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.

[agarrett]

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

  I must say that I haven't. I shop regularly at Alberston's, and the strikers there are always quite polite. Oh, they make sure I see their signs, and will always make a polite comment - usually "Have a nice day," so they're sure I see them, but that's the limit.

  My wife honors the strike, and since she does the majority of our shopping, that puts us in as "mostly" honoring it. Still, when I have gone there a few times since the strike started, and she has gone with me once. The strikers were always well behaved.

  I have also not heard of anyone in my area (San Dimas) having any problems with them.

Drew Garrett

[Houmatt]

This is baloney. And another reason to hate labor unions.

1) Picketers should not be blocking entrances, exits or otherwise restricting the movement of those who wish to patronize the store. Police officers who see this and tolerate it should be properly disciplined.

2) These fools out on the picket line need to be reminded they are making nothing while they are out there. Who is giving them money? The unions? I doubt that.

3) Too bad this is not going on in Texas. At least then the store mangers could terminate the striking employees and hire permanent replacements.

[onyx]

The replacement workers are so much nicer than the union workers.

Good to know Von's is well stocked.

[South40]

The stock at Ralph's is low because many people shop there to avoid the picket lines. Try shopping at Albertson's or Vons. Less people equals more food in stock.

[John Lenin]

I'm not risking going to jail over those idiots, knowing myself like I do I would not hesitate to give them a piece of my mind if they got smart with me. Walking out of the store with three full bags is my way of giving them all the bird.

[battousai]

In this supposed jobless economy, why don't they just fire the lot of them and hire fresh blood, but I guess there's some union/labour law against this though?

[onyx]

I'll tell him. He does the grocery shopping. I am spoiled.

[ErnBatavia]

Night shift ping!

[ProtectorOfTwo]

"I've witnessed picketers harassing the elderly. Now they're attacking little girls.
I must say that I haven't. I shop regularly at Alberston's, and the strikers there are always quite polite. Oh, they make sure I see their signs, and will always make a polite comment - usually "Have a nice day," so they're sure I see them, but that's the limit.

My wife honors the strike, and since she does the majority of our shopping, that puts us in as "mostly" honoring it. Still, when I have gone there a few times since the strike started, and she has gone with me once. The strikers were always well behaved.

I have also not heard of anyone in my area (San Dimas) having any problems with them.

Drew Garrett"

Hey fellow San Dimas resident!
I usually shop at Ralphs on Arrow just to pass the line! Where is there an Albertson's closer than Glendora? Thanks.

[South40]

I'm not risking going to jail over those idiots

Neither am I.

At 6'8", I have a rather obvious advantage...so they're rude, but not bold enough to start anything physical. AAlso...the smart ones know that once the strike is over they'll be seeing the same customers in the store as they see crossing the lines now. Problem is...many of them aren't that smart.

[bboop]

OK, I do not go into the striking stores because I feel intimidated. There is always a big pile of picketers there. I didn't go there often anyway, but I do NOT support the strike. And more and more I feel like that. I hear that Management is trying to break the unions, and I say, "Good riddance to them," frankly. And now that the Screen Actors Guild has joined, I REALLY hate them. Meanwhile, they could be working....

[South40]

I'll tell him. He does the grocery shopping. I am spoiled.

Cool! I'll tell my wife she's spoiled because I do all the grocery shopping. :-)

[thrcanbonly1]

What I have been told, from a friend who works at Albertson's, is the her insurance costs are going from $12 amonth to $42 amonth for full family coverage. I told her she should be paying them for letting her work there if that is all she has to pay for medical insurance.

[scarface367]

That's correct. What I was referring to was the union's medical coverage. I heard something on the radio this morning about the coverage ending at the end of the year. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to hear more on it.

[Mrs.Liberty]

Normally I go to the Commissary at 32nd Street, but the past couple weeks have purposely crossed picket lines. It pisses me off to see the groups of them walking in front of the doorway, slowly...trying to block the way. I just walk right through them, but I am secretly hoping one will say something to me.

[Hot Tabasco]

The union opposes efforts by the three chains to have their employees help pay for rising medical benefits.

Gee, too bad these boneards don't work for my company. Just got the new benefit info which increases my monthly premiums to $69.00 (single person coverage), $35 office visit co-pay, $10 - $20 drug copay plus only %90 coverage on all medical costs up to $500 my out of pocket. Then it's %100. Plus, any employee hired after 1/1/04 will not be provided healcare benefits following retirement!

Oh, forgot to mention, the union has no premium share, only a $4 and $6 drug copay and office visits aren't covered charges.......

At least I've got coverage and I ain't bitchin' bout it! I'm only pissed off at the fact that the union is not willing to handle their fair share!

Here's some facts about my company, a tier one supplier to the Big 3:

Total Active employees: Approx. 12,000

Total insured employees/retirees: Approx. 20,000

Total health care cost to our corp. for 2002: $82 million dollars!

As time goes by, the number of covered retirees will be increasing while the actively employed will be diminishing. This is becomming a real problem for my company and probably many other companies as well.....

[thrcanbonly1]

She told me they were changing insurance carriers at the end of the year, but I didn't ask if it was union insurance or not. as a matter of fact all this info relayed to me without my asking so I was not inclined to listen very closely

[yankeedame]

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.

This doesn't mean that by year's end they'll lose their medical coverage --period. Chances are it means that by year's end they'll lose their current health care plan/coverage,and be enrolled in a new plan/coverage 01/01/04.

Remember, there's a difference between the truth and the whole truth.

[Choose Ye This Day]

One of these guys though he'd take a swing at my daughter's sifu.

Really? What did he do?

"Focus, Grasshopper, and watch as I show you how to jam a union thug's picket sign in his duodenum. When you can perform this blindfolded, you have mastered The Way."

[It's me]

They make $250 a week... IF they picket for 40 hours a week

---

Actually, some of the "curtesy clerks" are making more money from the union during the strike. They only worked part time before and those who can picket for 40 hours are getting the same pay as the ones who are the checkers!