Stater Bros. workers, community supporters and union members called for a boycott against the company’s alleged “unlawful anti-worker tactics.”
The boycott staged at the Pasadena store on Monday was in response to the grocery company’s alleged “unlawful” tactics that prevent “workers from getting a fair contract,” according to United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 770.
Workers began with boycotts at select locations and plan to escalate their actions if the company continues its alleged “Unfair Labor Practices, which violate workers’ protected rights, including the right to negotiate a fair contract,” the union stated.
Across Southern California, about 12,000 Stater Bros. workers have been working under a contract that expired in March, the union said.
“They’ve been negotiating with the company for nearly 5 months to get the wages, staffing levels, and benefits they deserve but instead of bargaining in good faith, the company has engaged in unfair labor practices, including surveillance, interrogation, retaliation, and unlawfully restricting workers’ right to engage in protected union activities,” Union officials claimed.
On July 25, workers overwhelmingly voted to authorize an unfair labor practice strike against Stater Bros.
Union officials said Stater Bros. has taken a lot of heat recently after ICE and other federal agents entered non-public areas of an Ontario store, “putting workers and shoppers’ safety at risk.”
The Southern California United Food and Commercial Workers Locals recently announced that they have won strong contracts for over 45,000 Ralphs, Albertsons, Vons and Pavilions grocery workers, securing significant wage increases, improved benefits and staffing protections to enhance safety and service.
Union officials claim Stater Bros. refuses to agree to similar terms, while breaking labor laws to suppress workers’ rights. The union has filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board over Stater Bros.’ violations, including:
Unlawful surveillance of members who have been active in the contract campaign
Discrimination of members based on their union support
Unlawful interrogation of members
Retaliation
Bypassing the Unions and dealing directly with members about proposals under consideration in bargaining, and
Failure to provide information that the Unions requested in preparation for collective bargaining negotiations.
Union officials said workers are fighting for:
Living wages to provide for their families
Secure health benefits and retirement
Sufficient hours and staffing to ensure customers have a positive shopping experience
Immigration protections.
Bargaining sessions were scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 5, and Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Stater Bros. grocery workers, supporters call for store boycott
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