Union Would Support Grocery Strike

The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor will join a regional union effort to walk picket lines, attend rallies and provide funds for striking employees if grocery workers decide to go on strike, the CFL announced Wednesday.

"Today in Los Angeles, we pledge $100,000 to start the Grocery Workers' Hardship Fund should these workers be forced to strike," said Maria Elena Durazo, executive secretary-treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor. "This fund will grow as needed. We are prepared to do whatever it takes to support these grocery workers."

Negotiations between the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 770 and grocery stores Albertsons, Ralphs and Vons have continued since the union voted in April to authorize a strike. The workers' contract expired in March.

According to the companies' websites, Albertsons and Vons each have three locations in Redondo Beach, while there is only one Ralphs grocery store in the city.

The three grocery stores issued a statement Tuesday calling talk of a strike "unnecessary" because of the ongoing negotiations.

The main issue appears to be the stores' request that employees contribute to health-care costs. The stores called their health care plan "reasonable."

"Although the proposal makes some changes to the current health and welfare plan, employees would pay as little as $9 a week for coverage; receive coverage if they work just 16 hours per week, depending on their job; and have access to an excellent health care plan that allows them to receive comprehensive coverage for themselves and their families," the statement said.

City News Service reported that the most recent contract was ratified in 2007 after more than six months of negotiations. A 141-day strike and lockout in 2003 and 2004 wiped out the savings of most workers and cost the chains an estimated $1.5 billion.

City News Service contributed to this report.