| 3 February 2004 SGV Community/Labor Alliance Notes Groups represented: San Gabriel Valley Neighbors for Peace & Justice; picketers from Albertson's Montebello; Whittier Neighbors for Peace & Justice; Global Women's Strike; Alhambra Democratic Club ANNOUNCEMENTS (mark your calendars): Saturday, Feb. 7, 9:30 AM: Meet at Alvaro's to leaflet around Albertson's (Montebello). For info, call Alvaro at 626-289-3573. Tuesday, Feb. 10, 7:00 PM: Next SGVCLA Meeting in Monterey Park Civic Center gym, on McPherrin off Newmark. For more info, call Alvaro at 626-289-3573. Saturday, March 13: Fundraiser at Bob McCloskey's; proceeds to be split between Local 770 and San Gabriel Valley Neighbors for Peace and Justice. Leaflet to come. UPDATES: Rumours: Picketers reported rumour that Governor S is going to step in to get parties into arbitration. Alvaro (SGVNPJ) made point that if govt/state steps in, they will profess neutrality but will, in fact, be pro-big-business. If they step in, it will because strike is having effect. Also rumour that since locked-out workers likely to get unemployment (due to some locked-out workers having been hired back under false IDs), Albertson's and Ralph's may open doors to minimize ir unemployment liability; picketers think good because they can go back to work and still continue to support Vons and Pavilions pickets. If Albertson's and Ralph's lose lawsuit and have to pay unemployment to locked out workers, less likely they will share profits with Safeway. Problems: Union inconsistent in dealing with workers who ask for emergency aid. Different ppl are being given different information. One Albertson's picketer asked for help and told they couldn't give her an appointment until March 8. Another women came to her appointment with all the documents she was told to bring, and only then was told she also had to bring bank statement. Nina (Alhambra Democratic Club) called AFL-CIO Community Liaison Carlos Leon, during this mtg; he said ppl having problems should call Armando Espinosa, at Local 770; he is head person in charge of distributing relief funds. Strike captain from Albertson's said she will try to solve problem for women who was put off til March 8; if she is not successful, SGVCLA will try to do something. Strike captain from Albertson's Montebello predicted that if strike goes on past Feb. 12 (which is when quarter ends) it will be another quarter before anything good could conceivably happen. [Note: I have no idea what this means. Alvaro, when you review these notes, could you explain? - SA] Paramedics from Monterey Park crossed Albertson's (Montebello) picket line; Nina will call Ken Leisure (of Firefighters Union) to report this. REPORTS: Thursday Rally @ Von's on Valley Blvd: Turnout wasn't great and only media was someone from Chinese Daily News, who spoke to striking brother of Alhambra City Councilman Efren Moreno. Low turnout attributed to fact that market was adopted by a community group (ppl from CSULA) not by a union; UFCW only sends support to rallies that are organized by other unions. It was noted that 90% of ppl who crossed picket lines at Vons on Valley were Chinese, often non-English-speaking. In SGV, circulation of Chinese Daily News, which covered rally, is second only to LA Times (La Opinion is third). ATA adopted another market and got lots of press to a rally, but the picketers didn't know that store had been adopted, so didn't turn out for the rally. Alvaro observed that UFCW leadership isn't bringing community support groups together; adopt-a-market program keeps community support groups isolated and divided. Nina to propose that Alhambra Democratic Club work with Albertson's in Alhambra. Saturday, Jan 31 Rally in Inglewood: Demonstration was enormous. Media reported 12,000 ppl; Alvaro estimates 20,000. Police presence intimidating; some were up on top of buildings. Police helicopters drowned out the speeches. Media coverage good; all local stations reported to have aired newsclips, but definitely Channels 2 and 7. Richard reported that a new bill before LA City Council would make illegal for protesters to carry signs with sticks or to wear masks. Now that unions are taking up grocery strike fight on national scale, they are planning protests, pickets, and boycotts to hurt companies on the East Coast. Maybe some kind of demonstration on Wall Street. DISCUSSION OF NATIONAL STRIKE VS. NATIONAL BOYCOTT: Some ppl (e.g., Joel from UTLA) calling for a national strike, as opposed to boycott. Boycotts take too long to have effect (e.g., INFACT boycott of GE took 5 years). Why are workers continuing to work and make money for Safeway, Ralph's and Albertson's? When Alvaro asked about this at Silverlake community forum, UFCW's John Grant talked about restrictions (meaning that some unions have clauses in their contracts prohibiting sympathy strikes. But historically, when you win a strike, you can demand that any lawsuits against you for violating prohibitions can be dropped. Plus a national strike is only way to put sufficient pressure on the companies. Kind of help now being offered by other unions is too little, too late. Scott (Whittier NPJ) said So Cal strike is just one battle in an all-out war; we have to be willing to go for broke. Alvaro proposed that strikers talk with other strikers; get together to put pressure on the union for a national strike; get everyone with a UFCW contract to walk out NOW. |