Members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union have been on strike against Vons since Sunday, October 12, and have been shut from working at Ralphs and Albertsons as well. The issues revolve around management plans to slash health coverage, pensions and other benefits. While corporate profits go up in America, access to affordable health care by working Americans is at a crisis level. The front lines of the battle to preserve health care are right here in Southern California, at our local grocery stores. People of conscience have to work together to support the unions, because if the corporations can break this strike, the repercussions will spread throughout society.

The Inland Anti-Empire Web site presents this short list of easy ways you can support the union members who are fighting to preserve not only their health care, but ours -- as well as the benefits of our children and future generations.

1. Don't Cross the Picket Lines

Please don't shop at Vons, Ralphs, or Albertsons. Beyond the fact that you'd be hurting the unions by doing so, the quality of service and of food will be lower than you expect. The replacement workers simply aren't as trained as the striking and locked-out workers who often have five, ten, twenty years or more on the job. Are you sure that meat is fresh? Has the milk been handled safely? Don't take a chance -- shop at Stater Brothers, Costco, or other local grocery stories. See http://www.saveourhealthcare.org/ for a list of other places to shop.

2. Tell a Friend

Friends don't let friends cross picket lines! The success of the union action will ultimately depend on us, the grocery-buying public. We need to unite behind those people we see every week, and support them in their efforts to retain benefits. Let your friends know that you're supporting the union, and urge them to do the same. You can download and print a copy of this flyer from http://inlandantiempire.org/ and hand it out to people you know.

3. Contact the Media

Large corporations control our media outlets in Southern California, and that makes it harder to get fair representation. As citizens we can make our voices heard by writing letters to the editor, by calling in to radio talk shows, and by emailing television stations. Let them know that you support the union workers, and correct them, politely, when they get the facts wrong.

4. Provide Moral Support

It's not easy walking a picket line. When you drive by your local grocery store, beep your car horn to show that you support the workers. Even better, park your car and get out and talk to them. Don't be afraid -- they're the same people you saw last month when you bought food. Tell them you support them and are respecting their picket line. They need encouragement, especially when other people -- who have bought into the management lines pushed by the corporate media --- show up to hurl abuse at them. It helps the grocery workers to know their loyal customers stand by them.

5. Bring Water and Snacks

It's hot out there this week, and spending eight hours in the sun just isn't fun. If you can spare .00 (or less), you can buy a 24-pack of bottled water at Stater Brothers and drop it off at the union table outside a store. Fruit, cookies, and other munchies can help the workers make it through a day without having to buy food while their money is tight. They are fighting for all of us -- you can help with a simple gift of drinking water.

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Download and Print

You can download a 50K PDF printable flyer and print it from your computer:

• Five Simple Ways You Can Support the Grocery Workers

Some people are entering the stores and using various tactics to keep the stores from functioning. For example, they pack carts with parishibles and after the clerk finishes ringing them out they walk away saying that they will not pay a scab. They also use various other means.

My name is Ernest Keifer. I am an owner operator and a teamster from Little Rock Arkansas. I own my truck,lease it to a company that hauls groceries for a distributor.

I make several runs a month to LA and throughout California. It is my intention to cross any picket line I may encounter at grocerie stores where clerks are striking.

Personally I don't give a damn about them, with truck payments of 50 dollars a month, a mortgage, the cost of fuel, permits, fuel taxes, the cost of keeping a truck up and running, I'll run over the little son of a bitches before I shutdown my truck.

Screw the little bastards, this is a time when no maerican should turn their back on their country and their employer. They should be thankful they have jobs.

Years ago I was up at the produce warehouses in Brooklyn NY, this was in 1985. They were on strike, I didn't own my truck then, but drove for a friend who was the owner. One of those little bastards started throwing rocks at the truck and at me whn I pulled up to the gates, Climbed up tried to open the door and banging on the windows, He finally cracked the window and broke the door handle. When the window gave way Ii shot the son of abitch as he stood there.

No charges were pressed. The little son of a bitch was trying to hit me with a rock. I'll do the same damn thing to any of these gawd damned anarchist fellas, I'll shoot them dead if they even look at my truck in the wrong way.

So when you see a big black conventional KW bearing down on you, with Lone Wolf in Blue and Gold Lettering you damn well best git out the way, or I'm sending you home to mamma in a bid puddle.

Support America you dope smoking bastards

Smart & Final is a very good place to shop if you have one in your area,

You have my very best wishes, may you prosper in every thing you do.

Nothing like financial obligations to make a fellah appreciate his paycheck, huh?

