Workers Greet Deal With Relief Despite Uncertainty
For the people who have been without jobs for nearly five months, it was too soon Thursday night to pass judgment on the merits of their union's tentative agreement with the supermarkets where they used to work.
They were relieved, anyway. "We're happy," said George Lopez, a 19-year-old grocery bagger walking a picket line outside a Pavilions store on Melrose Avenue. "We've been here in the cold and the rain."
Like much of the information gleaned by union members during the strike and lockout that began Oct. 11, the fact that a proposed contract had been roughed out after 16 days of negotiations spread by word of mouth.
Many pickets said they got the news when reporters showed up with questions about the deal.
Some in a group of strikers huddled in the parking lot at the Pavilions said they were hesitant to get too excited before hearing from leaders of the United Food and Commercial Workers union.
"Rumors have been going crazy since Monday," said Rafael Antonio, 35, who said he charged about $8,000 in living expenses on his credit card during the strike.
At the Vons on Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica -- site of a campaign stop earlier in the day by Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts -- Jennifer Palacios said that until she had a chance to actually read the proposed contract, "I can't get too excited."
Then the 35-year-old onetime deli manager added: "I'm positive. I'm hopeful. I'm looking forward to going back to work."
A statement issued late Thursday by seven UFCW locals in the strike and lockout said the agreement "preserves affordable healthcare, maintains pensions and achieves job security."
The statement said union officials wouldn't disclose any details until union members had voted on the proposed contract this weekend.
The supermarket companies -- Albertsons Inc., Kroger Co., parent of Ralphs, and Safeway Inc., which owns Pavilions and Vons -- had no immediate comment but representatives for the three chains said they were preparing a statement.
As for many of the shoppers who have been honoring picket lines at Albertsons, Ralphs, Pavilions and Vons stores, they were in high spirits, too.
Ian Gomez, visiting a Ralphs store in central Los Angeles, predicted there would be an immediate benefit: more on the store shelves.
"It's like the old Soviet Union in there," he said. "I'd have to go all over town just for detergent."
- Complaint against grocer is dropped Apr 24, 2007
- Union says Albertsons violated labor law Mar 30, 2007
- Kroger Workers in 3 States Voting on Strike Oct 14, 2004
