Company and Union Still Far Apart as Negotiations Continue

What’s New: Ralphs and UFCW SoCal Locals met August 6-7 to continue bargaining. Discussions focused primarily on wages, with the assistance of federal mediators. While both sides spent significant time exploring different options through informal proposals to identify common ground, the parties remain far apart.

Behind the Scenes: Bargaining involves six different UFCW locals, each individually representing its members, priorities, and potential paths to reaching an agreement. Finding consensus takes time and requires thoughtful discussion. The parties worked throughout both days, including late into the evening:

• Two federal mediators participated in discussions helping to narrow potential solutions
• While sharing additional ideas that could help bridge the gap, Ralphs bargaining committee is evaluating the options presented. This work will continue over the next few weeks.

Strike Update: We believe the best path to an agreement remains at the bargaining table. However, the union continues to push the possibility of a strike. This means Ralphs must prepare to move forward with its contingency plans to ensure our pharmacies and stores remain open in the event the union calls a strike.

Its business as usual in our stores. Our pharmacies remain open, and pharmacists should continue reporting to work as scheduled.

What’s Next: The company and union are scheduled to resume bargaining on August 31. Ralphs is committed to working with the six UFCW locals to reach the right deal for our pharmacists. We remain ready to:

• Bargain in good faith
• Listen to and carefully evaluate the union’s proposals
• Share thoughtful and progress-focused counter proposals to find solutions when we disagree
• Work toward an agreement that invests in pharmacists, pharmacy patients, and pharmacies.

We’ll continue sharing updates in stores and on RalphsCBA.com. If you have any questions, please ask your store management team or post a question online.