Grocery strike on the horizon?

The organized labor group that represents workers in Southern California grocery stores has asked its members to reject a contract proposal put forward by grocery store management. If members reject the contract, grocery workers at Ralphs and Vons would join workers at Albertsons who voted to authorize a general strike in March. The Los Angeles Times has a complete story. In 2003 and 2004, workers at the grocers went on strike for several months. Albertsons, Vons, and Ralphs stores in Santa Clarita were impacted as striking workers and fellow Santa Clarita residents picketed in front of the entrance to each store. Though people still shopped at these chain grocery stores, the grocers lost an estimated $1.5 billion in revenue due to the strike. Anecdotally, shopping at alternative grocers such as Trader Joes increased during and after the strike. Since then, two other alternative grocers have been built in Santa Clarita: Whole Foods Market in Valencia and Vallarta Market in Newhall. Both grocers are full-service and offer American as well as ethnic foods. So if another general strike happens, where will you and your family shop? My wife has always shopped at Trader Joes, preferring their quirky nature and variety of products, but during the last strike, I dodged upset workers and continued to shop at Ralphs and Albertson's near my house. No one else carried my favorite frozen pizza, you see. Thoughts?

Post Script/Technical Note: Please don't use the word "union" in your response. Due to a technical flaw in the website's software, using that word will automatically block your post, sending you back to the homepage. If that happens, just press your browser's back button.

Comments (2)

mikeJune 22 at 10:25 AM PT

Someone will need to explain this to me if this happens again, but I never understood why, during a strike, I should shop and stores where the workers aren't organized at all. As for the workers, I say best of luck to them. A lot of people have made a career out of working at the grocery store and they have every reason to fight for a decent wage. Though I'm not crazy about mainstream supermarkets, I do value the competency of the workforce. That doesn't come from being organized per se, but it does come from paying and treating employees well. Whole Foods and Costco workers aren't organized, but they are well paid. They care about their job, are generally competent and tend to stick around for a while. However, if the grocery workers aren't able to stick together (is this not using the U word some kind of trick, Jeff?) I'm afraid that the stores would more likely follow the Wal Mart model. Say what you will about Wal Mart, but nobody can tell me that their employees are more competent, knowledgeable or helpful than those at a Costco or Trader Joe's or Ralphs. So I'm sort of torn... what is a cashier's time worth? It seems like they are overpaid but there is something to be said for someone who was been doing their job for 10 or 20 years.

MorningstarrJune 25 at 1:28 PM PT

I will probably go about my business the same as last time. I feel for these people, but I also understand the business pressures that these companies face when Wal mart doesn't face the same pressures. Instead I'll just keep avoiding walmart.

mikeJune 22 at 10:25 AM PT
Someone will need to explain this to me if this happens again, but I never understood why, during a strike, I should shop and stores where the workers aren't organized at all. As for the workers, I say best of luck to them. A lot of people have made a career out of working at the grocery store and they have every reason to fight for a decent wage. Though I'm not crazy about mainstream supermarkets, I do value the competency of the workforce. That doesn't come from being organized per se, but it does come from paying and treating employees well. Whole Foods and Costco workers aren't organized, but they are well paid. They care about their job, are generally competent and tend to stick around for a while. However, if the grocery workers aren't able to stick together (is this not using the U word some kind of trick, Jeff?) I'm afraid that the stores would more likely follow the Wal Mart model. Say what you will about Wal Mart, but nobody can tell me that their employees are more competent, knowledgeable or helpful than those at a Costco or Trader Joe's or Ralphs. So I'm sort of torn... what is a cashier's time worth? It seems like they are overpaid but there is something to be said for someone who was been doing their job for 10 or 20 years.
MorningstarrJune 25 at 1:28 PM PT
I will probably go about my business the same as last time. I feel for these people, but I also understand the business pressures that these companies face when Wal mart doesn't face the same pressures. Instead I'll just keep avoiding walmart.