Grocery Clerks in California Go on Strike

[DUreader]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-3254884,00.html


By PAUL CHAVEZ

Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) - More than 70,000 grocery
clerks at three supermarket chains in Southern
California went on strike late Saturday after
negotiations between union representatives and
grocery store officials broke off.

Both sides failed to reach a compromise over
several key issues, including proposed changes by
the companies to the scope and cost of
employees' health care coverage.

Clerks at Kroger Co.'s Ralphs, Safeway Inc.'s Vons
and Albertsons grocery stores voted to reject the
last contract offer and authorized a Saturday
walkout, if an accord could not be reached.

Grocery workers began picketing outside Vons
stores Saturday night, said Greg Denier, a
spokesman for United Food and Commercial
Workers. The union has previously said they would
target one of the three supermarket chains and
asked the companies not to lock out workers
from the other two.

[blondeatlast]

1. Great! Now even longer lines at the "self" checkouts with no one to help!

Actually, I'm behind them 100%. Unions make all of us strong.

[Guaranteed]

4. Well yeah, me too but...

...recently I got really pissed at my ex-co-workers when they struck against the county over something really petty. I was just a seasonal worker, and didn't get any benefits (or even a vote on the strike) anyway, but nevertheless had to strike with them to "show support" and avoid being beat up by the picketing fascists who hung out in the workplace parking lots. I lost three days' pay because of those bastards even though the whole thing had absolutely nothing to do with me.
The REALLY funny part was that my dad (who just retired) was the director of the county's health care department and was on the other side of the strike lines LOL (so we were both basically of the same opinion...I was just the one doing the striking).
Anyway, I'm totally for unions, but it pisses me off when people strike over petty stuff. Not that I have the first clue about why these clerks are striking.

[The Zanti Regent]

9. Add a Transit strike on top of that

The MTA, Los Angeles Bus Service will strike on Tuesday, too!

[joeybee12]

2. Will this be Ah-nuld's first test?

Will he have to get involved?

Watched a PBS program on nelson Riockerfeller last night--maybe Ah-nuld will take an Attica approach!

[realFedUp]

3. Are the other chains locking out workers?

anyone know? I guess we'll be avoiding all three
of those chains. Trader Joe's, here we come.

[FauxNewsBlues]

6. Here's where you can go.

Stater Brothers has settled. Trader Joes is fine.

From what I understand, management is trying to take away health care benefits in the new contract to make them more competitive. The workers are not amused.

They planned on just striking VONS, but the three chains decided to unite against the workers, and have locked out the workers from Albertsons and Ralphs as well.

I really hope we support the workers here California DU'ers. I live 3 blocks from Albertsons, 6 blocks from a Ralphs, 1 mile from a Vons, but I am going to drive 10 miles today to a Stater Brothers to do my grocery shopping.

[brook]

13. No crossing lines for me.

I haven't been in an Albertson's since they opened here. They hired high school kids as baggers -and then laid them all off at the end of the "Grand Opening Sale" - before they'd made enough to pay for their "required" clothing! Corporate whores! As for Von's and Ralph's, those clerks are my neighbors. I'm happy to make a 24 mile r/t to shop at TJ's.

The more erosion in Unions - the closer we get to Homeland Poverty, a BushCo enterprise.

[David__77]

15. Trader Joe's is non-union.

I do go there for some things I can't find at a union store, but I try to stick to the big ones because at least they pay an OK wage. I would try another union store if they're not all on strike. I'm in northern CA and there's no strike here.

[Shakespeare]

18. Trader Joe's isn't non-union per se....

Not as in anti-union, that is. They treat their employees so well that no union has ever been successful in organizing TJs workers (a few have tried). If I know a place pays its people well and gives them great benefits, union or not, I'll happily patronize them.

[nolabels]

7. My favorite one is still not on strike,

They cater to people with lower incomes and or more brains, them other ones have higher prices on most everything

http://www.ridgecrestca.com/articles/2003/08/22/news/local_news/news07.txt
(snip)
Stater Brothers was ranked number one in Southern California and number nine in America, according to Consumer Reports, September 2003 edition.

