IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT JOHN T. NICCOLLAI THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 2025

NEGOTIATIONS RUMOR MILL

President Niccollai reported today that the Union is receiving phone calls from extremely concerned Members regarding the status of our contract.  These calls are all over the lot - some saying we are definitely going on strike and others saying that an agreement has been reached.  Unfortunately, as always with the rumor mill, it’s never correct.  As I indicated in our last posting, the companies did withdraw a number of previous contract demands and did, in fact, present a wage proposal which we view as totally inadequate. 

Our next negotiating session is Friday, August 15^th and, in my opinion, that will be a make-it or break-it session.  I would respectfully like to crystallize the Union’s position for all of our Brothers and Sisters and our employers who may also be reading this posting.  I, along with the entire negotiating committee, have an absolute obligation to bring home a contract that provides the continuation of our no co-pay medical, the proper funding of our non-contributory defined benefit pension plan and substantial wage increases for our full-time and part-time members.  We understand that the task is extremely difficult but that is the hand that we were dealt and we must do everything in our power to make it a winning hand.  Speaking for the committee, I can relay to you that we are being empowered by the messages that the Membership is giving to management that they will not settle for anything less than they have earned and deserve.

We will be doing another posting on Friday updating what occurred at the negotiating session.  Again, we would ask all of our Members to give management at store level input concerning the fact that you are in lock-step with the negotiating committee and their unwavering commitment to bring home a contract that satisfies all of our wage needs, along with the adequate financing of our medical and pension programs today and into the future.

I want all of our Brothers and Sisters to know that I am extremely proud to serve as your President and chief negotiator and further that I will do everything in my power, along with the committee, to accomplish our mission.