por el equipo de El Reportero
As one of the busiest grocery shopping weeks of the year approached, El Super workers across Southern California intensified their call for a fair contract, holding a large rally on Tuesday, November 25, outside an El Super store in Los Angeles. The demonstration came amid rising concerns over immigration raids in public spaces and ongoing labor negotiations that workers say have stalled for months.
Employees, supported by community leaders and immigrant-rights advocates, urged Chedraui USA—the parent company of El Super—to agree to a contract that includes living wages, safer working conditions, and clear immigration protections for workers and customers. With Thanksgiving sales surging, workers said the need for economic stability and safety inside stores has never been more urgent.
Negotiations between the company and approximately 700 unionized employees represented by United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) locals have been ongoing since April, when the previous collective bargaining agreement expired. Since then, workers say the company has rejected almost every major proposal, including requests for guaranteed protocols in the event of an immigration enforcement operation. Workers note that similar protections were included in recent agreements between other large grocery chains and their unionized workforces.
“With the wages El Super pays us, my coworkers and I struggle to put food on our own tables. Especially at Thanksgiving,” said Araceli Pinedo, a cashier at a South Los Angeles store. Pinedo explained she supports a family of four and was forced to take a second job after her hours were cut. “I stretch every dollar, use coupons, and even go to the park for free vegetables just to supplement what I can buy.”
Other workers echoed the sentiment, saying the company’s wage proposals fall far short of what is needed to survive in today’s Southern California economy. El Super’s most recent offer, union representatives say, includes hourly raises ranging from just 1 to 22 cents. Workers argue that this structure would allow wages to stagnate even as California’s minimum wage continues to increase—leaving long-time employees earning barely above the legal minimum.
“For seven months, we have been fighting for a contract that pays a living wage and protects our community,” said employee Fermin Rodríguez. He emphasized that the absence of immigration protections leaves both workers and customers vulnerable. “We want the company to establish clear security protocols for how to proceed during an immigration raid, so families feel safe to shop in the store; restrict immigration agents’ access to non-public areas; and put these protocols in our contract so they are guaranteed rights, not just empty promises.”
Concerns over immigration enforcement were shared by local leaders who joined the rally. Giovanni García, chair of the Voices Neighborhood Council, urged the company to recognize the needs of its predominantly Latino workforce. “I ask El Super to respect your workers and give them the family-sustaining wages that they deserve, and commit to including immigration protections as part of their contract agreement,” Garcia said.
Jose Ugarte, deputy chief of staff for Los Angeles City Councilmember Curren Price, said the company’s refusal to adopt basic protections threatens the wellbeing of the entire community. “Our Latino community’s economic power is immense,” Ugarte noted, adding that residents and elected leaders would continue supporting workers in their push for a contract that guarantees dignity, stability, and safety.
Workers are also seeking improvements to staffing levels, injury prevention measures, and more predictable schedules—issues they say affect both employee wellbeing and customer service. Many stores, the union argues, operate with inadequate staffing, leading to longer lines and heavier burdens on employees.
El Super is part of Chedraui USA, a subsidiary of Grupo Comercial Chedraui, Mexico’s third-largest supermarket operator. The company runs 383 stores across the United States under various brands, including Fiesta Mart, Smart & Final, and El Super, serving predominantly Latino communities in five states.
As negotiations continue, workers say they will maintain pressure through public actions and community outreach. With the holiday season underway, they hope the company will reconsider its position and work toward an agreement that reflects the economic realities faced by thousands of working families. – With reports.
