Grocery Strike/Workers Correspondence

Millions of Southern Californians let the giant Vons, Ralphs and Albertson’s markets, know that there has been no shift to the right here by keeping the sprawling parking lots in supermarkets something like 75% empty (counting management and scabs) in solidarity with over 70,000 striking United Food & Commercial Workers members whose picketlines went up in virtually every urban neighborhood in the region.

The grocery store workers strike along with 2000 transit mechanics for the Los Angeles area Metropolitan Transit Authority , a sick out by many L.A. County Deputy Sherrifs, impending job actions by other County workers, and potential mass layoffs of State workers, have the general populace talking about health care, unions, standard of living, health care and unions.

I took to wearing a union tee shirt whenever I shop, and people stare, not in shock or surpise, but to read it to see which union it is.

At my worksite our union SEIU/California State Employes Association shirts encourages us to wear our shirts each Wednesday as we are under attack. Most do it once a month, but a whole lot more than usual wore them last Wednesday.

There is a large L.A. County worksite in the same building as our State office and Wednesday with my shirt on I was about to go in when a county worker accosted me. “Hi! I see you around in your shirt pretty often, I am in SEIU 660 here, what’s yours?. And then, like almost right out of the blue she said, “isn’t it really something all of these people on strike?, I wish all of California were on strike, we have a standard of living (to defend)” She let me know her unit may have to take some job action in the coming weeks.

At lunch time, in our dining area a multiracial group of women were conversing near me. I overheard one mentioning how one of the grocery strikers in here neighborhood reminded her of the actress in Norma Rae. Another mentioned how someone in her church owned a store and had the store closed Sundays because he put “people before profits.”

Thursday I had a day off and was able to attend a solidarity rally called by the L.A. County Federation of Labor AFL-CIO some 2000 were there. Several hundred strikers and many more rank and filers and officials from scores of unions and many, many different colored tee shirts, surrounded the Vons/Pavillion store in Hollywood (Melrose at Vine)

Thunderous cheers welcomed International Brotherhood of Teamsters Western Regions Vice President Jim Santangelo’s announcement that the Teamsters had extended the picket line recognition into the distribution centers of the giant chains. Santangelo told the strikers and supporters “together we will kick their (the supermarket monopolies)

Miguel Contreras Executive Secretary Treasurer of the 700,000 member strong L.A County Federation of Labor pledged full support to make sure the strikers last “one more day” than the companies. Los Angeles City Council Members and many State Legisltors pledged to join and support the picket lines in their districts. The L.A. city council had officiall y passed a resolution that it “strongly endorses the efforts of the UFCW to reach a just and decent contract.”

Saturday I went by three picket lines in my area to offer support. I parked on the street though the lots were all but empty. Honking horns of supporting passers by constantly npunctuated the conversations with the strikers. At the Eagle Rock Vons the picketers said a rally would soon be held and local teachers union members would be supporting. At the Highland Park Albertson’s picketers were talking about bringing family to the lines and joked about how supervisors inside tried to convince them this wasn’t legal. At the Lincoln Heights Vons picketers had family members at their line, looking at my tee shirt they empathized with the plight of state workers with a new governor coming in promising big cuts.

On the other side of town in the Venice neighborhood Presidential Candidate Dennis Kucinich walked a picketline Satuday. Sunday morning a Friends of Labor group held a car caravan passing by 10 stores to support picketers in Harbor City, Carson and Torrance. Sunday after noon Rev. Jesse Jackson helped picket at a Vons market in Santa Monica. AFL-CIO President John Sweeney will be in town to generate more support as well.

I've had no problem keeping myself supplied with groceries where I live (about a mile east of downtown Long Beach). Unlike suburbia, this neigborhood abounds with small grocery markets that have been here since the 1940's or earlier - most of them now owned by Mexican-Americans. Since the strike began I've discovered that they have the necessities of life, sometimes at cheaper prices than the supermarkets. I do miss things like vegetarian patties and meatless chile, but I can survive quite well without being a scab shopper.

Well hell, I wasn't even getting unemployment, so my $8.oo an hour scab position learning back-door receiving is very much appreciated, especially in my tourism- based community where the winter jobs haven't begun yet. I hope this job turns out to be permanent! I've never had a decent wage or any health care benefits- if all of the strikers would vote for representatives that support a national health policy and a higher minimum wage, they would have my respect- why should I care if what they have, which is significantly more than anything I have known, isn't enough for their bourgeois lifestyles?

What are the laws regarding the supermarkets firing all of the strikers and permanently hiring non-union workers?

It seems to me that the supply of workers would dictate wages and benefits. Right now there is a huge supply of workers looking for work. This can be seen in how quickly the "scab" positions were filled. Not just filled but, filled by workers happy to have the job. Your job is really only worth the lowest salary that someone will accept to get the job done.
I have not altered my shopping habits and cross the picket line whenever necessary. Not because I don't support the workers but because I support my family and I don't want to see the prices I pay at the gocery store increased to cover someone elses' benefits.

What an idiot.
This guy cant wait until the time when everybody is battling everone else for the lowest paying jobs.
Obviously, and typical, these scab supporters have never read up on the history of the worker in the US.

Hey moron.
how do you think laws were passed to regulate

-the 8 hour workday?

-workmans compensation

-child labor laws

-anti-monopoly laws

-anti-discrimination

--and many others.

Go read a book about working conditions in America around the 1875-1930

Scumbags like you are the problem.
You let the corporations run wild over the people.
traitor.

You make interesting comments. However, I agree we should never forget our history so we do not repeat it. But in today's society there are more than enough laws protecting the worker without the union. You people act like we live in some third world country, give me a break. There was a time and place for unions but no more, they are just driving jobs out of othe country. I too cross the picket lines like many others and will continue to do so. For I as well refuse to pay for your benefits since myself like many other americans must pay for ours.

OD: "For I as well refuse to pay for your benefits since myself like many other americans must pay for ours."

