Local Grocery Workers in Brainerd Prepare for Christmas Strike Amidst Labor Dispute
The United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 663 announced its ongoing preparations for a Christmas-time strike at several Brainerd area grocery stores. The union cited repeated violations of workers’ rights during contract negotiations as the reason for the planned four-day strike from December 22 to 25 at five stores, including Miner’s Super One Foods in Baxter, Miner’s Super One Foods in Crosby, Quisberg’s Cub Foods in Baxter, Quisberg’s Cub Foods in Brainerd, and Quisberg’s Pequot Lakes SuperValu.
In response to alleged unfair labor practices, Local 663 filed charges against Quisberg’s and Miner’s, accusing them of interrogation, surveillance, intimidation, and bargaining in bad faith. Boyd Hanson, director of human resources at Miner’s, stated that the employers viewed the strike as an economic dispute related to wages and benefits, not unfair labor practices.
A YouTube video released by Local 663 on December 19 featured workers expressing their concerns directly to Chris Quisberg, president of S & R Quisberg Inc., Cub Foods. Molly Cosert, front-end manager at Quisberg’s Baxter Cub Foods, emphasized the pride essential workers took in their roles during the pandemic but stressed the need for fair compensation. She mentioned that the strike was a way to demonstrate the essential nature of their work to the community.
Cosert, who has 25 years with the company, stated that workers have been requesting raises for over two years. She expressed a desire to return to the bargaining table, highlighting that the negotiations were not significantly apart.
Quisberg responded that discussions were ongoing among lawyers and acknowledged the consideration of new meetings. Since the strike announcement, UFCW Local 663 reported additional charges against Quisberg’s and Miner’s for unfair labor practices.
In a news release, Cosert reiterated the sentiments from the YouTube video, expressing disappointment that instead of celebrating Christmas with family, they were preparing for a strike to showcase their essential role.
Both Miner’s and Quisberg’s grocery stores plan to remain open during the strike, albeit with reduced hours. Store hours on December 22 are 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., on December 23 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Christmas Eve from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. The union members at Cub Foods, SuperValu, and Super One Foods have been working without a collective bargaining agreement since December 3
