Los Angeles grocery workers speak on strike vote

[demosincebirth]

By Dan Conway
22 August 2011

On Friday and Saturday, southern California members of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) voted overwhelmingly for the second time in five months to authorize strike action against the three largest regional supermarket chains, Ralphs, Albertsons and Vons.

The vote, which took place at various locations throughout Southern California, was carried by 90 percent, well above the two thirds majority requirement for strike authorization. Workers were told that a second strike authorization was necessary, as the proposed agreement, which includes sharp cuts in benefits, had changed slightly since April.

The supermarket conglomerates have already made ample preparations for a strike. Albertsons and Vons have announced that they are taking applications for temporary workers. At the same time, the supermarket chains know that they can rely on the UFCW to contain and isolate any strike action, as was done in 2003.

Reporters from the World Socialist Web Site distributed copies of a statement opposing the demands of the company. The statement calls for the formation of rank-and-file committees independent of the unions to fight against the attack, and the building of a socialist movement of the entire working class. (See “The way forward for California grocery workers“)

Workers participating in a vote in Burbank, California on Saturday expressed enormous anger and frustration with the supermarket chains and the UFCW alike.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2011/aug2011/groc-a22.shtml




I wonder how many rank and filers voted the last time they had a chance to toss them bums out?