What the fuck are you talking about? If you are self employed, then maybe you pay for your own benefits. But most employer pay at least a portion of their employees benefits, so how do you refuse to pay benefits to the employees for the companies from which you buy food? You don't, dimwit, so stop and think before you puke your trained Republican mantras all over this board. Probably don't even have a job...Mommy and Daddy payin' yer fuckin' way through life, no doubt?

This:

"For I as well refuse to pay for your benefits since myself like many other americans must pay for ours."

Was an answer to this:

"I don't want to see the prices I pay at the gocery store increased to cover someone elses' benefits."

They were talking about paying for others benefits through increased prices.

Now, are you going to revisit your rant, or just remain perpetually stupid like you usually do?

Your typing alot, but your not saying anything...

...again, what the fuck are you trying to say...do you even know? When you go into a store, do you ask for a cost breakdown

Dingleberry: "Excuse me Mr. Albertson...but could you give me a cost breakdown of the price of eggs, and please include assurances that there will be no portion of that breakdown going to benefits for empoyees of either your store, the egg farm, your auditing firm, the delivery company, your insurance carrier, or any other affiliates either indirectly or directly? And, when you're done, could you do the same for every other of the 200 items in my cart, 'cause, y'know, I've got principals to uphold...."


Mr. Albertson: "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
**gasp**HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Look, idiot...the lockout is not due to a demand to INCREASE benefits...it is due to the unions refusal to accept a CUT in benefits...got that...Dingleberry? Hence ANY increase in prices COULD NOT be due to benefits. Got it now? You can read again slowly at your leisure.....but something tells me that ain't gonna help....maybe you should get that cost breakdown from your store...might educate your dumb ass......


Christ, these High School wannabes....you can spot 'em a mile off....not a fuckin' clue of what the real world is like....

"Look, idiot...the lockout is not due to a demand to INCREASE benefits...it is due to the unions refusal to accept a CUT in benefits...got that...Dingleberry? Hence ANY increase in prices COULD NOT be due to benefits. Got it now? You can read again slowly at your leisure.....but something tells me that ain't gonna help....maybe you should get that cost breakdown from your store...might educate your dumb ass...... "


Yeah, uh, no.

In a nutshell.

These workers have had an amazing health plan. That has never, at least from for them (I'm sure some non-grocery workers around here might argue differently becuase it's hard to accept a company providing great healthcare) been an issue. They have even said that the health plan was the main reason many had sought these jobs out. The plan has not changed. However, over the course of time, and more so recently, the cost of this same coverage has increased dramatically. Yet management has absorbed ALL the increase. It's finally at a poitn now where these workers have to increase their contributions in order to keep this paln intact. And guess what, they don't want to. They want to keep their 6 dollar a week contribution. Who wouldn't?

It's simple math. Management is not going to just keep paying more and more and more to these third party healthcare providers by themselves. Benefits have not decreased. But the cost of the original benefits has. Ultimately it's either the workers kick in more or prices go up. Management, has paid all it's going to. And before the inane claims of "but they're making a huge profit" start flying, save your breath.

Of course they make a profit. That's why they exist. The profit is not going to be used to give the workers all free healthcare. Know why? Because at that point there is no reason for the stores to exist and EVERYBODY goes home without a job.

Exactly, fresca.
The chart shows the inflation in US health care costs, the rate of GDP growth in the same period, and a look at Albertson's net earnings.

You should read a book titled "How to Lie with Statistics"...or perhaps you already have and are using the techniques the book decries.

In any event, to compare gains and losses of capitalist bloodsuckers stock margins with low wage workers is imbecilic at best. It is similar to blaming the food workers at the track for the horse who finishes last. I am sure however that your denial will continue to drive you to the track even though the losses continue to mount. Don't balme the workers for the corruption inherent int he capitalist system.

Blame the republicrats who derailed the last meaningful attempt to overhaul the nations health care system. And the shills who cried about Canadian health care as being the death of the competitive spirit in American medicine!

Parmenides,

"In any event, to compare gains and losses of capitalist bloodsuckers stock margins ..."

Huh? Net earnings have nothing to do with "stock margins". It's sales less all expenses.

Since you absolutely don't believe that thes e"bloodsuckers" should be making all that money, what's your plan.

Let's say you're the God of economics and labor relations for a day.

Now, here's the deal. The Health Care system, however much it needs reform is not going to change anytime soon. Like it or not.

So what do you do to end this strike AND keep the groceries willing to stay in business.

And let's see if you can answer without any of the embarassingly juvenile terms such as "capitalist bloodsucker".

Ok, here's your chance.

What's your solution?

Be very detailed.

i wish all paleostinians were wiped off the face of the earth.
Israel is for jews only!
Hail all to the jewish race!
Exterminate the sand niggers.
Kill em all let allah sort em out

>...again, what the fuck are you trying to say...do you even know? When you go into a store, do you ask for a cost breakdown

You're an idiot. Of course, we already knew that.

Grocery stores work on volume. If prices go up, then that's less profit for the grocery stores. Even a child knows this.

Let me break it down where even YOU can understand it.

A family has a weekly budget of $100 for groceries. With that budget, they can buy 20 items. The grocery stores makes approx. 3 cents per item.

Prices go up. The $100 can only buy 17 items now. The grocery store still makes only 3 cents per item.

Now, if you have the capacity, multiply that times tousands and thousands of items purchased.

If you can't figure it out from there, just ring in again.

Moron.

>It's simple math. Management is not going to just keep paying more and more and more to these third party healthcare providers by themselves. Benefits have not decreased. But the cost of the original benefits has. Ultimately it's either the workers kick in more or prices go up. Management, has paid all it's going to. And before the inane claims of "but they're making a huge profit" start flying, save your breath.

Yeah, what fresca said.

The cost of benefits has increased. The workers don't want to pay it, they want the company to pay the increase. The company either pays it and increases their expenses (which means less profit) or they increase profit margin to off-set the increased health care costs.

The company isn't going to lower their profit margin because that will drive away investors. If the company increases prices to pay for the higher costs of health benefits to workers, they simply pass on the expense to customers, and if a non-union grocerystore (Wal-Mart Super store for example) gives the customer more bang for the buck, guess where they'll go?

