Catherwood LibraryILR School

A showdown between the Safeway Corporation and employees at the Dominick?s grocery chain it took over in 1998 is looking more and more inevitable following an announcement by the workers? union yesterday, that if a contract is not settled by Thanksgiving, they will go on strike. The United Food and Commercial Workers union issued the ultimatum after Safeway management rejected its proposal of a six-month cooling off period after which the corporation could sell off the chain, but would have to find a single buyer in order to keep the chain intact. Safeway continues to insist that the workers? only option is to accept a four-year wage freeze and cuts in benefits and healthcare, or it will close the chain, fire the workers, and sell off all 100-plus stores buildings and landholdings associated with the chain (see WIT?s for Nov. 7, and 11, 2002).