Monterey Times

Union management of UFCW Local 5 is contesting the approval of a new Grocery Outlet for the City of King. 

The City Council recently approved plans to bring a Grocery Outlet supermarket to the community last April after the developer followed all the appropriate permitting and environmental review processes.  The store regularly sells name brand groceries and fresh produce at 40-70% less than conventional grocery stores.  The new 18,187 square foot Grocery Outlet would also provide jobs, economic development, and cost-saving options to the residents of King City and nearby members of the community. 

All of that is on hold now as litigation has been filed to challenge the approval.  A member of UFCW Local 5, who lives in Salinas, filed an appeal of the original approval by the City’s Planning Commission.  The City Council subsequently denied the appeal and approved the project.  Attorneys for the union then filed a notice of intent to sue to stop the project.

Currently, costs are skyrocketing in the King City community where an estimated 1 in 6 people were already living below the poverty line prior to COVID.  King City is a small underserved agricultural community with a large minority population.  Some residents travel almost an hour to either Paso Robles or Salinas to buy groceries at lower prices.  However, with the cost of gas spiking to well over $6.00 a gallon, travel is no longer an option for many.  Additionally, with inflation at 40-year highs of 8.6%, many families are unable to make ends meet.

“It shouldn’t be a struggle to put food on the table,” said Mayor LeBarre.  “It is extremely disappointing that outside leadership of a union claiming to represent the interests of working families is supporting a lawsuit against the City to stop a project that would directly benefit the working families of King City.”

Currently, there is only one other grocery store in town – a competitor to Grocery Outlet whose workers are represented by UFCW Local 5.  Local union members were not allowed to vote on the issue before litigation was filed.   According to Steve Adams, the City Manager for King City, “Attraction of stores and more shopping opportunities was identified as one of the top priorities in a recent citywide community survey.  If given a say in this lawsuit, we feel confident that local union members would not want their union dues used to stand in the way of the City’s efforts to address what we know are important community needs.”

The case name is Working Families of Monterey County versus the City of King.  The City is asking the community and local members to urge UFCW Local 5 to stop supporting the litigation, and to allow local members of the union the option to vote on such issues in the future before litigation is filed in their community.  An open letter from the City Council to UFCW Local 5 regarding this matter is attached.  If you would like to comment on the lawsuit, send your comments to the UFCW Local 5 Salinas Office c/o the office manager at  831-208-5324 or yacosta@ufcw5.org.

Questions can be directed to City Hall at 831-385-3281.

Original source can be found here.