunday, eighty percent of the workers voted instead to authorize a strike if the company does not improve its offer.

Safeway has responded by saying it will close Dominicks stores and sell its assets rather than improve its offer -- a threat workers charge is part of a broad company effort to bust the union throughout Safeway's North American network. Chicago Indymedia volunteer correspondent Chris Geovanis reports from Chicago for the Workers' Independent News Service and Free Speech Radio News.

More info:

Dominick's Workers Vote Overwhelmingly to Strike


Dominick's Workers Stand Up and Fight Back - Strike Vote Today


UFCW News: Safeway Targets Chicagoland Workers for Attack on Family Health Benefits


United Food and Commercial Workers International Union