Fed up with being the last to know about the fate of their stores and jobs, supermarket workers marched on Giant headquarters in Landover on Wednesday, accompanied by religious, political, community and labor allies. “We’ve had enough!” shouted UFCW 400 president Mark Federici, noting that “We don’t know any more today than we did six weeks ago,” when Giant workers were first notified that eight metro-area Giant stores may be sold because of a corporate merger between the European-based parent companies of Giant Food and Food Lion. A group of workers delivered petitions with thousands of signatures and met with executives at Giant headquarters but emerged unsatisfied. “Promises don’t put food on the table,” Federici (left) said, “we want to see written commitments to keep these good union jobs.” CLICK BELOW TO READ MORE
photos by Chris Garlock/Union City
photos by Chris Garlock/Union City
Deborah Snyder of Stafford, VA., attended the march and rally, noting, “I’ve shopped at my Giant for close to 40 years. When I heard this was happening, I knew I had to support the workers.” Metro Council Executive Director Carlos Jimenez MCed the pre-march rally, which included speeches by area political, community, religious and labor allies (click here for Local 400's report). In related news, Local 400 members who work at Kroger are set to vote on a proposed contract next week that their bargaining committee has unanimously recommended be rejected; they’re also expected to authorize a strike. Click here for more on #savemystore.