Contract negotiations between Meijer and the union representing their employees are officially underway.
It’s early in the negotiations but the two sides met late last week and formally opened contract discussions. United Food and Commercial Workers Local 951 represents about 25,000 Meijer workers statewide – everyone from the checkers to warehouse workers and logistics support.
UFCW 951 president John Cakmacki says despite the current environment where many other industries are seeing strikes, the union and Meijer have had a good relationship.
“You know, never say never on a strike, but it all depends on what the members feel about what is negotiated, and obviously they’ll have a choice in all of that.”
Cakmacki says their opening offer is pretty straightforward.
“People just trying to make ends meet. I think money’s the big objective. Paid time off is big right now as well. Healthcare’s on the table, but I would say money.”
Specifically, the union is asking for what it calls significant wage increases, additional paid time off, and an affordable medical plan with catastrophic coverage. The contract doesn’t expire until late February but Cakmacki says because the negotiations are complex and across several groups, they’re starting talks now. He doesn’t expect to have an agreement for workers to vote on until early January.
MOTM reached out to Meijer’s communications department for comment but we’ve not yet had our calls returned.
