Dozens of grocery workers rally at Marina Pacifica Ralphs
The demonstration comes ahead of a potential strike that could affect Albertsons, Pavilions, Ralphs and Vons stores across the Southland, including 13 in the Long Beach area.
Customers at the Ralphs grocery store at Marina Pacifica were greeted Friday by horns and other noise makers that accompanied chants from workers.
Dozens of unionized workers gathered outside the store for a rally demanding Kroger, the parent company of Ralphs, and Albertsons, which also owns Vons, offer a fair contract amid contentious contract negotiations.
“We’ve been bargaining for five months now and we’re fed up with these corporations’ union-busting tactics designed to intimidate workers and prevent them from getting the fair contract that they have earned and deserve,” Andrea Zinder, president of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 324, said during the rally, adding that employees are “overworked, disrespected and undervalued while grocery companies do everything they can to make executives and Wall Street investors rich.”
Though three bargaining sessions are scheduled for next week, a strike could begin at any time, according to union officials.
One woman, who declined to give their name, confronted union representative Syed Karim outside the store, calling the demonstration "obnoxious."
After the confrontation, the woman told the Watchdog that "everyone who patronizes this store is offended by this. It's not the right way to protest."
On June 11, the union announced its 45,000 members voted “overwhelmingly” to authorize an unfair labor practice strike. The union claims the companies have broke labor laws with unlawful surveillance, interrogation of members at actions, making threats and retaliation for union activity.
Locally, the strike could affect up to 13 stores, including four locations in Lakewood and 9 in Long Beach, according to union spokesperson Jenna Thompson. The stores include:
- Albertsons at 101 E. Willow St., Long Beach
- Albertsons at 5015 Del Amo Blvd., Lakewood
- Ralphs at 5951 Del Amo Blvd., Lakewood
- Ralphs at 6290 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach
- Ralphs at 1930 N. Lakewood Blvd., Long Beach
- Ralphs at 2250 E. Carson St., Long Beach
- Ralphs at 2930 E. Fourth St., Long Beach
- Vons at 4226 Woodruff Ave., Lakewood
- Vons at 5500 Woodruff Ave., Lakewood
- Vons at 3900 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach
- Vons at 600 E. Broadway, Long Beach
- Vons at 1820 Ximeno Ave., Long Beach
- Vons at 5949 E. Spring St., Long Beach
Shemika Pecot, a Vons employee of 24 years who currently works at the traffic circle location, said the store is constantly short staffed, which is a safety concern in addition to impacting the quality of customer service workers can provide.
In a report released last month called “Bullies at the Table: Consequences of Understaffing by Kroger and Albertsons,” 70% of grocery store workers in three states reported product languishing in backrooms because there are not enough workers to stock the shelves. Two-thirds of those surveyed said work is “often or always left uncompleted.”
Despite being short staffed, Pecot said workers’ hours are constantly cut, which has forced her to take on a second job.
“We at least want to be respected and appreciated,” Pecot said. “ You show us that you respect us and appreciate our hard work by making sure we’re also taken care of. We take care of your company, take care of us.”
In a June 12 statement, Kroger said it would continue bargaining because “the best outcomes are achieved at the table, not through disruption. Our current offer reflects that commitment, including market leading wage increases for associates over the life of the agreement, and continued investment in industry-leading healthcare and a pension. These are benefits that many non-union competitors do not offer.”
Albertsons, which is also the parent company of Pavilions and Vons, issued a similar statement:
“We respect the rights of workers to engage in collective bargaining and remain committed to negotiating in good faith to reach an agreement that is fair to our employees, good for our customers and allows our company to remain competitive,” Albertsons said.
Workers note that the companies bring in large profits each year, which should translate to improved working conditions and quality of life for employees. According to Macrotrends, Kroger is projecting $2.665 billion in profits this year, a more than 23% increase from last year. Similarly, Albertsons has seen profits increase over the years, reaching nearly $1.3 billion last year.
“It’s degrading,” Steven Manzanares, who has worked for Ralphs for 39 years, said of the struggles faced by workers while the companies thrive. “We’re the ones making them the profit and they can’t give a little bit. They get their bonuses. It’s disheartening.”
Manzanares currently works at the Lakewood location in the receiving department. He recalled the large-scale strike in 2003 and 2004, and the challenges it presented for workers.
“A lot of people lost a lot of stuff,” he said, adding that if workers move forward with a strike in the coming weeks it will be more targeted, affecting select stores for an undetermined period.
Manzanares, who is on the bargaining committee, said the offers being made by the grocery giants regarding wages and pensions are “heartbreaking,” but that the corporations aren’t budging.
“It’s not fair,” he said. “We deserve better. We’re not asking for the world. We’re just asking for the cost of living to try to get us by.”
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