No, MORON! They'll go to where they'll pay the lowest price. kpc, I can't believe you're so damn stupid you said they'd shop where the highest prices are! No wonder your all fucked in the head.

Idiot.

That doesn’t sound like freedom to me.
Written by: Carolyn Hileman

They want to take away our right to pray and they want to take away our guns so that we can’t fight back. They want to take away our right to vote as they proved both in Florida and California. They want to convince us all that we cannot possibly govern our selves, that we must have them to lead us. They want us to believe that good is evil and evil is good, that only they have our best interest in mind.


They refuse to debate their actions, instead focusing on trying to destroy anyone who speaks the truth. Anyone who dares speak out against their tyranny is investigated, humiliated and if not careful destroyed. They have had a systematic plan to control the courts so as to insure their victory in the courts as well as congress. They have taxed the people to the point that working people actually need the services they are forced to pay for.


They have forced their beliefs on us, to the point of redundancy. They have made their causes mandatory and dip in our pockets with increased frequency to pay for them. They have purposely divided a nation on the hopes of winning an election. They have demanded senseless investigations at the cost of the taxpayers, which prove nothing, more than they have nothing better to do. They have called our president a liar even after being presented with proof of the claims from their own party.

They have made a point of frightening the elderly and under privileged. I ask you as many times as they have claimed conservatives will destroy Social Security and Welfare, when has that claim come to pass? They have told us how our president has failed, yet not one has given a detailed explanation as to what they would do different. They have told us that we are losing in the war on terror, how is it we have managed not to get attacked on American soil since 9/11. We all know it is not because of anything they did.

Yes, I am sure all those investigations into the president scared the terrorists. And I will bet that our threat to pull our troops out of Iraq has them shaking in their boots. I doubt seriously that all the rumors and innuendo leveled at the president had much to do with keeping us safe. So tell me what exactly have they done that they know so much? Have they visited with the troops, asked what they need? No they have chosen to sit here in safety and decide our military is lacking. They have spent more time complaining than anything else, they have a compliant about everything from the president landing on the carrier to broken doorknobs in Iraq.


But get out from behind the microphone and really do something? Not them. Do they do anything when the camera isn’t rolling? Highly unlikely. Oh they look so good on camera, they go prancing around talking about how much they have accomplished. When the facts are they had eight years unencumbered and still failed to pass a prescription benefit, to lift the under privileged out of debt and depression. How many years have they promised the people that they would fix the problems and still even when they had a popular president failed to do so. How many years have we heard that they would pass the prescription benefit and when it came before them they chose to ignore the cries of the people so as not to add to the presidents popularity.

They do not want the problems to be taken care of because when they are they no longer have a cause. They can no longer scare the people if they have nothing left to use. It has never been their plan to make America the great place it once was, if that happens then the people no longer need them. They created a little thing called the Pale grant, it is there to help the under privileged get a college education. It is there for people who make $50,000.00 or less. But do they advertise it no, because when the people are educated and working they no longer need handouts and they no longer need them.

Rather than spend their time really trying to help the people, they instead go after the people that would show them for who they really are. They cannot face up to the fact that they themselves don’t even know who they are any more. What was once a party with pride, a party that stood for the working people is now the party of the welfare workers and Union presidents. They no longer care about the working people unless it is to dip into their pocket to pay for yet another handout. The I feel your pain campaign is out dated, because it is virtually impossible for some one who makes as much money as they do to feel the pain of a working mother who is working two jobs to keep a roof over their heads a food on the table.

Yet they continue to tell the people over and over again that they are the only people who feel their plight. I have often said that I would love for those who decide the minimum wage to have to live off of it for a few months. Instead of help the businesses to get the help they need to keep people employed and give them a decent wage and insurance they bite the very hand that feeds them. They are made out to be the enemy, the rich taskmaster who could care less about the people. When if the truth were known, they couldn’t do any of those things because they are taxed to death, Disability insurance is sky rocketing Health insurance of any use is so high most can’t even afford to insure themselves. It makes good business sense to offer good wages and benefits, most companies would love to be able to do so simply because it generates a better quality worker. They simply cannot afford it.

We live in a country were if you work hard all your life put some money a way or become a success you are punished. Is it any wonder more people do not try to better themselves? The fact is you can have your food paid for, your utilities paid for, and you can take your kids to the doctor and never have to pay a red cent. And hey, if you chose to work only eighteen months of the year the government will reward you with at least a $4000.00 check called earned income credit. All you have to do is sell your soul to the Democratic Party and sit at home. But don’t you dare try to better yourself, oh no you must not do that because when you do they are going to take your money and give it someone who has just sold their soul.

This is the party that goes around and calls everyone else liars when they are the biggest ones of all. They have lied to the very people they have sworn to help, they have told them repeatedly that you cannot do it on your own. You must have us to fight for you, you must have us to insure that you get that job. You must have us to insure you get into college. You’re not smart enough to know who to vote for so we are going to decide whom you voted for. They have told the working people that they were going to insure their jobs and shipped them to any country that would have them. They have and still do welcome the Mexican immigrants in to this country with open arms. The Unions scream about the illegal aliens taking our jobs but have yet to try to stop it. Everyone knows that the unions are the most powerful group of people in the United States and if they really wanted it to stop all they have to do is apply pressure, yet they have not done so, the question you need to ask is why?

These people have decided on there own what information you can handle and if it does not help their agenda they just act as though that information does not exist. Take for instance the David Kay report the only information they are giving from this whole report is that they found no nuclear weapons, they have conveniently left out the fact that they found other things such as labs and chemicals. But we don’t need to know that stuff, they think we are to stupid to know what they are talking about so they aren’t even going to bring it up. They scream that most of America is not insured but conveniently forget that most working Americans that have insurance cannot afford to go see a doctor. That the insurance companies make it almost impossible to meet the high deductibles and do not cover half of the tests or treatments. However, if you are uninsured there are several clinics available to you who will accept you based on income, there are programs for insuring children that guarantee their children will get treatment. But those who have the insurance cannot go to the clinics their children are not guaranteed treatment, unless you meet the deductibles first. Do we make the insurance companies work fairly with the people? No we wouldn’t want to do that.

