Strikers leave posts at Ralphs

Darleene Barrientos

Shoppers at a local Ralphs had mixed feelings Friday about a decision

by union leaders to redirect picketers to target Vons, Pavilions and

Albertsons stores.

The United Food and Commercial Workers Union on Friday morning

announced the decision to withdraw the picket lines from Ralphs

stores three weeks after 70,000 striking and locked-out supermarket

workers began their stand against the big chains’ decision to raise

health-care rates.

The union hoped the strategy would result in increased business at

Ralphs and, in turn, weaken the stance of the other corporations,

according to news reports.

Later that day, Jose Gomez was one of the shoppers who went to the

Ralphs at 211 N. Glendale Ave. and emerged with a cartful of

groceries.

“I tried to stay away to support [the strikers], but I could only

do that for so long,” Gomez, 39, said. “I’m going to keep coming

back.”

Inside the supermarket, empty aisles were beginning to fill up

with shoppers, and replacement workers were busy bagging groceries.

“It seems like [the strikers] should be here, since all the

markets are unionized,” said shopper Derik Bowley, 22.

As 51-year-old Susan Morrison hurried through the sliding glass

doors, she said she was happy picketers were elsewhere.

“I don’t like crossing picket lines, but you can only hold off

from visiting one of these big markets for so long,” she said.

Olivene Clavon, 60, said she was at Ralphs just to pick up a

particular kind of bread and usually shopped at another independent

store.

“I’m not into the unions, period. They just take up a lot of time

and money,” Clavon said. “I thought the whole thing was ridiculous

anyway.”