More than 25,000 readers were surveyed by Consumer Reports about their shopping experiences at 52 supermarket chains, specialty markets and warehouse club stores.

The chain's motto is "The low price leader in your hometown."
(snip)

If you don't cross the picket line to shop at the ones on strike, you will help everybody, including the brainless management

[Mountainman]

16. Alnbertson's has looked out the union

[AP]

5. Notice the downward pressure on wages? Soon your 12 year old will be

sewing soccer balls for Europeans.

[nolabels]

8. This strike is mostly because of the PIRATES in the Health Care industry

Freaking prices for HMO or other medical coverage is going through the roof along with workmans comp insurance. Thanks to many crooks and politicians

[ConcernedCanuk]

11. Gotta give some Credit to the PIRATES in the WH too, eh ???

. . .

[nolabels]

14. You mean like this?

http://www.accuracy.org/2003/


Responses to Bush's 2003 "State of the Union" Address
(snip)
Instead, we must work toward a system in which all Americans have a good insurance policy, choose their own doctors, and seniors and low-income Americans receive the help they need.

Zuckerman argues that Bush is omitting a huge problem: "State cuts in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Programs. Medicaid provides health care for the poorest Americans and CHIP provides health insurance for children whose families earn too much to be eligible for Medicaid but not enough to afford health insurance. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation study, 49 states have planned or implemented Medicaid cuts in FY 2003, and 32 states are already on their second round of cuts. In order to reduce deficits, states are eliminating health care for some of the poor adults and children who used to be eligible for Medicaid, requiring patients to pay higher co-payments, or reducing the reimbursements made to doctors, hospitals, or nursing homes that care for the needy. When payments to doctors or hospitals are reduced, it becomes even harder for patients to find doctors or hospitals that will treat them. When payments to nursing homes are reduced, the quality of care is harmed, and very vulnerable elderly patients will die."

Instead of bureaucrats and trial lawyers and HMOs, we must put doctors and nurses and patients back in charge of American medicine.

Ida Hellander, executive director of Physicians for a National Health Program: "Bush says that we do not want a national health program that 'rations care' and instead want one where they can 'choose their doctors,' but a national health insurance would allow people their free choice of doctors which is currently very constricted by insurance plans. Of course, we currently have rationing by ability to pay -- with 42 million uninsured, and medical bills the most frequent cause of bankruptcy after loss of job. We already pay more in health care taxes than any other country in the world except Switzerland -- this year health care costs will exceed $6,000 per person. With our level of spending we could have the best heath care in the world -- for all -- if we eliminated the insurance middleman. The cost of paperwork exceeds $300 billion a year - at least half of which could be saved with a simplified national health program."
(snip)

[ConcernedCanuk]

17. "with 42 million uninsured" - A medical disaster waiting to happen !

. . Like those people WON'T be getting regular check-ups, and wait 'till the symptoms drive them to a free clinic (if ther's one in their neighborhood)

Like, up here in CanukVille, we don't have a WarMachine - but EVERYONE get's free Healthcare, and if you're on Welfare or Mother's allowance, the Government pays for ALL your prescription Drugs

AND, Our "king" IS elected

[2cents]

10. To break a Union is every republican's dream

My guess is Roid-boy will see this as a Reagan moment.

[ConcernedCanuk]

12. Awww- I jus think they don't like the new Dolla's

[Piperay]

19. I will not cross the picket lines...

I have a Ralphs across the street from me, I know all the workers and if for no other reason I would be ashamed to have them see me go in and not be supportive of them. Of course even if I didn't know them I still wouldn't cross a picket line because I support the unions. I have Vons near by too and also Albertson but I will drive a few more miles to go to Trader Joes and even further (about an hour further) to go to the only Stater Bros. in my area. I also know of a Hows (a small chain, no involved)that I can go to.

[Gore1FL]

20. Already on Strike in St. Louis, MO

I drove by a picket linme and gave thema bag of Candy sunday morning. It sucks to have to buy groceries at Walgreens.