"This vote sends a strong message to Stater Bros.: We've had enough of their union-busting tactics that undermine workers and silence our voices," the United Food and Commercial Workers Stater Bros. Bargaining Committee said in a statement released Friday.
"And if they thought Stater Bros.' members could be scared away from standing up for our rights, they found out tonight that they are very, very wrong.
"We've never had to take an unfair labor practice strike vote at Stater Bros., but the company has changed. Since March, we've pushed Stater Bros. for real solutions to short staffing, unsafe conditions, and unfair wages, but all we've seen is disrespect of our rights as reflected in these ULP charges."
A vote count was not released.
There was no response to an email sent to Stater Bros. Friday night after the close of regular business hours seeking comment.
The UFCW locals representing the stores' employees have charged Stater Bros. with:
-- unlawful surveillance of members who have been active in the contract campaign;
-- discrimination of members on the basis of their union support;
-- unlawful interrogation of members;
-- bypassing the unions and dealing directly with members about proposals under consideration in bargaining, and
-- failure to provide information that the unions requested in preparation for collective bargaining negotiations.
The union said it is seeking "living wages, affordable health care benefits, a reliable pension (and) more staffing and better working conditions for a better customer experience."
A strike authorization vote does not necessarily mean there will be a strike.