2025 WILL BE AN EXCITING AND CHALLENGING YEAR FOR NEW MEXICO GROCERY WORKERS

On June 14, 2025, all Retail and Meat UFCW 1564 contracts will be up for contract negotiations across New Mexico. This includes Smith’s, Albertson’s, Safeway, and John Brooks Supermarket contracts.

The UFCW believes the strongest contract for the Smith’s, Albertson’s, and Safeway workers is with Albertson’s and Kroger remaining separate. We now know that both the Federal U.S. District Court and Washington State court have agreed with this. The strength and solidarity of New Mexico members in 2025 will be challenged next year. Currently contract negotiations with Kroger, Albertson’s, and Safeway are taking place in Colorado with UFCW Local 7 whose contract expires on or around January 5, 2025. Southern California with Ralph’s, Von’s and Albertson’s will soon begin bargaining as their contract expires in March 2025. Seattle UFCW has contracts with Kroger Fred Myer and Albertson’s expiring in May 2025. New Mexico and Nevada expire shortly after that. It is a big bargaining year for the entire UFCW and each of us.

Having all these contracts expire around the same time is good for the workers as it allows them to see how and what other workers obtained, and it allows us to put resources together. The Collective Bargaining process allows Union represented workers to seek and
make changes to their employment. In a non-union environment negotiations do not exist because the Company makes changes they desire at any time. Only Union members have the privilege and right to negotiate new terms. This is something your Union takes very
seriously.

Next year will be both an opportunity and a challenge for you and your family. Our sister local in Colorado has been negotiating their King Soopers/Kroger contract and their Albertson’s/Safeway contracts since October 2024. Kroger and Albertson’s/Safeway are both proposing cuts and takeaways from the workers in Colorado. They want the workers to give them more profits and control. They want the workers to give up favorable language and adopt language that is beneficial to Kroger and Albertson’s/Safeway.

Kroger’s bargaining style usually begins with reductions and cuts in the workplace for the employees. We need to protect work and hours as vendors and gig drivers are moving into new areas of the store. We need to protect our Meat contract and their work, we need to protect click list employees’ and their work. The list goes on and on. They should treat you as the essential workers you have proven you are. The customers acknowledged how essential you are towards helping them through thick and thin.
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Please take a few minutes and fill out the Contract Survey/Questionnaire so your Union knows exactly what is important to you and your family. Please be looking for the QR code to scan and answer with your smartphone. The answers and comments you provide are very important.

Please consider how you can be a part of negotiations. We will need several New Mexico members who are willing to take pictures and share actual life circumstances, while asking for support and assistance. Your Union wants good faith bargaining, we want workers working, we want workplace improvements and wage increases. More for Kroger, Albertson’s and Safeway should mean more for YOU!