Ralphs Meat Layoff/Reductions

January 2009

Ralphs announced that it will lay-off or reduce up to 170 Meat Cutters in Southern California. This massive reduction will likely affect almost every meat department employee. Your Union will be vigilantly monitoring this situation to assure that all provisions of your Collective Bargaining Agreement are properly implemented. Your Union has already filed a grievance and requested from Ralphs all information regarding the reasons and extent of the lay-offs/reductions.

The following are some of the provisions we will be monitoring and we urge you to notify your Union Representative immediately of any violations that you are aware of or concerns that may be brought to your attention.

• Meat Cutters who are reduced to Meat Clerks will likely be asked on occasion (or more frequently) to “help out” and cut meat. If you do perform any of the duties which are reserved to the meat cutter classification, while on reduced status, you are entitled to the journeyman meat cutter rate of pay for 8 hours.

• Meat Cutters who are laid off and not working as a Meat Clerk retain their seniority, and must be offered available Meat Cutting hours before less senior Meat Cutters, including those working as Meat Clerks. This is especially important, because it is expected that Meat Clerks who are on premises may be improperly called on first, regardless of seniority.

• Meat Clerks may have seniority over a Meat Cutter who is working as a Meat Clerk, unless that Meat Cutter was previously employed as a Meat Clerk. If you desire full-time status or have been reduced in hours or to part-time status as a result of this situation, please notify your Union Representative immediately.

Layoffs and reductions often create a lot of uncertainty and confusion as well as significant hardships. Your Union Representatives are available to answer your questions and to assist you in assuring your contractual rights are protected.