SoCal DUers, are you staying away from the striking grocery stores?

[tico]

I am. I live right down the street from an Albertson's and I walked further down last night to a Food 4 Less. I never really do a lot of shopping at Albertson's anyway so me not going there isn't a problem. Well, there is one problem. Albertson's sells Krispy Kreme donuts. I probably need to lay off of them anyway.

[thecorrector]

1. California shoppers

Support your union. do not cross picket lines.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

2. Hell no! I am running some refreshments over to the strikers ths evening

:D They are the clerks who take great care of me the rest of the year.

[rbnyc]

11. Hey!!

How great bumping into you in the Lounge!

:loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

[blondeatlast]

30. Yippee!!! Welcome back!

Tell 'em blondie says "Union? YES!"

:toast: Glad to see you again!

[Kenneth ken]

33. Hey Class Act

nice to see ya!

[tishaLA]

3. Yup. But I stay away from Food 4 Less too

because it's owned by the same company as Albertson's.

I've been going to Trader Joe's and Whole Foods, which is tough on my graduate school budget, but worth it for the employees.

[el_gato]

4. Whole Foods is notoriously anti-union

[Kathy in Cambridge]

12. I've Heard Whole Foods Treats Their Employees Pretty Well

I heard they pay above normal grocery stores and offer health insurance. Anyone know anything about this?

[tico]

5. Hmmm...

But the union workers recommended Food 4 Less as a place to shop. I don't have other options except for the new Target up the street. Understand that I don't own a car.

[rucky]

9. Food 4 Less is okay....Whole Foods is not so good.

The corporate ownership doesn't matter as much as each division's attitude toward the union contract. If fact, it would be beneficial to the union to support businesses who have working contracts - it shows corporate that working with the unions is a win-win situation, so I hope you reconsider Food4Less. If you take a quick visit to www.ufcw.org , you'll find a list of "approved" places to shop (F4Less is one of 'em).

Whole Foods, on the other hand, has a union-stifling corporate culture... also check out www.wholeworkersunite.org for more information.

[tishaLA]

14. OK I'll reconsider.

Thanks for the info.

[manderley]

6. Of course!!!

I do have to go a few extra miles out of my way but that's fine with me. I work at a hospital about three blocks from a Ralphs where almost everyone goes to during lunch on account of the fabulous deli. So I hope thet feel the impact since everyone I know at work is also keeping away.

[U2Fanatic]

7. yes

we have been going to stater bros even though it is crowded as hell. I also really need a job, but i refused to be a scab even though they pay a hell of a lot. I do understand though that some people HAVE to take that kind of a job because they have kids to feed.

[cepsi86]

29. Pay

Ralphs is paying $9.50 to the temp employees working the store right now. The usual start pay i think was 12.50 or 15.50. So in a way they are taking advantage of the scabs too.

[xxqqqzme]

8. My Dad

is a member of this Union and he will not shop at (and long ago asked us all not to) Food 4 Less. I thougtht they were non-union. Trader Joes, Mother's (natural food) & farmers' market 4 me. I am also eating out of my freezer. Good excuse to cook from scratch also.

[Mr. McD]

10. Stater Brothers and Costco are both Union stores.

[devilgrrl]

13. Yes. I usually shop at Trader Joe's anyway.

The only time I go to Ralph's or Von's is to get catfood, my cats hate Trader Joes catfood.

[ronnykmarshall]

16. Thanks for reminding me!

I gotta get cat food tonight. I go to a pet store. My cat is picky.



"I ain't eatin' that crap!!"

[devilgrrl]

18. I will say this...

Trader Joe's sells this dry food (I don't recall the name) that my cats love, it not their regular dry food and it's bit more expensive but they love it!

[ronnykmarshall]

19. Your kitties are so cute.

But that smirking one on the bottom looks like shit!

[devilgrrl]

21. well yeah...

the bottom one looks bad, that's what happens when one is possessed by Pazuzu. Look what happened to Linda Blair!

[ronnykmarshall]

23. Yikes!

She looks much better after having a nice brunch and bingo with me!

[devilgrrl]

25. Yes, she looks happier!

Weren't you the one who posted that she was "good people" awhile back? What a shame that she was given all these crappy parts - 'Sarah T', 'Born Innocent' - in those teen exploitation films from the 70's. You'd think John Waters would cast her in something.

edited for grammar... again :eyes:

[ronnykmarshall]

28. Probably was me.

I met her last summer. She's big animal rights advocate and has a great personality. Very warm and charming. John Waters films would be perfect for her.

[ronnykmarshall]

15. Trader Joe's

and I'm finding that I like them more that Pavillions.

But there are somethings that I can't get there. Strange that Sav-On is not on strike. Aren't they owned by Albertsons?

But I won't shop at the stores until the Union is back.

[shance]

17. Edit: Didnt know that about Whole Foods: guess that leaves TJ's

A couple of my conservative friends who claim they are anti-union (because it doesnt effect them of course) and one friend said the employees are asking for a 20% health care raise. Then they add that they should just go get a job somewhere else. There you have it. Everyone should just run out and find another job, because we all see how vibrant this economy is.

I think Safeway and the other corporate grocery chains are putting the squeeze on their employees and trying to get away with it, but Id like to know specifics so I can put my Repub buddies in their rightful little place.

:)

[Shakespeare]

20. I think it's very telling that BOTH strikes going on in LA...

...are centered on the issue of healthcare benefits. From what I understand, the employees are being asked to pony up a substantially larger share of their health insurance payments. That, to me, is yet another indicator that the insurance industry has run seriously amok.

And never forget...as the unions go, so goes the rest of us....we OWE them our support.

[SoCalDem]

22. I shopped at a family owned mexican grocery store yesterday

I may start going there.. great produce :)

So what if they can't speak english?? I can read the cash register total:)

[realFedUp]

24. don't forget about the farmer's markets too...

those farmer's markets that come into town once or twice
a week in different locations. That's a good alternative.
Smart & Final is ok I think...are they being picketed?

[flamingyouth]

26. I remember the big strike of '89 in Seattle

I lived next door to an Albertson's at the time, and I had to take the bus to the QFC at University Village to shop. It really sucked, but I don't cross picket lines as a rule. I hated having to go to QFC, but they were the only chain store not being struck back then. This was before they were sold to Fred Meyer, and then to the dreaded Kroger (who SUCK).

[Piperay]

27. You better believe I am...

I live across the street from Ralphs but I will not go over there until the strike ends. I go a couple of miles further to shop at HOWs (a small chain)or much much further on to Stater Bros.

[tinnyguy1777]

31. Its gratifying---------------------

to see so many people who honor unions. There may be hope for our country yet. I am a retired union sheet metal worker, and have been lucky to have worked for the union. It has provided a much better living, for my family, than if I had'nt belonged to a union. Too many jobs have been lost, because of corporate greed. Hang in there, union members.

[proud patriot]

32. I'm in Northern Cali

and I'm not going to them up here either .