Strikers From Bed Factory Picket Outside Furniture Store

Striking workers from a Los Angeles water bed factory protested what they called poverty-level wages on Saturday by picketing a Van Nuys store that has sold the factory’s merchandise.

About 16 workers, most of whom were earning about $4.25 an hour before they walked off their jobs at the Far West Frame Co. last month, waved placards in front of the Concepts in Comfort store to protest Far West’s refusal to give them a raise of 90 cents an hour.

A spokesman for the International Ladies’ Garment Workers Union, which is representing the workers, said they will continue to picket the store until its owner signs a letter vowing not to order or sell Far West’s water bed frames.

Letter Refused

“We don’t feel we’re making any unrealistic demands,” said Antonio Orea, manager of the union’s Southwest District Council. “They just want enough money to pay for the rent or get on the bus.”

Far West officials could not be reached for comment.

A salesman at Concepts in Comfort said the store owner has agreed not to sell Far West goods but is unwilling to provide the union with a letter of support.

“We’re neutral,” salesman Chris Stone said. “We don’t want to takes sides. We just want to sell water beds.”

The picketing Saturday was one of more than half a dozen organized by the union over the last month at various water bed stores around Southern California that sell Far West merchandise, Orea said. He added that the wage dispute was prompted by the increase this summer in the state minimum wage from $3.35 to $4.25 an hour.

“Before, they were 90 cents above the minimum wage,” Orea said. “Now, we’re asking that they stay 90 cents above.”