This report, prepared by the UC Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education for the United Food and Commercial Workers, examines wage and health benefit restructuring in California's grocery industry. The report's main findings are that the restructuring has led to a decline in the number of unionized grocery workers and an increase in the use of non-union workers, which has resulted in lower wages and reduced access to health benefits for these workers. The report also finds that the restructuring has had negative impacts on public costs, including increased use of public assistance programs by affected workers. The report concludes by discussing policy implications of the restructuring, including the need for stronger labor protections and greater investment in public health care programs.