I don’t know about you but I am tired of being lied to, I am tired of the assumption I do not know what is best for my family and me. I am tired half truths and innuendo, and the people who keep them going. I am tired of seeing good people treated as though they are evil and the bad ones treated as though they were some types of saints. Do not sit there and tell me that my president was responsible for 9/11 when you know for a fact it is not true. Stop going around and investigating anyone and everyone who dare speak the truth about the Democratic Party. They said during the last election they just were not getting their message out. Well the message is loud and clear this time, don’t do anything that will help the American people, don’t assume that your vote counts because we can get it thrown out. Do not under any circumstances say any thing bad about the democratic party because if you do we will take you down. I don’t know about you, that does not sound like freedom to me.

Blind mice. That is what all these strikers are. Talking to strikers at a few stores in my area and asked them if they read the proposed contract. Amazingly, the answer has been "NO". I ask them why they should not contribute to their health care (which is NOT much) and the respone I get is "75% of us are part-time workers and can't afford it) They have given me pamphlets stating the same thing "What they are not telling you" - 75% of workers work 30 hours or less.

Question - why should people working less then full-time demand benefits like this??

Replies I have gotten: "I chose this line of work and I can't afford it"

Go to school get an education and get a REAL JOB!!!

I don't care how old you are but a grocery store job is not a job that you expect to raise a family with or make a career out of.

Real world - health benefits change at alot of companies. If every employee went on strike at avery conmpany that changes the health care benefits the nation would come to a halt.

Grocery workers have the same level of expertise as McDonalds workers!

GET REAL BLIND MICE!!!

Hi All,
(Had to call me "jesus")

I have to agree with God. If you "Check-out" clerks or "meat-cutter" of whter ever you are quit your jobs, what would you do? You have no marketable skills. Anyone can come in do your job with minimal training. What value do you have? You are expendable.

You limited skilled grocery workers stay on strike for an extended period of time you will lose your cause. God make sense! It sounds like your "union" leaders have other agendas because if you're dealling in reality, you will realize that YOU ARE REPLACABLE! Anyone can do your job (look at the people doing it NOW!!!) You HAVE NO VALUABLE SKILLS!!!

I am sorry for the reality check here but you've got to realize that the majority of people can do your job!!! YOU HAVE NO SPECIAL SKILLS!!!

Welfare is the only description I have for you. That is what you are demanding. That the PUBLIC OWNED COMPANIES SUPPORT PART-TIME WORKERS (less than 40 hours per week - YES BY YOUR PAMPHLETS) GET FULL-TIME BENEFITS (EVEN BETTER THAN CORPORATE EMPLOYEES WITH MARKETABLE SKILL BEACAUSE THEY WENT TO SCHOOL) FOR BS NON-SKILLED WORK.

YES!!! You have skills no more better then McDonalds, Del Taco, Carls JR or Burger King.

What can you do with your experience ouside of the people you are trying to hurt? Work at Statr Bro's or Walmart. Have fun brainless trailer-park trash.

Last recommendation - GET AN EDUCATION SO YOU CAN GET A REAL JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I see comments about corporate greed (also signs at my local store) and have to wonder what on earth do these picketers expect. Isn't a business in business to make money and make the share holders happy?

A business is not in business to support the employees, especially when the employees are non-skilled workers. Yes, a businees is more successful if they take care of the employees and motivate them. But there is a limit to that. The employees have to understand that these businesses have treated them well in the past. Now that some things have to change, and I must make it clear that these changes are absolutely reasonable, you clowns retailiate!

What is up with that! This is not welfare. The businesses are not responsible for the employees way of life. If an employee doesn't like the benefits GO OMEWHERE ELSE! It's that simple. i guess the only problem with that is the fact that these employees ore NON-skilled.

I guess if you can't leach off the government you are trying to leach off a legit business trying to make a profit and stay in business.

What happens if you lose your job? Hmmm. now let's see... Find another job? What kind of job?? Oh, I'm sorry you have no skills. Unemplyment... well, that lasts only for a limited amount of time. What to do.... I've got a great idea! Get some real skills! Go to school or a trade school and do something with your life. The businesses are laughing at you! you ARE expendable.

you brainless twits. You are NOT important and life will go on. It's time to make and educated decision (if you can.) Go back to work!

Feel free to respond. I will enjoy reading comedy and backward logic.

Why are the stores so quick to pass the buck and blame insurance companies (and Wal Mart)? Why aren't they negotiating better deals with the insurance companies?

There's always two ways to deal with a situation when you're caught in their situation. You can be tough, and battle the insurance companies, or you can be weak, and put the squeeze on the workers.

Chariman Bond is a weakling.

Many workers lack skills because the educational system creates unskilled workers. It's obvious that there are some schools that are designed to create the "slave class" in our society. Not only are these low-skilled people created, but they are created in large numbers to keep their wages low.

The educational system is a tool of opression. Affluent people of both liberal and conservative persuasion believe that the educational system is a tool for uplift, but, they clearly haven't spent much time analyzing the connection between poverty, education, and work.

Schools are a system to filter out the most talented individuals and groom them for technical positions. The remaining people are left to "compete" and scramble to get the "good jobs" among a pool of generally lousy jobs.

Private schools are a system to filter out between the "future leaders" and the mere technicians, doctors, and so forth. They groom the wealthy for jobs in upper management. The "losers" at prep schools become doctors, lawyers, marketing managers, and technicians.

The colleges are where the wealthy and powerful meet to network. Some colleges, that is. Oxford and Yale and Harvard; Princeton and Stanford; even Berkeley and UMich. If you're at another school, try to get into grad school at one of the biggies for a second chance.

Enough about school. Back to skills.

If everyone had skills, there would be many supermarket baggers with skills, because there's a limit to the demand for any one skill. Look at what's happened with Windows sysadmin jobs. Once upon a time, it payed very well, but now, it pays around $50k a year (if that). The number of skilled people went up, and the pay went down.

