AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT JOHN T. NICCOLLAI - FRIDAY March 19, 2021

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT JOHN T. NICCOLLAI

FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 2021

 ACME CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE

President Niccollai reported that the Union and the Company met yesterday virtually for the second negotiation at 10:00 A.M.  At this meeting, the Company presented the Union Committee with a list of counter-proposals, which included in part the following:

1. The Company is demanding co-pay for the Medical Plan, proposing that full-time members pay $125.00 per week for their health care and part-time members pay 9% of their gross income per week for their health care.

2. The Company is proposing that the Defined Benefit Pension Plan be frozen and that going forward full-time and part-time members be enrolled in a new 401K Pension Plan, with no guarantee by the Company concerning the amount of the payout.

3. The Company indicated they have no intention of paying the wage levels achieved in the recent Industry Contracts with ShopRite, Stop & Shop and others.  They seek to pay much lower wages.

As you might imagine, the Union Contract Committee presented strong arguments against all of the counter-proposals, including the fact that the Company appears to be seeking to maximize their profits off the backs of ACME members.  The Company wage proposals amount to less than one-half the amount in wages that we attained in our recent Industry-wide contract agreements.

In our Union Caucus at the conclusion of the joint session, your Contract Committee agreed that we were obviously in for a long and tough fight.  We have every right to feel angry about the Company’s insulting and degrading proposals, but we must also be more determined than ever that we will not be exploited.  We, as the members of the ACME workforce, are knowledgeable and experienced employees and loyal Union members who understand our worth and the power of our numbers.  We will negotiate from strength and, with the support of our Brothers and Sisters, bring home the quality contract we have earned and truly deserve.