Posted on 10/22/2003 4:46:16 AM PDT by Snerfling
Nine days after grocery clerks across Southern California went on strike, third-year Japanese student Irene Chen crossed their picket line for the first time to buy some fruit at the Westwood Ralphs on Tuesday. "We tried to avoid it, but we just needed some fruit," Chen said, as she handed a bagged papaya to her visiting boyfriend.
Chen said alternative stores such as Whole Foods Market did not have the variety of fruit she wanted for reasonable enough prices. With no end in sight for talks between the United Food and Commercial Workers union and the major supermarket chains, many shoppers' previous determination to honor employee picket lines is beginning to wane.
Clerks at Kroger Co.'s Ralphs, Safeway Inc.'s Vons and Albertson's grocery stores went on strike Oct. 11 after negotiations concerning health care and wages for new hires broke down. Mike Quiñones, the store director of the Westwood Ralphs, said he has noticed business picking up during the past two to three days.
Quiñones said he "guesses" that it is an indication of shoppers no longer honoring picket lines. Many strikers said they noticed an increase in the number of shoppers from last week and expect the amount to continue increasing the longer the strike progresses.
"Next week everybody's going to say 'forget it,'" said striking produce employee Emanuel Jahonsan, 30. However, Jahonsan said he realizes he has no control over where shoppers choose to go.
"It's their prerogative. ... I'm not going to force anyone (not to enter)," he said. "Anyone who has morals and feels something for us will honor the picket lines." But many shoppers said their hunger outweighed their desire to honor the strike.
"I stayed away for a week, but I need to eat," said local resident and computer programmer Gary Huynh, 30. "I will try to stay away until I need food," he said. Temporary workers said they have become increasingly accustomed to their jobs. They, too, have notice the rising amount of customers lately.
Juan Rios, who currently works in the produce department, said he began noticing an increase in shoppers about two days ago. Other Ralphs regulars who never honored picket lines because they felt shopping elsewhere was too inconvenient said they have noticed an increase in traffic through the market's large sliding doors.
Michael Chou, a fourth-year Asian American studies student, agreed more customers have been entering lately than when the strike first started. Union officials remain optimistic, however, because business is still lower now than it was before the strike began.
To increase public awareness about the union's gripe with the stores' managements, members of UFCW will continue to be out on the picket lines "hammering home" their message, officials said. The union is also depending on the media to help get its message out.
While the negotiations remain deadlocked, frustration persists on both sides of the picket line. "It pisses you off (when people cross the lines)," said Ralphs deli worker Cecilio Vansen, 24. "It's kind of saying people don't care."
Union officials have said the purpose of the strike was to impose a financial penalty and that they hope it starts hurting the companies soon.
To make matters worse, SoCal has been having a Santa Ana like heatwave, complete with brush fires and smog. Seeing the pathetic strikers huddled together in whatever shade they can find is really a sorry sight.
If just one of them would take a trip to the local Home Depot/WalMart, they would quickly grasp the future of retail and stop their ridiculous self-torture.
Gee, so young and already learning the facts of life. [/sarcasm]
I'll bet you that his kind stays away from the gas station until they need gas, as well.
Probably stays away from the dentist unless he needs tooth work.
And doesn't go to the bank unless he has financial needs...
These people are *-SO-* predictable...
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