BTW, the wages for Windows sysadmins will hit rock bottom soon, if it already hasn't. Because skilled work entails the overhead of learning the skill, there's a certain floor below which the wages won't drop. The cost of being a Windows sysadmin is learning Windows well enough to do the job, and that means studying it in your spare time.

Furthermore, the skill itself is an expense to the employer, and it must be recovered. Implicit in this is that skilled labor adds significant value to a product, and that the value can be recovered with a higher price, or by selling many more products. In the former case, the employer merely acts as a skills broker, like a pimp or a temp agency. It's the latter case that's more interesting and relevant... because, ultimately, all skills end up being used to increase productivity and increase sales.

It's like a hierarchy of skills. Consider the Palm Pilot. First, it's created by the engineer for him or herself to earn thier paycheck. Then, it's marketed and sold to other affluent people, but perhaps not as skilled and affluent as that engineer. Those people create goods that are sold to even less affluent and less skilled; perhaps they are commercial artists. They, in turn, are creating products for people who are less skilled than themselves; maybe they make soda pop ads. Eventually, there's someone who works at the supermarket, drinking a soda, and that profit goes up the ladder to pay for someone's Palm Pilot. And the profit from the Pilot goes to buy the engineer's house.

How many layers deep should that hierarchy be, and how comfortable should the people at the top be compared to those at the bottom? It's a moral question.

It's a moral question that can be negotiated at a bargaining table. When that fails, it can be settled with strikes. If that fails, what's next? People will figure something out.

How about i just go kick all their asses and get it over with. Maybe if they found a real career instead of some fuckin bagger or checker they wouldn't have this problem! DIE!!!!!!!!!!!

When will we start thinking for ourselves?
Written by Carolyn Hileman


You really don’t have to you know, think for yourself that is. We have TV to show us how our life is supposed to be, we have groups who tell us what rights we should have. We have pastors who go beyond the bounds of telling us what is right in Gods eyes, to what in their eyes is right for America. We have teachers who rather than teach the curriculum handed down by the government teach their own form of life lessons. We have politicians who tell us we don’t know what we are doing so we ought to let them do it for us. So if you think about it there is really no reason to think at all.


We in America have been trained to believe that we are inherently dumb, that we cannot do anything for ourselves, just look at Florida and California in both states the liberals have said they do not know how to vote. A question that never arose as long as the liberals won, then suddenly when it occurred to them that they might lose they did not question the candidate, they did not question the message they questioned the voters ability to vote.. What is so sad is that people actually bought in to that, and started feeling sorry for them selves. People who only a few years before that knew how to vote suddenly did not. They wanted attention so bad that they actually allowed their state to look stupid spent money that their state did not have to spend to prove that they were dumb.

Then we have the people who protested because their children couldn’t pass an exit exam, that one amazed me. Being a parent I would have sent my kid right back up there to take it until they passed it. But not these parents, someone told them it was an unfair test, that a majority of those not passing it were black or Hispanic. Now lets forget that several of the black and Hispanic student did pass this test, these parents wanted us to lower the bar of expectation of all children because their children had a problem with it. Stood out in the street to prove to the world that their child was not as smart as the rest of the students.

But that is understandable, for years the white liberals have taught the blacks and now they are teaching the Hispanics as well that they cannot do as good as the white people. That somehow their skin color makes them deficient in some way. And to prove it to them they use some of the most highly educated black people as an example. Take Colin Powel for example, according to the liberals he doesn’t really have an education, he really is not as smart as he looks. He is a token black, along with Jessie Jackson Jr. I must say I have to wonder what his Daddy thinks of the fact that his son endorsed a white man and that Al Sharpton called him an Uncle Tom, but that is another article.

They are not the only ones by far, just about everyone belongs to a group nowadays that is more than happy to tell you who you are what to think and feel if you will just sign here. Which brings to mind the union, everyone who joins pays them dues. Considering how large they are that my friend is a lot of money. What do they give the members in return for their hard-earned money? Bargaining rights right? Why would you need to pay someone to tell you that working conditions are not safe and you need to get together and do something about it? Now I know that there is a strike going on in California, a state I might add that could use a little rest. They want the company to pay all of the insurance, the only problem with that theory and I’ll bet the union didn’t tell you this is that if you win and the company is already in a hole they will either pull out of that state or go bankrupt. Then what will the union do for you?

AARP has their members good insurance that they get through them at a decent rate because of the shear size of the organization. The Union could do the same for their members, instead of burdening businesses that are already in trouble. Think about it people who is it that stands in the picket lines? Is it the big Union bosses? Who among you run the risk of getting beat up, losing your jobs or worse getting killed? Do the big Union bosses feel the pain of no income of course not they are living off your money and making you do all the work.

Women you know we are not much better, have you heard of the NOW organization? Another of those great organizations that we pay to think for us and protect us from ourselves. They tell us what they deem is sexual harassment, which to some of us is just joking around. I personally can tell when someone has crossed over a line and I know how to tell him or her to stop. But this wonderful organization will do it for me, they will even make it law that there be a poster defining sexual harassment in every work place and school.

When was the last time any of us did not watch the news, be honest you watch and you accept everything they say as fact. Senators and congressmen all vying for their time in front of the camera, when was the last time you checked up on what they have said? The information is out there, if they quote the president you can look it up to see if in fact that is what he said. Let’s all be honest here each news organization is biased in one direction or the other, they can say they are not but if they are humans they have opinions too. Their news coverage is going to naturally slant towards their views. So how are we supposed to know whom to believe? Look it up, take the time to find out what the facts are and stop just letting any media outlet do your thinking for you.

There comes a time in everyone’s life when you must think for yourself, when what you are being told just does not seem right to you. You don’t feel like you are getting all of the answers and you wonder if the ones you are getting are accurate. You have to honestly wonder if those who are supposed to care for you are just using you, and you need to just step back and take a closer look. That is the time you start thinking for yourself, it may happen when a doctor tells you something you disagree with. It may happen when you hear someone quote a person and you don’t remember hearing that. Bless the day, go out and celebrate because your life and your mind belong to you again.

