Cardenas Joins Grocery Workers Union Rally in Sherman Oaks

"Ralphs wants welfare, we want health care!" That was the shouted battle cry from a crowd of about 100 people in support of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union as they marched in front of the Ralphs Market at 14444 Burbank Blvd. in Sherman Oaks on Wednesday morning.

It was the first public demonstration by the grocery workers union and their supporters since the union contract with Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons expired six months ago.

Negotiations between the union and the three major supermarkets have stalled over the issues of wages and employee contributions to their health insurance.

Before the march began, the group, which included elected officials, labor leaders and supermarket workers, was addressed in the parking lot by a clergyman, Pastor Richard Zanotti of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish in Sun Valley.

Speaking in support of the workers, Zanotti told the crowd, "God is on our side. He wants to see justice in this dispute over wages and health care."

There are two Ralph's locations in North Hollywood.

Los Angeles City Councilman Tony Cardenas, who represents part of North Hollywood, and Councilman Richard Alarcon offered encouragement to the group. Both said they had worked as box boys and clerks in supermarkets as teenagers growing up in Los Angeles.

"If they don't improve health care benefits, we will be back here again demonstrating," Alarcon said.

Carole Hamman, a service deli employee at Ralphs Market in North Hills, claimed that health care benefits are the major issue for her family.

"My husband takes five different heart medications every day. Under the health care benefit reduction the company is offering, I would have to spend more than 50 percent of my pay just on his medication," she said.

"Why are they asking to cut our health care benefits? They are making enough profits to give us a better offer," Hamman said.

April Stine, who said she has worked at Albertsons in Reseda for the past 22 years, said she has never been able to get a full-time job.

"You have to work 17 consecutive weeks to become a full-time employee, and they never let me do that, even though I have wanted to. So for 22 years, I've been part time," she said.

"Let's go talk to Ralphs," said someone in the crowd. At that point the group walked to the front of the store where they were met by Larry Thompson, who said he was the store director.

Alarcon told Thompson that supermarket employees had been working without a contract for six months, and that "it's time for the companies to improve their offer."

Thompson listened to members of the crowd and took an informational handout from the group, saying he would pass it on to the management at Ralphs.

Leaving the parking lot after the rally, the crowd chanted, "We'll be back."

Two other rallies are planned for today at Ralphs Market sites in Los Angeles: one at noon at the Ralphs on West Third Street, and one at 5 p.m. at the Ralphs on Crenshaw Boulevard.

The three events on Wednesday are in preparation for a strike authorization vote next week.

A federal mediator has been unable to bring the parties together.

During a lockout eight years ago, supermarket chains hired replacement workers. There is a news blackout on the current negotiations, and the markets are not releasing any statements.