Vons picketer arrested in La Mesa (hits 13 year-old girl with sign)

The San Diego Union Tribune ^ | December 5, 2003

[South40]

LA MESA – A picketer in front of a Vons store in La Mesa was arrested for allegedly hitting a teenage girl with a sign during a rally, police said today.

Several customers, including a wheelchair-bound elderly woman who called from inside the store at 8011 University Ave., complained that picketers were trying to keep them from leaving, said La Mesa police Lt. Bobby Barrett.

The elderly woman described the scene as a "riot," Barrett said.

Officers arriving at the store shortly after 5 p.m. yesterday saw picketers and customers involved in heated arguments and attempted to maintain peace between them, Barrett said.

And during the melee an officer was approached by a 13-year-old girl, who said she was hit twice on the head with a picket sign, Barrett said. Beverly Anne Longdon, 52, of El Cajon, was arrested after the officer consulted with the girl's parent, he said.

A union leader at the store said the gathering, estimated at 250 people, was a labor rally, Barrett said. The union leader helped police move the picketers away from the entry, he said.

Longdon was charged with battery and given a citation to appear in El Cajon Superior Court Jan. 27, Barrett said.

The work stoppage began on Oct. 11 when 21,000 Vons workers went on strike. In response, Ralphs Grocery Co. and Albertsons Inc. locked out 49,000 other workers.

The strike and lockout have affected 859 grocery stores from the Mexican Border to Bishop.

Rising health care costs are at the heart of the dispute. The union opposes efforts by the three chains to have their employees help pay for rising medical benefits. It also rejects what it says is a proposed "two-tier" system of pay for veterans and new hires.

[South40]

I've witnessed picketers harassing the elderly. Now they're attacking little girls.

The longer this strike goes on the more incidents such as these will occur and the more their public support will erode.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

There are few people that I dislike more than sorry ass union thugs.

[Hildy]

I actually shop at that Vons. I truly am beginning to detest the picketers.

[Poohbah]

LA MESA – A picketer in front of a Vons store in La Mesa was arrested for allegedly hitting a teenage girl with a sign during a rally, police said today.

Wow. Big hero.

One of these guys though he'd take a swing at my daughter's sifu. Swift move. NOT!

[hotpotato]

I think the public support for the strikers is due to ignorance. The public has been persuaded that the stores want to do away with health care for the employees completely. They need to do a better job at letting the public know what the true story is about this strike.

As for me, the strike has caused me to change my grocery shopping habits. I used to shop almost exclusively at Trader Joes and now I am shopping primarily at any one of the big three hit by the strikers. Got to be tough to be sitting on a picket line with Christmas approaching. I'm not sure what the strikers make while they aren't working but I don't think it's full wage.

[mylife]

We are always pointing to the left and saying what is your solution? Then we have a good laugh because they are devoid of ideas.
Well it seems we may have been premature in our assesment of them.
They have found the solution to rising health care costs: slapp around some little girls!

:^(

[ambrose]

They make $250 a week... IF they picket for 40 hours a week. I had originally thought to shop at the Big 3 in "solidarity" with management, but I have since decided to stick to my normal shopping patterns (95% at Trader Joes).

[farmfriend]

bttt

[Onelifetogive]

I've witnessed picketers harassing the elderly. Now they're attacking little girls.

OK...now I'm starting to lose my respect for unions...LOL...

[scarface367]

I have also heard, and don't quote me if its incorrect, that they will lose their medical coverage they have at the end of the year.

[John Lenin]

These morons are getting out of control. I avoid eye contact with these people because I know they are looking to start something, you can see it in their eyes as you approach the doors.

[Kay Soze]

Lucky

They just hit the lotto!

They own the Union coffers now!

[international american]

A 70 year old friend of mine got harassed in front of a Vons in Ventura. He told them he would kick their a$$e$ if they got one inch closer. The irony is he could have done it! I am sick of these whiners who get paid a professional wage for "plinking" a scanner. Long live Sam's Club!

[South40]

I thought of pinging you on this; I'm glad you saw it.

I detest the picketers too. At some point they've got to realize (as common sense dictates) that they are losing in this fiasco more than anyone else.

So what's the store to do? When the strike is over, are they required to keep this woman in their employ even though she was arrested for attacking a customer? Suppose they keep her...should the customer avoid shopping there in the future as to avoid contact with the woman who assaulter her? I say a firing's in order.

[international american]

"They make $250 a week"

They make 13 an hour plus overtime and holidays. Closer to 500 wk for unskilled labor. Plus benefits and retirement 700 wk!!

[onyx]

Outrageous. Thugs. A huge lawsuit is in the making.

My husband shopped at Ralph's yesterday and said the stock was low.

Think the strike will end before Christmas? I do not want the stores to settle with this union.

[Joe Hadenuf]

The elderly woman described the scene as a "riot," Barrett said.

Officers arriving at the store shortly after 5 p.m. yesterday saw picketers and customers involved in heated arguments

A riot or an agrument? Which is it?

LOL!

[South40]

I do the same thing. I used to shop at Ralph's. The day it was announced the picketers would be pulling off Ralph's I went in just to cross the line one more time. As I did, I got into a conversation a female checker I know and she said they were all going over to the Albertson's up the road. So I now shop at Albertson's just so I can cross the line. It's myu way of saying I don't support their strike.

[merry10]

i just passed the pickets and got my stuff at von's. they had everything, and the checkers and box boys/girls go out of their way to find me stuff.

[South40]

I avoid eye contact with these people because I know they are looking to start something, you can see it in their eyes as you approach the doors.

If I said I was looking for a confrontation I'd be lying. But put it this way; I make eye contact every chance I get. I'm also willing to start a discussion so as to let them know how I feel. They need to know just how many people don't support their silly strike and crossing the line, in their minds, is a necessity not a statement. Telling them I don't support their strike is.