Thank you to all those whoes reponses were informative and respectful. Whether you were for or against the strikes...your comments gave more information to evaluate the whole situation.
To all the others your comments were rude and ignorate.....typical of what the US was become one egocentric joke. You are so full of yourself that you can't put yourself in others shoes. You dare to call the grocery workers as "unskilled, expendable" . At least they hold a respectable job...Yes any job that doesn't require any person to steal from someone else is respectable. And as for "expendable" aren't we all. There is always someone else better than you that can come along and take your job.
For Fresca....your last comment was so IGNORATE that there is no way to respond to it except feel sorry for you and the world you live in.

Thank you to all those whoes reponses were informative and respectful. Whether you were for or against the strikes...your comments gave more information to evaluate the whole situation.
To all the others your comments were rude and ignorate.....typical of what the US was become one egocentric joke. You are so full of yourself that you can't put yourself in others shoes. You dare to call the grocery workers as "unskilled, expendable" . At least they hold a respectable job...Yes any job that doesn't require any person to steal from someone else is respectable. And as for "expendable" aren't we all. There is always someone else better than you that can come along and take your job.
For Fresca....your last comment was so IGNORATE that there is no way to respond to it except feel sorry for you and the world you live in.

Breaking down the wall
Written by: Carolyn Hileman

There are times in your lives that you feel that you are in an impossible situation, most people just learn to accept it. Never once trying to find a away out they stay locked in this eternal cell, they close their eyes and wait for the worst to happen. It takes courage to believe that things can get better, it takes believing that you are a person who deserves better. Most people simply can not believe that simple thing, they think they deserve everything that is thrown at them and flinch accordingly. It is sad to think that if only we could reach out and break down that wall, freedom would be waiting on the other side.

Then there are the times that you wait for, when the kids grow up, when we retire, when I get married, get that job, I get the time. Odd as it is we are in a constant state of waiting. Always waiting for the right time, when the right time will never come. Waiting is a constant state of suspension that requires you take no action. However, while we are waiting the world is going by and it is leaving us behind. Taking action though is hard and requires that you personally take responsibility for your actions. What if you are wrong, what if you do the wrong thing, what if you do nothing and something bad happens anyway.

Today we witness courage, the courage of a man who broke down the wall, stepped out of his chains of suspension and said no more. I have to assume that he knows as I do that the so-called separation of church and state was and has never been law. That this so-called law is nothing more than one mans opinion. He must have known that there was never any movement to amend the constitution to include it and as a matter of fact the only amendment says that congress can’t touch it. He must have known that the claims that Jefferson did not like religion was false because he had four-hour communion services in the House of Representatives.

Leland had accepted an invitation to preach in the House of Representatives on Sunday, Jan. 3, and Jefferson evidently concluded that, if Leland found nothing objectionable about officiating at worship on public property http://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/9806/danbury.html>

Today we begin to break down that wall as well, because one cannot justify separation of church and state when the man who supposedly brought forth this so-called law broke it himself. It would appear that this man when he wrote that fateful passage was under attack as we are today, and in his desperation attempted to block any interference with our religion by a wall of separation. A wall that was to be used to stop the attacks on religion not begin them. However like so many other great men his words have been distorted and abused to further a cause usually one that is counter to what they would have ever wished.

Even if this were not so, even if we were not privy to this information the Church and state issue is not law. This was never entered into our constitution and therefor cannot be used as law. Cases that were decided on this mans opinion not constitution are void, and without merit. Many a people have had opinions, even the judges of the Supreme Court. However, that is all it is opinion, it is not fact nor is it law. The only thing that even deals with religion in the constitution plainly states that congress is to leave it alone.

The question is what shall we do with this information? There is a small light in that wall, it proves that it is not impregnable. Do we cover our eyes to keep the light out? Convinced that it is too small, we can never get out through a hole that small. Or do we dig and scrape till our fingernails are raw and our breath becomes labored, rest then dig some more, because freedom waits on the other side?
We must look down deep into our very being and find that will to fight, to have better, and to be what we should be. We can no longer cower in fear, we must raise our heads, we must look at that light and we must for the sake of our own dignity start digging at that wall. It takes a lot of courage to stand up for what you believe in, it takes even more to search your soul and decide what that is. There will be those who will never believe in us that my friend is not new. They have laughed at us for cowering and thrown even more dirt in our faces, but this time when they kick you down you will pull yourself up and you will continue to stand. Because you will no longer cower in fear, you will no longer accept their definition of you. Today is Independence Day.

What we as Americans lost today
Written by: Carolyn Hileman

It is not about a statue as many might think, it is not so much about the words inscribed on that statue. Because all believers know that we do not need any statue to remind us of God’s law. It is not about the man Judge Moore, whom I believe is just the messenger of our cries. It is about a people, a people who have been oppressed.

We have sat and watched over the past few decades as the blacks of this country have stood and marched together to gain the rights that the constitution allows, we cheered as they were given the basic rights of any human. We have watched as woman have stood together and marched for equal rights and they’re right to vote. We have watched many things including our beliefs being attacked on a daily basis.

The Christian way is that of peace, we are told to turn our cheek, and that is what we have done. We watched as one person removed prayer from school, prayer, what has a prayer ever done to anyone? We watched as we were forbidden to pray at football and other school events. All this time our oppressors telling us to send our children to a private school if we did not like it. Funny, I believe there were once schools specifically for blacks.

So in a sense we the people of faith were regulated to the back of the bus, even though it was our tax dollars that was helping pay for the very schools we were forbidden to have freedom of speech in. Before you start thinking this has nothing to do with freedom of speech, think again. Freedom of speech covers a lot of ground, just ask those who burn our flag. No, we are made to pray in silence, silence that is the opposite of speech wouldn’t you say. So they took away our voice, they gagged our children, then set about trying to stop any form of religion.

