This is a reportback on some of my experiences working with grocery picketers through LASSO (Los Angeles Strikers Solidarity Organization). I hope everyone gets on here and writes about their own experiences. Encourage workers and others working in solidarity to get on IMC and report, even if it seems trivial or unimportant. Everybody’s story is important right now.

Last Saturday, several of us went to our newly adopted store for the first time. We chose the Von’s market at the corner of Virgil and Sunset. When I arrived, there was a large group of picketers marching around the parking lot. This intersection of Virgil, Sunset, and Hollywood, is a high-traffic, high-visibility area, and the picketers received a great deal of support from passing drivers. However, there was some discussion among several of the picketers as to how effective it was to march around the lot as opposed to standing around the store entrances and engaging with shoppers. Some of the picketers felt that marching around was not the best tactic.

The picketers included workers as well as others who were there in solidarity, including ourselves and several members of the L.A. Weekly staff, whose office is in the area. The L.A. Weekly employees were demonstrating their own union’s solidarity with the grocery workers, and while they had hoped for a larger showing from other Weekly staff, it was nice to see them out supporting the strike.

I talked to several workers, including Felipa, who was there with her husband and her five-month-old daughter. Although she was very concerned because she had only been working a little over a month after maternity leave before the lockout happened, she was still one of the most vocal and spirited picketers, engaging shoppers at the entrances and helping coordinate the workers out there that day, all while attending to her baby.

I also spoke with Jose, who has been working part-time for quite a while at the store while supporting and raising his ten-year-old son as a single parent. Jose is taking business classes at the local community college where I work, so we talked about his academic and career goals. While unsure what career path he’d like to follow, he told me he likes to work with children and would like to transfer to a university soon.

At one point, Felipa spoke with a woman who had come to Von’s to buy food for her son’s hamster. Sonia agreed with the picketers, but she and her six-year-old son James were walking, and the nearest pet store was about a mile or so up Hillhurst. So I gave them a ride in my care, and Sonia told me about her home-based business making organic fruit juices and fruit mixes, which she sells around the city. She was very supportive of the workers, but confused about the recent UFCW decision to lift the strike on Ralph’s. I tried to explain as best I could, but I am not particularly supportive of this decision and not entirely clear on the logic of it myself.

One shopper became very angry when I asked her to support the strike by shopping at another market. I offered several alternatives, including Ralph’s, and she became irate and said she was very upset with the union telling her where she could and couldn’t shop. Shoppers are free to shop wherever they want; alternative markets are simply that—alternatives—for those shoppers who wish to support the workers. It was interesting to see though that this shopper interpreted the offer of alternatives as a directive. It’s amazing to me how quickly people gravitate toward reasons and justifications not to care when they are faced with even the smallest inconvenience to their own life.

Later, I went up Hillhurst to the Albertson’s at the corner of Hillhurst and Ambrose. It seemed like the picketers had a much larger and more spirited and aggressive presence there. However, the parking lot did not seem particularly empty.

At both locations, the picketers did not report having problems with management.

This coming weekend, our local Silverlake/Los Feliz/Echo Park-area group would like to return to Von’s on Sunday, as the workers reported that this is the store’s busiest day. People from the surrounding communities are invited to come and participate and get involved with LASSO. You can also adopt your own store. As of this past Monday, LASSO had adopted seven or so stores around the city, based on the geography of the current participants, but we need to increase participation and stores quickly. The workers’ funds are stretching tighter and the holiday season is approaching.

LASSO meetings are every Monday at 7:30 at the Peace Center (8124 W. Third St.).

http://www.geocities.com/backlassoweb

backlasso@hotmail.com

I HOPE THEY FIRE ALL OF YOU ALONG WITH THE BUS DRIVERS AND MECHANICS. GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND GET A BETTER JOB IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE BENEFITS. IF WE DIDN'T HAVE SO MANY ILLEGAL ALIENS USING THE HEALTH SERVICE FOR FREE. WE WOULD NOT HAVE SUCH EXPENSIVE HEALTH SERVICES.

Yvette,
You are a selfish, mean bitch. I hope you have a painfull death. You Bitch !!!!!!!!

Oh Yvette, if you only knew the gruesome individualism and idiocy you have internalized. Theres not much i can say but that I feel sorry for you. We are the only industrialized country without Health Care. Why is it Portugal can surpass us in Public Health? Well its becuase the ruling class has brainwashed people and made them idiots. You constitute a member of this group. You also constitute part of the problem of why 50 million people in this country dont have health care. You also constitue part of the 100,000 deaths a year from the lack of health care.
Please, think for your self...And when you have become mature and broken from your infantilism, join our side. I will welcome you with open arms.

Javier

Heres a clue....leave the customers alone. We know there are others places to shop. I don't need you "presenting" alternatives. If you want march around like a fool, fine that's your business. Shut your fucking mouth and march OK?

THANK YOU TO ALL THE STRIKERS OUT THERE! these corporations can definitely afford to pay the benefits if they wanted to take care of their employees. The corporate drive for lower wages is a global trend affecting those in developing countries, and yes, even in the United States. Solidarity to these workers and all who are struggling world-wide.

I would like to ask you how can you say such evil things? What did we do to you? Does working hard for our families make us bad people. What if I get cancer shoud i wish it upon you? NO, I should'nt. So you should'nt wish that we lose our jobs You know I started this job because I have 3 young boys that deserve good health care. Whats wrong with that. You don't have to agree and thats fine but don't down a person trying to take care of thier family. Why Should i lose what was promised to me when i started this jod. GOD BLESS YOU YVETTE & ALL OUR LOYAL SHOPPERS.

God bless you guys. I wish you nothing but the best

An Open Letter to Faithful Customers I am the one with the picket sign that was almost hit in the parking lot by someone's car.I am the one the Grocery Store Chain locked out of the store from my job and told me not to return until the contract was settled. I did not leave on my own accord.I am the one you come to on Thanksgiving and Christmas to ring up your groceries so you may go home to enjoy the holidays with your family and seek "good will towards men."I am the one that smiles at you every day and listens to your complaints about the cost of living and the high prices that "they" charge.I am the one that helps you find those items you just can't seem to find.I am the one that opens up an extra check stand to get you home faster, even though I'm on a break.I am the one that hugs you when you come through my line, because you just told me your heartbreaking news of your lost loved one.I am the one that hasn't enjoyed a Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day or The Fourth of July with my family in years, because "I am there to serve you."I am the one that pulls in the grocery carts in the rain.I am the one that you come to for the special cuts of meat you just have to have to make your meal perfect.I am the one that works in the middle of the night to fill the shelves while you sleep.I am the one that makes those beautiful flower arrangements for your Valentine.I am the one that arrives very early to prepare the rolls, the bread, and meat platters for the funeral or your family event.I am the one that selects the right watermelon and ripe pineapple for you.I am the one "they" promised if I give up all my evenings, all my weekends, and all my holidays with my family, "THEY WILL REWARD" me with a decent pension and benefit plan, so I won't need to go on welfare when I am old.I am the one people yell at and am told to stop whining and get back to work.I am the one who continues to try to inform the public of the very, very poor contract language.I am the one who is desperately trying to raise my family and live the American Dream.I am the one that is standing on the sidewalk with my sign asking you to please respect my picket line, because I THOUGHT I earned the right to expect my company to follow through with their promises.I am the one that appreciates all your support these last weeks and need you to stay strong in support in the weeks ahead. WITHOUT YOU WE LOSE!!!

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