Usually, grocery shoppers buy what they put into their
carts.
UCLA students participating in a support rally for the striking
employees at Ralphs on Wednesday night, however, did not.
Roughly 40 students entered the Westwood store separately at
about 6 p.m. Each one pushed a cart through the aisles until it was
filled to the brim.
The group came to support strikers in their protest for
healthcare benefits. The grocery clerks at Ralphs, Vons and
Albertsons supermarkets have been on strike for the last three
weeks.
No progress on talks between the United Food and Commercial
Workers union and the major supermarket chains have been made.
Many students grabbed items at random while others seemed
purposefully to select what would spoil quickly, such as frozen
goods and meats. Others made salads at the salad bar or ordered
sandwiches at the delicatessen.
Some students looked nervous and glanced furtively around the
store, not making eye-contact with fellow students. Others smiled
to themselves.
The semi-quiet atmosphere was shattered when the entire group
formed lines next to cash registers and collectively chanted
“shame on Ralphs.”
For the next half hour, students periodically spoke both as a
group and individually.
Students pointed out that people who chose to shop in this store
were taking money from people who needed that money to survive.
Ralphs store director Mike Quiñones, ignoring several
student attempts at conversation, agitatedly talked on his cell
phone.
Various students conversed with Ralphs shoppers, encouraging
them to shop elsewhere.
Some of the customers left. Others stayed in line to purchase
their groceries.
Ralphs employees watched with wide eyes as they continued to aid
remaining customers.
Rally participants continued to rhythmically chant various
phrases.
A shattering interrupted the commotion when a sizeable vase
smashed on the floor, causing Quiñones to phone the
police.
All participants collectively walked through Ralphs once,
chanting “shop somewhere else,” before exiting the
store, walking through the parking, and joining cheering strikers
on the sidewalk in front of the store.
One striker, touched, tearfully said the UCLA students were
exerting more effort than other Ralphs workers.
Together, students and strikers made sure to leave the sidewalk
clear to avoid provoking the police.
Many participants came to support Ralphs strikers due to
personal desires for universal healthcare. Others came because they
believe the Ralphs in Westwood should give back to those who bring
it so much profit.
“Why doesn’t Ralphs give a miniscule amount of its
profit back to the workers? It should,” said Jackie Yu, a
UCLA alumna.
Students plan to continue the rallies at Ralphs. They will meet
at the Kerckhoff steps at 4 p.m. every day next week.
Another rally is scheduled to occur Nov. 1 as well.
Students said that they will rally until the strike is over
because healthcare is everyone’s business.
Student participants said they identified with what the strikers
are going through at a time when their livelihood was being
threatened.