Many shoppers hesitant to cross the picket line in front of
Ralphs supermarket have a limited number of alternative stores in
the Westwood area at which to buy their groceries.
But to the surprise of several market-goers, the choices could
be even more limited than they first thought.
Two of the closest alternatives to the chain supermarket ““
Whole Foods Market on Gayley Avenue and Trader Joe’s on Pico
Boulevard ““ do not employ unionized workers and are not
alternatives supported by the United Food and Commercial Workers
union.
Members of UFCW Local 1442 decided to strike late Saturday when
negotiations over health benefits and wages for new hires broke
down.
UFCW has published a list of over a dozen markets that do have
unionized employees, including Food 4 Less and Pioneer Super
Market. Both stores are located on Sunset Boulevard.
Edmond Steven, a spokesman for the UFCW, said the union
“absolutely” hopes that all customers are referred only
to unionized stores.
Steven added that employers were educated about which stores
were unionized before they went on strike.
But strikers that have been lining Le Conte Avenue throughout
the week have been referring potential customers anywhere other
than Ralphs.
In the middle of several mass-produced signs that request that
shoppers not cross picket lines, a few hand-written signs stand
out.
“Shop at Whole Foods,” states a sign held up by
Ralphs courtesy clerk Jennifer Mantell, 33.
Mantell said she is aware that both Whole Foods and Trader
Joe’s are nonunion markets but said there are not many other
convenient alternatives.
Shoppers wanted to know which stores are closest, Mantell
said.
Other employees on strike said a list of unionized markets was
distributed, but the bottom line was that they did not want
shoppers entering Ralphs.
Students who support unionized labor said they were put in an
unfortunate position with the lack of grocery store options.
“It puts me in an awkward situation … but I am kind of
stuck on food for the moment,” said third-year biology
student Owen Phillips as he searched the Whole Foods aisles for
grocery items.
He added that he respected unions but would have no
transportation to shop at any store that was farther than walking
distance from campus.
Many shoppers, however, had no qualms about shopping in a
nonunionized store.
Raquel Arias, a third-year psychology student and Whole Foods
regular, said she would continue to shop at the market until she
heard about an instance of worker mistreatment.
Many employees at Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s said they
were happy with the treatment they had received and would not
prefer being unionized.
Ella Vong, a third-year psychology student and an employee of
Whole Foods in Brentwood, said many of her coworkers had no
complaints about the salaries or benefits they receive. Vong
““ a part-time employee who receives $9 per hour ““ said
she would not join a union.
Steven said both stores are on UCFW’s “screen”
of stores to organize.
For a chain to become unionized, a majority of the chain’s
workers must express interest, and the union would proceed to
negotiate a contract.