So you see this is not about a statue, a statue is just a block of cement with words carved into it. No, this is about a living breathing human being, it is about you and me, no matter what your religion. This is about the child who wishes to acknowledge their God using their voice before a meal. This is about whether a state truly has the rights that the constitution grants it. This is about whether or not the first amendment really means anything or if it is just another paragraph on just another sheet of paper.

This is about whether yet another people will suffer degradation that they will be denied their rights. It is about discrimination, fostered in the name of separation of church and state. This is about a lie that has been told repeatedly until many believe it. The claim that separation of church and state is any law is a lie and any one who cares to research it will know that. This is about a people who have found they’re voice and are just now fighting the injustices forced upon them.
This is about the child who hesitantly speaks their prayer in school despite the rule against it, this is about the father, who openly prays for the safety of their son before a game.

This is about the mother who wishes to help in her child’s Christmas party, but does not because it is no longer a Christmas party it is just another school party that has little or no meaning what so ever. Isn’t it funny we have Black history month, Gay rights day, but there is no such thing as Christmas in the school, its now a holiday party. This is about a systematic removal of our rights, our rights to freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Both of which is guaranteed us in the constitution of the United States of America, but since that does not seem to bother anyone I would have to assume the constitution is only a piece of paper.

It is a piece of paper that by no means guides us in our nation, it just another historical document lying lifeless in the Library of Congress. It is by mere fact not of any importance, just a piece of paper, that you look at only if you are doing research for a term paper. It is not the document that holds our nation together, it is the document that destroys our rights.

Yet another example of one of you hypocritical religous zealots preaching your misguided message in an inappropriate place. And, by the way, my dear, if you REALLY were happy when blacks got their "freedom" you would be glad that the holiday in school is called a holiday, not Christmas. You see, you can't preach equality for all yet still insist that it your holiday that will be celebrated!!! What about Hanukkah? What about Kwaanza? What about all the other beliefs that should also be celebrated? You see, what you REALLY believe is that all people should have freedom to make decisions and celebrate, as long as the decisions and celebrations are the same as yours.

First of all I do not beieve you have the right to tell me where I belong, You have the right to ignore me and i would suggest you do so if you are that closed minded. As for the other Holidays that you mentioned, I am sorry but I think they should be celebrated as well. I can not preach as you would say to that because I am not a Jew nor am I black and I am afraid people would only laugh at me if I started trying to get those celebrated it would reqiure one of their own to stand up. I know that you are angry, I hope I hjave not offended you. That was not my purpose, mine is just to enlighten, once again feel free to ignore me..

They will fight where we stood still.
Written by: Carolyn Hileman

It was not that long ago, that you could go to a school Christmas concert and hear the familiar sounds of Silent night and Hark the herald angels. Why that should offend someone I shan’t be able to explain considering it usually only the family of the singers who attend. The same family that listened to their children practice these songs for weeks. Yet someone somewhere decided that it was wrong.

You know I keep hearing about how the Patriot act will diminish our freedoms. Yet no school in the middle of no where received a phone call from the government that was telling them to cease and desist. The ACLU made that phone call, doesn’t it just amaze you that these folks have so little to do that they can spend their time hurting children. These children worked to get it right, night and day they sang those songs. Working till they hit just the right note, knew all the words and could sing it in their sleep. Then the night of the concert, the principle comes to tell them the show will not go on. What is that if it is not taking our freedom away?

Just a little school in a small town, could be any school could be your town. Big brother was watching, and rather than make their objections heard before it even started. They wait till your child has practiced day and night, till they were ready to show you how that hard work had paid off. But instead you take your child home in tears, how do you explain that one to your child? Will you continue the lie of the so-called Church and State separation clause? And when you’re drying their eyes, will you explain how some of the songs they were singing offended someone?

Then a few weeks pass and it is time for that winter holiday party, you and your child know it was once called a Christmas party. These same people who celebrate everything under the sun, only find the word Christmas nauseating. They want you to send candy and cakes and a toy. But don’t send anything that would imply Christmas and don’t you dare wrap it with paper that has the words Christmas on it. Now if you don’t it only adds to the humiliation your child feels, so you comply.


You feel compromised, angry and hurt, but your feelings don’t matter. What on earth can one person do? So you paste on your smile and go into the classroom and pretend that it is fun. The whole time teaching your child to bow down, not to rock the boat, teaching them that fitting in is the only thing that is important. But they remember they remember that the one time they needed you to stand up and scream enough, you only hung your head. And when you ask the question if everyone is doing it does that make it Ok, they have an answer. They may never say it, but they are thinking it.

But no, we are going to protest against our freedoms being taken away, and ignore the ones that are slapping us in the face. We are going to attack a President for trying to protect us and cheer a group of attorneys who reach out their powerful hands and crush our children. We will close our eyes, we will learn to accept it, we will force our children to follow their orders. We will silence the voice of the future so as not to gain attention. But one day those voices will rise on their own, they will be loud and they will fight where we stood still.