Too bad some people don't appreciate that.

Say, anyone know how much UFCW's paying their striking workers?

I mean, all those dues have to have been paid for something, right?

Other than to line the pockets of the union leadership, that is.

This is a great suggestion.

Hey Ernest - I bet you're real tough when you're sitting 7 feet up in a big truck, getting steamed up and wanting to mow down the ladies who scan groceries. Get your fat scab ass off that beaded seatcover you got at the Transit Authority and fight for real. Put that shotgun away ya redneck -- those sticks they're holding are government regulation 14 ounce pinewood picketing signs, not baseball bats.

Seriously... I haven't seen any signs of violence at the supermarket pickets. Maybe the strikers in L.A. are more mellow.

I bet that story by Ernest is a fabrication. The last time I was checking out a supermarket picket, the most threatening person was the guard they hired, and some dude, who was probably the owner's friend, videotaping people. These people work at a *grocery store*, not a coal mine.

enjoyed the apples and orange juice I bought at Smart & Final.

Their spirits were good.

Have a friend with a camcorder secretly tape you walking through the picket line to do your shopping. If the union thugs intimidate you, spit at you, etc, file a lawsuit and bring the bastards down.

Once you sober up, reconsider your manslaughter urges. Be aware that your intent to voluntarily run over people falls into assault with a deadly weapon here in CA as well as in your native Arkansas.

You wouldn't stand a chance in front of a jury and would lose your job and many years of your life in prison.

Running over your own fellow countrymen in defense of corporate profiteering is a strange way to demonstate patriotism, isnt it?

Ernest,

You are an Idiot. The Strikers don't care about your Truck payment or your morgage. Just as the corportions don't care about the strikers. And in essence they don't care for the customers either. Those dedicated employees have devoted more than half their lives to these corporate idiots. They are setting the path for all industries. It will hit you next, BEWARE!

Help stop corporate greed, think human need.

"those sticks they're holding are government regulation 14 ounce pinewood picketing signs, not baseball bats."

Nah. These union assholes carry baseball bats, too. Another "strike" against the union thugs in the eyes of the public.

http://signonsandiego.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&expire=&urlID=8017787&fb=Y&partnerID=621

Stay strong and fight the SCABS. Go to local small stores run by families in your area. Support your local people. DO NOT SUPPORT the CORPORATIONS!

They do not care ABOUT YOU. Put money in the pocket of the family in your hood not in the rich CEO or store manager at the CORPORATION MARKETS...

WALK the picket lines as I have and

if you have to use the store tell the SCABS what they are HEARTLESS people who suck up to their MASTERS with their KNEED pads for their lil worthless pay check!!!

Get over yourselves - the strike is a waste of $$$, time, food, energy, media, etc. Corporations are the American way, founded by Americans for all Americans. They are not going anywhere.

By the way, if your cell phone company goes on strike and you are stranded on the freeway, would you support the Union and not call for help? I think not. You would not give a shit about the strikers and you would call for help, unless you are an idiot.

I say CROSS ALL PICKET LINES. God Bless America!

I cross those lines too......

I sneek in 16 oz bottles filled with my urine.

I just hold it in my hand like i was going to drink it.

When noones looking...

and I'm in the fresh veggie area....

On it goes....

ENJOY!!!!

That's amazing I've been doing the same thing at Trader Joes, Bristol Farms and Smart and Final.

I also make sure all the fruit I donate to those noble strikers gets a good pee wash first.

Yes indeed paychecks are worthless.....perhaps your's are

I support the UNION workers

I don't have helathcare or vacations...i don't get paid overtime...but you know what? That fact does not make me want to hurt others...and it does not make me spiteful.

I don't want others to go through what I'm going through.

I don't know why any other human beings would be so spiteful and vengeful and wished hell for other human beings and say things like "I'm bad off you should be too"

No...we should ALL have access to healthcare and fair wages.

You're a great example of HUMANITY.

KILL, SHIT, FUCK EVERYONE...no wonder people hate americans all over the world. You're ruthless bastards who will stab eachother in the back to get a couple of $ instead of working together to make life better for yourself as well.

You think the guy who makes 4 MIL gives a damn about your truck payments?

So in turn you will go and STAB others who are as bad off as you? You're a great man...wow...your parents would be proud.

What about the hate that strikers have for their customers when they yell at them for shopping at the store? Or the hate when they beat up the "Scab" workers. What gives union goons the "Right" to beat up or harrass anyone? Do they really feel that the stores and the public owes them a living? If they don't like it QUIT. Shut your fucking mouth, drop your sign and simply quit. Do us all a favor and grow up

This country was founded on standing up for your rights

I've seen some sad and hateful comments on this site

I'm sure that our founding fathers suffered through

similar assaults.

