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Southern California Grocery Workers--When Unions Prosper, America Prospers
By Linda Doran
Recently, I went to a Ralph’s grocery store after avoiding the company because of its treatment of striking workers three years ago. I returned only because union organizers speaking at a Democracy for America meeting in Pasadena said they needed the public’s support.
It was a fairly unremarkable experience—so unremarkable that it would seem no labor dispute existed at all. The Ralph’s on Lake and Walnut in Pasadena looked pretty much the same as it always has. I asked a couple of employees about the possibility of a strike. They didn’t seem particularly concerned, though one woman did say that she would support the union (United Food and Commercial Workers) in whatever it decided.
On the way out, I approached the store manager and mentioned, in a very friendly way, that this was the first time I had been to Ralph’s in a while and that I hoped the company would treat its workers right this time. He agreed completely.
Maybe it’s part of the American condition to act like everything is fine. There are no signs, no picketing workers, no walkouts or lockouts—not yet. Based on appearances, it’s easy to imagine that Ralph’s, Von’s, and Albertson’s are all providing adequate health care and pay for employees. It’s easy to believe that there is no such thing as discriminatory pay levels for workers in Southern California vs. those in Northern California.
Of course, if that were the case, the union would not have needed to purchase a recent, large ad in the Los Angeles Times suggesting that the highly profitable grocery companies have the resources to provide better health care for workers.
One of the things I find perplexing is the perception among some people that the union gave up too easily. The strike lasted 4 ½ months! I wonder how many of us could go that long without pay and benefits. If anything, employees in Northern California, who held out longer, owe a debt of gratitude to employees in Southern California for accepting lower pay and benefits. After removing Southern California from the equation, Kroger Co. (which owns Ralph’s), Safeway (which owns Von’s), and Albertson’s could still reduce employment costs, increase their profits, and dilute the bargaining power of the union.
Ralphs’s in particular engaged in the egregious tactic, for which the company was fined $70 million in 2006, of rehiring locked-out union workers using fake social security numbers and names. A judge ruled that the company had been committed to gaining an unfair tactical advantage over employees and unions and had eroded public confidence in collective bargaining. I’m guessing the company views $70 million as a bargain.
In America today, middle-income and low-income families are being hammered by the skyrocketing costs of health care, housing, and transportation as well as the personal and family strain of longer work weeks and greater isolation. Instead of demanding with one voice that the standard of living be raised for everyone, we tend to complain about how, for example, county government employees have better health benefits than employees in the private sector, as though they should have to suffer more. Meanwhile, CEO’s walk away with ludicrous compensation packages and wealth continues to become more concentrated among a tiny percentage of families.
Unions are not kidding when they say they’re the folks who brought us the weekend. Along with safer working conditions, elimination of child labor, better pay and health care, and a host of other benefits. When unions prosper, America prospers.
I truly hope that this time, Ralph’s gets it right. If not, I hope that more of us will simply take our business elsewhere, to stores that provide fair pay and health care for workers.
Linda Doran is a member of the California Democratic Party State Central Committee and the Northeast Democratic Club of Los Angeles. This article originally appeared in the "Northeast Democrat", and is reprinted with her permission.
Comments
Linda,
Very good article. I agree that we have a tendency to act as if everything is okay but I don't think the tendency is an American phenomenon. I read an article recently about what life was like in the republics of the former Soviet Union right before they broke away. A woman who lived there said the average person didn't have a clue that anything was happening. She said the masses lived their lives like everything was okay up until maybe 2 weeks before the wall came down!!
Amazing.
Posted by: Sharon Kyle at June 17, 2007 08:01 AM
Linda,
I have read your article and I am amazed at how you are looking at this!
How can American companies afford to pay what the union feels is their right to have? Healthcare is not a right that is to be paid for by their employer, healthcare is a “shared responsibility in this wonderful country of ours”. Each one of us has a responsibility to share the cost! Please let’s look at the healthcare/insurance industry! Take a look at the profits that all the Insurance companies are making, take a look at every major city in this country, Take a look at who owns the tallest and most beautiful buildings, it’s “The Insurance Companies” Not the grocery stores, not the retail companies.
Please let’s place the blame where it belongs. Take a look at the profits for CIGNA, United Healthcare, Blue Cross, Blue Shield etc. They are the reason we can not afford healthcare! Isn’t it about time that people realized that the blame is with the Insurance Company, and not demanding that their company contributing 100% of the ever rising cost of their health insurance premium? Where in the USA does a company (other than a union) contribute 100% towards not only the worker, but the family’s health care benefit?
Talk to the Department of Managed Care, The Department of Insurance, and The Department of Corporations! Vote for the right representative who values their constituents and demand that healthcare be the top issue for congress to fix!
I used to shop a Ralph’s in Mission Viejo, until the staff their got so unwilling to work or help. I was in the store one day when they had only 2 checkers and 15 yes fifteen people in line. I as well as other customers requested another checker. The "lead" checker stated the staff is on their break.
I personally requested that she take a line and help us, she stated that we are not staffed for this and that I have to keep my eye on the two checkers. I was amazed at this and stated "I was very unhappy with the way she operated", she stated "take it up with my union steward that is what we went on strike for"!
I have never nor will I ever step foot in that particular Ralph's store. If this is what a union has stooped to! Let them ruin it for all of them. Pretty soon they will be as obsolete as the auto workers unions in the mid-west and we will be purchasing our food from foreign "non-unionized" owned companies! Let them beware…Tesco is coming! I rest my case!
Posted by: Allan R at June 20, 2007 06:08 PM
I'm willing to pay enough for groceries so that workers can have health benefits and I can be assured of safe, nutritious food. Naturally, I agree that we need unions. If the power were all on the side of big companies, things would never end up in balance. The little guys can balance the fat cats only by banding together. Sometimes I worry, though, that some unions are controlled by people who have become big guys, and have forgotten their original purpose. Power does strange things to people. I wish that human beings had enough courage to band together in smaller groups. It would be great if unions were smaller and more answerable to their members.
Posted by: Maura Larkins at June 20, 2007 08:32 PM
Linda,
I'm glad your thoughts could be posted for others to read. We need more people like you thinking about how their consumer choices affect their community.
As you know, our group, Pasadena DFA, has chosen to sponsor a store (Vons @ Washington and Allen in Pasadena). We'll be working with the UFCW rep for the store to see where we can help.
Our focus in the progressive community should always be on supporting the issues that make things better for all people. Support for unions is a vital part of that.
Best Regards,
Patrick Briggs,
Pasadena DFA Chapter Coordinator
Posted by: Patrick Briggs at June 21, 2007 05:33 PM
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