http://4dw.net/plastermania/thevoiceofthecommonpeoplestart.html

I am totally disabled and live on social security of $800 a month. I cannot afford heat or in the summer air conditioning. I buy day old food and anything that I can use on the markdown table. I live between two of the stores that are striking, and the only other stores are miles away. My car is old and I don't have that much money to waste on gas. Thus, 12/1/03 I WENT one block to the Vons Market in Chatsworth. Today at 8:30 am (after my social security check cleared the bank) I went to get what ever food I would get that would tie me over for the month. There was more than 20 people at the front of the market when I drove up and parked in the handicapped spot. There was no problem going in and I exchanged pleasantries with a very nice young man who was all bundled up. We discussed the cold and I told him don't complain...I have no heat.
I got what I could and when I exited, one woman..who was about 5'5' and under 30 with woven white braids in her hair, well she laid into me. And I disagreed, then she went on more. Ultimately the picketers became a mob. I was told that "if I didn't like it, move to a state that didn't have unions." Could you imagine. I was born and raised here, have lived in the Valley for more than 55 years and have owned homes and paid takes that support the city. Now that I am disabled, I have very little money, very little energy. I was harassed, yelled at, threatened until the female manager at the Von's market at Devonshire and Mason came out. The picketer had become a mob of many (interesting is always the women..the men are always gentlemen)...why was I harassed? -- because I dared buy food that I dearly need. What is this world coming to. Union picketers enjoy harassing the disabled because we don't not agree with their life choice. Bottom line is this: Unions should be aware, harassing the disabled is a good film clip..especially when the union member followed me to my car parked in the disabled spot in parking lot. Of course, all is on video tape. Should make good showing on the news by Vons!! Additionally, one of the mob (another female) started taking my picture...why, who knows. I suppose it was to continue to intimidate me, a disabled person. [of note, there were small children then...they got first hand experience in seeing their mother/father harassing another person. Sad state of affairs.]
Shame on you and the strikers. You have made a personal decision. I am not part of your personal or life decisions. Do not involve me in your problems. I don't publically display the fact that I must pay $150 a month for medicare and anything over the DAR payment schedule. I do involve you in my hunger and my fight against the cold. Shame on you for harassing people, especially the disabled who cannot fend for themselves. Sham, sham, sham on you. WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO WHEN SOMEONE WANTS TO BUY FOOD AND THEY ARE HARASSED FOR DOING SO. Shame! SHame! SHAme! SHAME!!!!! ON YOU. I am old enough to remember the Mcarthy (sp??) ear. He finally was put in his place when someone stood up to him and said, "Shame on you!"
-MS-

I am sorry to hear that you too were victimized by the Union goon squad. It is my sincere hope that the stores fire all of them and hire people that want to work. (Non union of course) I for one are sick of them dragging everyone into their dispute and acting like goons. If they don't like their job.....do us all a favor and quit.

Just a thought
Written by: Carolyn Hileman

It is just a movie, nothing real mind you only a movie. But the name and the inspiration stick with me. It starts to make me wonder if the concept could actually work. Could such a simple idea, a plot from a movie really change the world? If it did work, what would the repercussions be? Could people embrace such a simple idea? Or would they dismiss it as silly and just go on with their lives?

The movie I am speaking of is pay it forward, I can’t tell you who starred in it but I can tell you what its main idea was. The theory goes something like this, you have to do three really big things for three different people. They in turn do three really big things for three more people and on and on, it is not really a new concept. I can remember my Dad would always stop if someone were having car trouble and help him or her, they would offer to pay him and he would always say just help the next person who is in trouble.


My older sisters used to tell me stories about how men would show up at our door looking to work for food and mom would just let them come in and eat. My sister’s thought she was crazy, it could have been a murderer, I on the other hand thought she was cool. We never passed a kettle that we didn’t drop in some change that was just what you did. I guess the lessons stuck because I am that way now. Some think I am weird because if a person comes up to me and asks for money that I give it to them if I have got it, and by some miracle I usually do.

I have often been asked what if they use it to buy whiskey? My response is God is not going to ask me what they did with the money, he is going to ask me if I gave it. As I have often said God takes very good care of us, so if he asks for some of that money back I am going to give it. We have never gone with out food, clothing or shelter because I helped someone and I don’t see it happening any time soon.

So you see we all do something to help our fellow man, but what would happen if we took it up a notch. What if we went beyond our comfort zone? We all know people who need help, we see them every day. What if we helped the old lady down the street to rake her yard or the old man roof his house. What if we helped that farmer plant his food. What if when we were finished instead of accepting their gifts of appreciation we told them to do something for three other people and they did. What if you’re three simple acts of kindness started spreading, and you were responsible for a better world.

This is a comment to who ever called him self Jesus. I read all you said but some I did not understand because you can't spell worth the heck. Talk about going to school and getting a better job. Why don't you tell us what you do for a living? It must not require education because from the sound of it you have non. so that tells me you where in the right place at the right time. Because you sure would not qualify for anything else. Why are you so negitive about these workers. Get on our knees and ask God to forgive you of your sins and repent. Amen

This is a comment to who ever called him self Jesus. I read all you said but some I did not understand because you can't spell worth the heck. Talk about going to school and getting a better job. Why don't you tell us what you do for a living? It must not require education because from the sound of it you have non. so that tells me you where in the right place at the right time. Because you sure would not qualify for anything else. Why are you so negitive about these workers. Get on our knees and ask God to forgive you of your sins and repent. Amen

This is my opnionI think what everyone is forgeting about on This topic, is that the CEO/Share holdes.Board of Directors has to do what is in the best interst of that company, not the best interst of the employees, I know that Grocers dont have a easy job during a strike, but with more and more company coming under fire that they dont do what is in the best interest of the company, 2) What good is it if they union wins and the Grocers turns around and closes some stores, then them employees will be out of work, Anyone can be trained to stock shelfs, be a cashier and bag food, this is not rocker science, The Grocers has to comepete with super giants Like Wall mart that just recently got into the Grocery business and Big-K comserumers are demanding loser prices, but how can the Grocers keep lower prices if theyre over head goes up. If the employees wants to make a carrer out of a job then they must look elsewhere.

That is my opnion.

The only greed being displayed in this whole strike is on the part of the unions. Why is it that when a CEO tries to increase a profit, he's "greedy" and "evil", but when an employee tries to increase a profit (increased wage), he's some sort of hero for "standing up to the little guy."??? If you're not happy in your job, then leave your job, and let someone else have it. By holding on to your job, and not letting someone else take it, you are denying them the right to make money, and that is the essence of greed.

We all want more money in this life - the way to get it is not to stop working, and demand that your employer hand it over to you - it's to better yourself --- work longer hours, take a second job, go back to school and learn a skill. Sure, nobody likes doing these things, but that's the point of our economic system - you get out of it what you put into it.

I will never support any unionized store. Go ahead - call me a scab - I'm proud to be one. Go Wallmart!!!

You can bet that the majority of these Union people shop at Wal Mart and call people that are willing to work the jobs they walked out on Scabs. Ironic I think that they are in fact expediting their own extinction by shopping for the best deal (just like everyone else)
at non union stores like Wal Mart.