| 6 January 2004 SGV Community Labor Alliance Meeting Notes ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTED: Picketers from Albertson's (Montebello) and Von's (Alhambra), Monterey Park Democratic Club, San Gabriel Valley Neighbors for Peace & Justice, Global Women's Strike, Whittier Neighbors for Peace & Justice CALENDAR OF UPCOMING STRIKE EVENTS: Saturday, Jan. 10, 9:30 am - Leafletters to meet at Alvaro's,107 E. First St., Apt. E,, in Alhambra Thursday, Jan 15, 7 pm: Community Forum on Strike at 1511 Micheltorena (corner of Sunset Blvd.) in Silverlake, Features UFCW attorney John Grant. Organized by Silverlake Neighbors for Peace & Justice. Tuesday, Jan. 20, 7 pm: Next mtg of San Gabriel Valley Community Labor Alliance in gym (on McPherrin St off Newmark) in Monterey Park Civic Center. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Alvaro Maldonado at 626-289-3573 STRIKE UPDATES: Picketers reported that some Ralph's workers went back to work, undercover, for Ralph's and were told to use fraudulent social security nos. Also some scab former workers were hired back by Ralph's under false -social security nos. Because Ralph's and Albertson's have hired some locked-out workers back, this makes so-called "lock-out" a "selective lay-off" and all locked-out Ralph's and Albertson's workers may be eligible for unemployment. Atty General Lockyer appears to be dragging his feet on anti-trust issue, regarding Ralph's sharing of revenues with Von's & Albertson's after union pulled pickets from Ralph's; possibly trying to play both sides, since he may be looking for higher office. Companies rejected last offer from union, which was to pay $30 a week plus co-payments and deductibles towards health benefits. Union offered $380 million in concessions over 3 yrs. This offer amounted to a $2,000-a-year pay cut per employee. Union reps have been telling strikers to hang on till mid-Jan. At 90-day mark, any temporary helpers that supermarkets lay off will qualify for unemployment. Safeway CEO Steve Burd's contract is up on Jan. 15; shareholders will vote on whether to renew. Stock price up slightly but hasn't moved much. Union has been encouraging workers to apply for food stamps, but picketers don't know anyone who has applied and gotten food stamps; strike pay has been too high for them to qualify. Workers at Von's distribution centers were told by their local to go back to work, but refused and won't stop picketing. Teamsters won't get health benefits if they are out; they won't cross picket lines at distribution centers but are upset with them. Both Von's distribution centers (El Monte and Santa Fe Springs) are totally scab operations because pickets are keeping Teamsters out, About 15-20 community ppl, including ANSWER militants, were ready to stop the trucks at distribution centers, but strike captain told them not to, because pickets would get an injunction. Union summit meeting was supposed to lead to informational picketing at markets across the country, but this isn't happening and picketers can't find out what union is planning to do about that. Other unions nationally have come up with emergency financial aid; picketers (esp. single parents) can get money for house and car payments and can reapply each month. $$ doesn't have to be repaid. Union reps are telling everyone to ask for what they need; they shouldn't go without, because the $$ is there. Box ppl and courtesy clerks now getting $100/wk to picket 4 hours/day, 5 days/wk.; cashiers are getting $125/wk. Some picketers have medical benefits thru Jan., but medical benefits for some expired in Dec., however, they can get expenses paid from emergency fund. Von's and Albertson's picketers reported that customer support still strong; the ppl who cross the lines are the same ppl every day. Some of the picketers have stopping coming to the lines because of strike pay cuts, but others are still showing up even tho' they've gotten other jobs. Store director at Von's in Montebello lost control and punched out a picketer; police were called.Supermarkets are out for blood, but are losing much more than they had calculated, due to customers' refusal to cross picket lines. But markets still banking that they will get two-tier system and caps on benefits. Nobody, not even the reps, knows what the union is planning. Some women picketers are circulating petitions, want to know why they are being kept in the dark; have a lawyer and want to meet with union leaders. Tensions on the picket lines, Ppl who call the union "war room" get conflicting information. FOOD-RAISER AND DONATIONS: SGV Neighbors food-raiser party very successful. Food collected went to Von's (Alhambra) picketers, who were thrilled, esp. the guys who got diapers for their kids ("That's my baby's size!"). Money collected went to Albertson's (Montebello) pickets and was supplemented by a donation of about $25 from Global Women's Strike. DISCUSSION AND PROPOSALS: Irv (from Monterey Park Democratic Club) asked whether union leadership has contacted KCET to try to get coverage on Life & Times. If so, and if KCET has refused to cover strike, we could picket KCET. Alvaro (from SGV Neighbors) said union has missed the boat by not calling community organizations together, organizing regional conferences on how we can support and build the strike. Picketers proposed bringing signs to Jan 15 forum telling union what they want. Also discussed putting signs in front of union hall saying what they want, but felt that going public with their concerns would bolster the supermarkets and that flooding the union with phone calls and e-mails (e,g,, will there be informational pickets all over California?) would be better way to put pressure on union leaders. Felt that Jan. 15 forum would provide good oppty for strike captains and other strikers to network and talk about what they want to do. Susan (from Global Women's Strike) reported on proposals (1) that vigil groups temporarily move vigils to picket lines and (2) that neighborhood vigils observe MLK day with candlelight vigils at supermarkets. Ppl felt it would be mistake for vigils to give up consistency and risk losing their locations; also, not all strikers support the anti-war message of the vigils. Also, the days proposed for the MLK vigils conflict with the Silverlake Community Forum (Jan. 15) and the SGV Neighbors vigil (Jan.16). |