Stater Bros. Workers Authorize Strike After Contract Expiry

Approximately 12,000 Stater Bros. grocery workers in Southern California have authorized their union to call an unfair labor practice strike as contract negotiations continue, following the expiration of their contract in March. The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union alleges Stater Bros. engaged in union-busting tactics, including unlawful surveillance, discrimination against union supporters, bypassing union representatives, and withholding required bargaining information. Workers are seeking living wages, affordable healthcare, reliable pensions, increased staffing, and safer working conditions. The strike authorization, a first in Stater Bros.' history, comes after recent layoffs and as the UFCW has secured new agreements with other major supermarket chains in the region. No strike date has been set, and negotiations are scheduled to resume soon. Stater Bros. has not publicly responded to the union's allegations or the strike authorization.