[BJungNan]

The several Vons around here in Ventura certainly weren't deserted the past few days, and looked fairly busy. I shop there more often now, to show that I support the stores and not the strikers.

I generally don't like strikes but in this instance I find myself very supportive of the grocery workers. This is not a case where they are asking for gobs more money or benefits. They are just trying to hold on to what they have.

On the other hand, very large companies have bought up several chains and instead of bringing us lower prices as a result and as they should have, the prices are some of the highest in the country. The companies complain they can not compete with Wallmart but I bet if you look at the corporate structure of the two companies you are going to find some very big differences not all explained away by workers salaries. It aint the workers getting the difference.

There is something different about this strike. I say, do not cross the line. These are not greedy people out on the picket line. The greed (or incompetence) is on the other side of the bargaining table.

[daviddennis]

I'm not that supportive of the grocery workers because health costs genuinely have gone up much faster than management's ability to pay them. We had a similar crisis at our company, and it resulted in us getting much worse health benefits and having to pay for them. I know it hurt my boss (the owner of the company) to do this because we're a family-owned enterprise where management generall wants to do the best by their people.

That being said, there is an interesting side effect of the grocery consolidation. Grocery prices have increased to the point that the upscale Gelson's market, with better products and far better service, is price-competitive with the mainstream markets most weeks. It used to be that it cost about 10% more to shop at Gelson's. Now it's about the same.

I think a lot of the people who are shopping at Gelson's because they don't want to cross the pickets won't bother returning to Ralph's. This is the real danger of the strike to the major markets.

D

[Moonmad27]

If they are "holding on to what they have", they'd better face reality. Everyone else whose workplace provides insurance is having to pay an increased amount for their portion of the health care costs, why shouldn't the grocer workers? The strikers lost me when they shouted at me as I walked inside, and another time a worker followed me out to my car to lecture me on why I shouldn't give money to the big boss of Vons. Not a way to win friends and influence people! When the strike is over and if these people are allowed back in to work, which I hope they aren't and are replaced, I will not thank the clerk when taking my receipt, but will thank the manager who stayed on the job during the strike and kept the store going.