Union Contract Dispute Hits Woodbury Streets

Dozens of members of a local grocery-workers union held a rally outside in Woodbury on Wednesday.

The United Food and Commercial Workers 1189 is embroiled in a contract dispute with several grocers, including Kowalski’s, which union officials say has backed out of negotiations and offered only a “substandard” and “illegal” proposal.

Officials at the Woodbury Kowalski’s would not comment on camera, but did provide Patch with a statement.

“On August 1st Kowalski’s Company implemented a new contract that provides a secure and stable retirement savings choice for our union employees. Kowalski’s has met with the UFCW 1189 Union Leadership and employees that are on the bargaining committee since January 13th to negotiate a new contract for our St. Paul Stores. Since we Started negotiating on January 13th we have met with them 21 times regarding the entire contract and 6 additional days on the pension retirement plans,” the statement says. “We believe our contract provides our employees with good jobs and competitive wages, access to quality, affordable health care with no employee premium contributions and a sustainable 401(k) retirement plan funded through required company contributions with the option for employees to also contribute.”

The statement from Kowalski’s also says the contract is consistent with one ratified by employees in Minneapolis last year.