Thirty-thousand workers from four major grocery chains in Washington State could be on the picket line Monday after a disagrement with management over health plans, Fox News reported today.
Safeway, Fred Meyer, QFC, and Albertson’s say they will offer health insurance only to employees working more than 30 hours a week, which is required by Obamacare. Under the current contract, workers are covered if they work at least 16 hours a week, but the companies say that costs have risen because of a new tax on their “Cadillac” medical plans in Obamacare. The United Food and Commercial Workers maintains that the move is simply a cash grab.
These grocers aren’t the only major businesses that have cut health benefits; Home Depot and Trader Joe’s have recently cut health coverage for part-time workers.