Over one hundred people shut down
Michillinda Street in Arcadia, Calif. at a rally in front of Von’s
regional headquarters on June 28. The short march and rally was in
response to the giant grocery chain’s recent proposal to raise
health care costs for its workers in new contract negotiations, as
well as continuing its corrupt practice of keeping most of its
employees as part time workers who can be laid off at any time.
The action was called by the grocery
workers’ union, the United Food and
Commercial Workers, and supported by the SEIU, UHW,
ILWU, Teamsters, community organizers, and the ANSWER Coalition among
others. The rally was one of three planned to call out the state’s
largest corporate grocery store chains for their refusal to provide
workers with adequate benefits and wages. Two others were held at
Ralph’s headquarters in Compton and Albertson’s headquarters in
Fullerton the same day.
Javier Ibarra, an
Albertson’s employee spoke out at the rally and told the crowd why
fighting the blatant attacks on workers’ rights was crucial in the
offensive against big business. Ibarra told Liberation, “CEOs are
getting paid million dollar bonuses and companies are making record
profits while there is no consideration for workers. People shouldn’t
be forced to make a decision between feeding their family and taking
their children to the doctor.” A college student and grocery store
worker also spoke and said that any raise to her already hefty health
insurance cost would force her out of her plan and make it impossible
for her to receive vital medical treatment.
After the speak
out, the group marched to the front of the headquarters, facing an
assault vehicle and substantial police presence. Protesters chanted
and agitated against corporate greed while demanding a fair contract
for all grocery workers. The successful march and rally conveyed a
message of unity and struggle to the bosses and to workers ready to
fight. Currently there is no specific strike date, but if the large
chains continue to shut out the grocery workers from fair
negotiations and deny them a fair contract, a strike will happen and
the battle to defend labor rights will take to the streets.
