Philadelphia NOW supports Acme workers

Judy Spires, President
ACME Markets Inc.
75 Valley Stream Parkway
Malvern PA 19355
July 1, 2009

Dear Ms. Spires:

Philadelphia NOW is concerned that the four thousand Acme workers, in Philadelphia and the suburbs, have worked under a contract extension since February 2008. The majority of these workers are women and many of them are single parents.

We are contacting you as leaders of our community to urge you to return to the bargaining table to resume contract negotiations.

We have learned that on June 9, 2009 Acme issued a last, best and final offer. The company threatened to terminate the existing contract and implement its proposal unilaterally. Its proposals, rejected by 95% of Acme’s employees, would gut the health care benefits, decimate the pension benefits and lower the standard of living of workers who have labored for Acme for many years.

The Supervalu Company, the Minnesota-based company which owns Acme, may consider that the current economic difficulties justify its hard-nosed bargaining tactics. Here in Philadelphia, however, Supervalu/Acme’s tactics are increasingly seen as a low blow against the very workers responsible for a good part of Acme’s success. Even if Supervalu/Acme succeeds in imposing its “last, best, and final” offer, it may well generate such hostility that many Philadelphians, many of our members among them, will desert Acme and reduce its share of a very competitive market.

We urge you not to take an action against the best interests of the Philadelphia community, Acme’s employees and the Supervalu/Acme Company itself. We urge you to return to the bargaining table immediately to resume contract negotiations.


Sincerely,


Karen Bojar
President
National Organization for Women, Philadelphia Chapter