UFCW

Labor unions and community organizations came together last night to honor Alaska workers. About 250 people held an evening rally at Fairbanks’ Veterans Memorial Park then lined the sidewalks on the central street downtown.

Alaska Safeway and Carrs stores will be sold to C&S Wholesalers if a divestiture plan goes through later this year. It’s part of a proposed $24.6 billion merger of Kroger and Albertsons companies, and includes turning both Fairbanks Safeway stores and one in North Pole into C&S groceries, while maintaining current job and wage levels.

About 100 workers at the West Fairbanks Fred Meyer store have asked to join the United Food and Commercial Workers. Yesterday they presented a letter to the store’s management. The non-grocery workers would join grocery, and meat & seafood employees in the store, who are already represented by the same union.

Fred Meyer stores in Fairbanks are negotiating a contract with the United Food and Commercial Worker's Union. But the parties have reached an impasse and the union has asked for a third-party negotiator to break the stalemate.