Leaders of the grocery workers union in Southern California called on thousands of its members to walk off their jobs late Saturday, launching the region's first supermarket strike in 25 years.
The order came after a day of jangled nerves and intense but ultimately fruitless efforts by union and supermarket negotiators to avert a strike. Despite the intervention of a federal mediator, negotiators called it quits Saturday night after nine hours of talks at an Anaheim hotel, with the two sides still far apart on issues of health benefits and wages for new hires.
"We gave it every effort possible," said Greg Conger, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 134 in Orange County.
Picket lines were set up at some Vons and Pavilions stores from the Mexican border to Mono County, from the coast east to the Nevada and Arizona state lines.
Albertsons and Ralphs markets, which are covered by the same master contract, had said they would lock out their union workers in a show of solidarity.
"Right now, we're open and we're serving customers," Terry O'Neil, a spokesman at Ralphs, said after the union announced the strike. He said that it was a "definite possibility" that Ralphs management would lock out union workers.
In all, 859 Vons, Ralphs, Pavilions and Albertsons supermarkets and about 70,000 union workers at those stores would be affected by the strike. It's "horrible," said Sal Paiz, a two-year Vons employee near downtown Los Angeles. "But what can you do?" added the 53-year-old Silver Lake resident. "You have to strike. They want to take away our benefits."
The three chains that own those markets ? Safeway Inc., which runs Vons and Pavilions; Kroger Co., which owns Ralphs; and Albertson's Inc. ? said they would operate normally by staffing stores with managers, temporary replacement workers and employees brought in from other locations. But at least one 24-hour store, a Vons at 3rd Street and Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles, shut down abruptly at 10 p.m.
"Excuse me shoppers, we will be closing in five minutes," the store's assistant manager announced as dumbstruck shoppers prepared to head out.
Both sides have been preparing for a potential strike for weeks and in recent days have appealed for public support.
Some customers said Saturday that they were stocking up on goods. Barbara Thunderface, 34, of Echo Park said she did not want to cross picket lines and planned to shop at smaller markets.
"I've gotten to know some of the employees here," said Thunderface, who was shopping at the Vons on 3rd and Vermont. "I know they're nervous about how they're going to make ends meet."
Last week, Southern California labor councils threw their support behind the UFCW, telling members who work in the stores ? from Teamster delivery drivers to refrigeration engineers ? not to cross picket lines.
Gelson's and Stater Bros., which are covered by the same contract, signed interim agreements with the union and will not be picketed. Food-4-Less, which is also union, operates under a separate contract.
The dispute centers on health and pension benefits. Negotiators for the UFCW want to maintain the premier medical plans and pensions that distinguish the union and were won through decades of strikes and hard bargaining.
The three grocery chains have said that low-cost competition from club stores and nonunion markets have changed the operating climate and are forcing them to lower labor costs. Wall Street analysts have urged the three companies to wring concessions out of their unions.
Rick Icaza, president of UFCW Local 770 in Los Angeles, said that during the negotiations Saturday, the union offered ways to reduce health-care costs but that they were not taken seriously by the chains.
"It's very disappointing," he said. "For 25 years we've had a win-win relationship, then they come in with these draconian proposals. I believe they really wanted a strike. It's basic corporate greed."
The supermarkets have said their offer is fair given the current economy. Spokespersons would not immediately comment on the breakdown in negotiations or the strike.
The Southern California strike, the first since workers walked off the job for five days 25 years ago, could presage a wave of similar actions across the country.
UFCW members are on strike against other supermarket chains in St. Louis and could soon walk out of stores in Wisconsin and West Virginia, said UFCW International spokesman Greg Denier. At least eight other grocery contracts have expired or will expire by the end of this month.
With 1.4 million members, the union is among the largest in the country. Looking ahead to difficult negotiations, the UFCW launched a national supermarket strike fund a year ago. Locals have been building their own funds and warning members to prepare for a strike by paying off bills and saving money. Members will receive strike benefits ranging from $200 to $300 a week for walking picket lines.
Members voted overwhelmingly to sanction the strike, by 97%, in balloting held last week. They expected the action to start Saturday morning. As the day progressed with no word, workers became increasingly anxious.
"This is stressing me out so much," said Victoria Chavez, a bakery clerk at a Vons in Burbank. "My stomach hurts and I can't get rid of my headache."
Chavez said she and other employees in her store were asked repeatedly to resign from the union and cross the picket line, but said she refused.
Richard Y. Chan, a union agent in the Glendale area, said workers at the stores he represents were anxious and frustrated by the delay.
"They're upset that we haven't pulled them yet," he said. "They've been ready for three days and they want to get on with it."
Supermarket clerks earn up to $17.90 an hour and can earn double or triple pay on Sundays and holidays. Even part-time workers pay no premiums for family health insurance and have low co-payments for doctor visits.
The union said that it was willing to accept some concessions but that the proposed cuts were too extreme. Union leaders also said the threat of competition from Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Costco Wholesale Corp. and other discount retailers entering the grocery business had been overblown.