I'm glad that they persevered.

I'm proud that those clerks are standing up now.

I recognize that my benefits will be based

on the benchmark that they set.

You have eyes, but can you see?

Your comments show your lack of vision

I hope that the TRUTH is revealed to All of you

Hope you love the fruit its all yours. You stupid fuck.

What does "hope you love the fruit" mean? Are you spitting and pissing on the food in store you pathetic pile of shit? I hope the stores fire all of you cock sucking Union sheep and hire people that want to work. I'm sick of this union "We will do whatever we want" attitude. Fuck you dick knob

Now why would I want to help the grocery workers? after I get harrased when I pickup

my prescription. The way I see it is if you don't like what you're employer is offering you - get another job! it's that simple!! It's not my fault you guys are in that position, and I should be able to shop anywhere I

want without being harrased just because you and your employer can't come to an understanding. I think that you are kicking yourself in the rear, biting that hand that feeds you.

Go back to work crybabies!! or get another job (and life while you're at it!!) since it seems that you have enough time to be bitching and complainting about it!!!

Now why would I want to help the grocery workers? after I get harrased when I pickup my prescription. The way I see it is if you don't like what you're employer is offering you - get another job! it's that simple!!

It's not my fault you guys are in that position, and I should be able to shop anywhere I want without being harrased just because you and your employer can't come to an understanding. I think that you are kicking yourself in the rear, biting that hand that feeds you. Go back to work crybabies!! or get another job (and life while you're at it!!)

since it seems that you have enough time to be bitching and complainting about it!!!

Now why would I want to help the grocery workers? after I get harrased when I pickup

my prescription. The way I see it is if you don't like what you're employer is offering you - get another job! it's that simple!! It's not my fault you guys are in that position, and I should be able to shop anywhere I

want without being harrased just because you and your employer can't come to an understanding. I think that you are kicking yourself in the rear, biting that hand that feeds you.

Go back to work crybabies!! or get another job (and life while you're at it!!) since it seems that you have enough time to be bitching and complainting about it!!!

Now why would I want to help the grocery workers? after I get harrased when I pickup my prescription. The way I see it is if you don't like what you're employer is offering you - get another job! it's that simple!!

It's not my fault you guys are in that position, and I should be able to shop anywhere I want without being harrased just because you and your employer can't come to an understanding. I think that you are kicking yourself in the rear, biting that hand that feeds you. Go back to work crybabies!! or get another job (and life while you're at it!!)

since it seems that you have enough time to be bitching and complainting about it!!!

Now why would I want to help the grocery workers? after I get harrased when I pickup

my prescription. The way I see it is if you don't like what you're employer is offering you - get another job! it's that simple!! It's not my fault you guys are in that position, and I should be able to shop anywhere I

want without being harrased just because you and your employer can't come to an understanding. I think that you are kicking yourself in the rear, biting that hand that feeds you.

Go back to work crybabies!! or get another job (and life while you're at it!!) since it seems that you have enough time to be bitching and complainting about it!!!

Now why would I want to help the grocery workers? after I get harrased when I pickup my prescription. The way I see it is if you don't like what you're employer is offering you - get another job! it's that simple!!

It's not my fault you guys are in that position, and I should be able to shop anywhere I want without being harrased just because you and your employer can't come to an understanding. I think that you are kicking yourself in the rear, biting that hand that feeds you. Go back to work crybabies!! or get another job (and life while you're at it!!)

since it seems that you have enough time to be bitching and complainting about it!!!

You state we are crybabies, thrugs and goons. those names contadict themselves. I'm just a worker who has devoted many years of service to a corporation that now wants to change the rules. These rule changes will affect all workers not just union workers.

Because of organized labor, we have a min. wage, worker comp. rights, laws protecting children so they are not exploited. We set the standards for non-union workers. All these gains over the last hundred years would disapear if we were not here fighting for you as well as our rights. If you want a society where Wal-mart sets the standards then just keep doing what your doing and you will get your wish. Your truck payments won't mean a thing because it will have been repossed and you will be driving for Wal-mart and not proving what a big man you are by running down women who have more convictions and balls then you.

someone cares about our country's future

I am mailing my Vons card back to Vons with a note on it.

VonsCheck

PO Box 30630

Los Angeles

Ca 90030-0630

Add a note and mail back your Club cards

VONSCHECK

PO BOX 90630

Los Angeles

Ca 90030-0630