031153 Grocery Store Picketers Grow More Vocal

Santa Maria, CA - Chanting rally cries, close to 100 people marched in front of the Orcutt Albertson's Friday to show solidarity for the ongoing grocery worker strike.

"We are the workers, mighty, mighty workers," they cried out in unison. "Trying to pay our taxes, now they want to ax us." In a move to boost the ongoing labor dispute, the picket lines outside the Orcutt Albertson's Friday are infused with more strikers, along with family and friends.

The caravan of workers, retirees and labor supporters also marched at the two Vons stores and the Alberston's store in Santa Maria, waving signs reading "Locked-out" and "Stop Corporate Greed."

Today the workers will demonstrate at stores in Morro Bay and Los Osos, said Joe Pierre, union representative for the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1036.

"We're struggling right now. We're in a bind," said Anna Galindo, a locked-out Arroyo Grande Albertsons bakery manager who marched in the Orcutt rally. Her husband Paul is also locked-out from his job as a meat clerk at Albertson's in Orcutt.

The Galindos have been picketing 30 hours a week on opposite shifts so they can take care of their four children, ages 4 to 12, Anna Galindo said.

But the $225 they each receive per week in strike benefits is not enough, she said, and the family is going into debt without their regular pay. They were denied cash aid and are waiting to learn if they'll receive food stamps.

"The kids are kind of worried. They're stressed out," she said.

Only a few shoppers crossed the picket lines during the rally.

"I feel the public support of the strike is really key," said Lynn Swenson, a Teamsters representative showing support for the UFCW workers. "That puts pressure on the companies to go the table."

Local grocery store managers were hesitant to say much about the atmosphere at their stores or the strike.

"It's been all right here," said Dave Lees, assistant manager of the Orcutt store.

Workers angry over proposed changes to benefits and wages first struck Vons supermarket stores Oct. 11, and were then locked out at Ralphs and Albertson's.

A federal mediator brought both sides together two weeks ago for the first time since the strike/lockout began on Oct. 11, but there have been no indications a compromise is near. Talks were scheduled to resume over the weekend.

The grocery stores have asked that employees pay a part of their insurance premiums, $5 for individuals, $10 to $15 for families. The union says that members would also pay more in deductibles and co-payments for visits to doctors.

The supermarket also proposes freezing wages and creating a two-tier system with a lower wage-and- benefits package for new hires.

The strike has affected approximately 70,000 workers and nearly 860 stores from San Luis Obispo to San Diego.

Source: Santa Maria Times

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