Southern California Teamsters Demand Fair Contract from Ralphs Grocery as Negotiations Reach Critical Stage
TL;DR
Ralphs workers can gain leverage by threatening action to secure fair wages and job protections against Kroger's automation plans before the contract expires.
Teamsters are negotiating with Kroger-owned Ralphs for wage increases, healthcare benefits, pension security, and job protections against automation before the September 21 deadline.
This contract fight protects Southern California families by ensuring fair wages, job security, and community safety against unsafe automation practices.
Teamsters represent 250,000 members fighting Kroger's Ralphs for fair pay and to block autonomous trucks they claim endanger public safety.
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Southern California Teamsters are calling on Ralphs Grocery Company—owned by Kroger, the nation's largest supermarket chain—to negotiate a fair contract that reflects the value of the workers who keep shelves stocked, families fed, and communities moving. After more than two months of bargaining, negotiations are at a critical point with the contract set to expire on Sunday, September 21, 2025.
Our members are the backbone of Ralphs' supply chain, said Lou Villalvazo, grocery chairman of Teamsters Joint Council 42. They deserve wages that keep up with the high cost of living, strong health and retirement benefits, and above all, job security in the face of corporate automation threats. Kroger is making billions—there's no excuse for shortchanging the workers who make those profits possible.
Key issues at stake include protecting jobs from automation, with Teamsters opposing the use of autonomous semi-trucks without a qualified commercial driver due to serious safety risks to the public and communities. Fair pay is another critical demand, aiming for wages that reflect the soaring cost of living in Southern California. Healthcare benefits are also a priority, focusing on maintaining and improving coverage for members and their families, alongside strengthening pensions to ensure dignity after decades of service.
The Teamsters emphasized that this fight is not only about protecting good union jobs but also about safeguarding community safety and the future of working families across Southern California. Kroger cannot balance its profits on the backs of workers and put the public at risk with unsafe automation, said Chris Griswold, president of Teamsters Joint Council 42. Ralphs runs because of Teamster drivers, warehouse, and distribution workers. Unless the company reaches a fair deal by September 21, our members are ready to act.
Teamsters Joint Council 42 represents 22 local unions and nearly 250,000 active and retired members across Southern California, Southern Nevada, Hawaii, and Guam, underscoring the broad impact of these negotiations on workers and communities reliant on stable, well-compensated employment in the grocery supply chain.
Curated from 24-7 Press Release
