IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT JOHN T. NICCOLLAI TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2026

ACME CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS 

President John T. Niccollai reported today that the Union contract committee and the ACME Markets contract committee met today after the negotiations had previously broken down over the issue of co-pay healthcare. As you will recall, the company had taken the position that members must co-pay medical costs since that is what is happening in contracts across the entire country.  During the break in negotiations, the Union professionals and the ACME professionals carefully analyzed the projected increase in costs in healthcare over the next several years, along with projected employer contributions and the expected growth of our welfare fund reserves. It is the Union’s position that there is no financial need for members to co-pay medical costs.  What other companies and unions are doing should not have an effect on us if, in fact, there is no financial need for member co-pay. The Union committee carefully explained that the facts favor our position and we are headed for big problems, including a possible work stoppage, unless this issue is resolved. The company indicated they will once again talk to their professionals concerning the issue of member co-pay for healthcare.

We also discussed the other two areas yet unresolved; namely, wages and pension funding.  

In the area of wages, we stressed the fact that increases must be significant since we are experiencing inordinate inflation in the areas of food costs, rent, insurance, utilities and living costs in general.

Regarding pension benefits, we expressed our concerns as to the inability of social security to provide us a retirement with a sense of dignity unless it is supplemented. We must rely more on our own Union pension program and less on a shaky social security system.

Another negotiating session is scheduled for Tuesday, February 17th with ACME Markets.  In the interim, we ask that all members raise their voices to the company letting them know we are committed to a contract that has no medical co-pay, substantial raises and a pension that will provide us dignity in our retirement. Your powerful voices will help assure us of a contract that meets our needs and is worthy of ratification. 

Thank you.