Los Angeles Indymedia : Activist News

Like every strike, pundits all weighed in with their final analyses. Many of them, supporters, were heartbroken at the results, and others more philosophical.

• Muffy Sunde
• Loren Goldner
• The Spark
• Union-Network.org
• Seven Oaks (this was from before the conclusion)
• Comment Thread from the Washington Montly

For more about the strike, as well as other local labor issues, see:

Friends of Labor

Local activist and writer Siu Hin Lee has posted a series of informative articles about business and labor conditions in China, told from the perspective of a progressive, working-class expatriate. (Click the headline for the stories.)

Thursday brought news that the negotiations were concluding, and the final deal seems to includee a two-tier wage and benefits system. (There are actually two tiers in place, so this is a third tier of even lower-wage positions.) In two-tiered compensation deals, the existing workers are paid close to their current compensation, while new workers are paid less. A cap on raises and benefits compensation is also expected.

War! A price war to get back shoppers is expected.

• Albertson's Palm Springs Strike Interview by Jessie Bhangoo
• Grocery workers win lawmakers’ backing by Kelly McConnell
• Photos and Video from Today's Supermarket Strike Rally in San Pedro by Secret Shopper
• Raucous Supermarket Strike Rally In San Pedro by Secret Shopper
• Civil Disobedience, Ten arrests in SMC by Marcus
• Rallies and Street Actions on February 19 to Support Supermarket Strikers by Secret Shopper
• Community Strike support in Northeast LA by Jennifer Murphy
• UFCW Rally in Venice by Cornelius Cardew
• Strike Force Keeps the Pressure by Marcus
• LA Grocery Workers Battle for Healthcare by johnx (45 minutes of audio)
• Montebello Albertsons by John Kawakami

After 17 Years of Striking, Pictsweet Workers Get Unionized

The Pictsweet workers in Ventura finally got their union. The UFW is now the recognized organizing unit. Read the story by Ginny Browne of SB Indymedia.

The Struggle Against Forever 21 for Worker's Back Pay Continues

Well over a year into their fight, they continue to struggle, this time in Santa Monica

January 31, 2004 Inglewood CA
This was the largest march and rally to date in the 17week old grocery strike and lockout. UFCW rank and file received support from across a wide spectrum of the community. In the 15,000 to 20,000 strong crowd stood union members and their allies who were finally witness to a strong take action series of speeches by union, governmental and religious leaders.

Update 2/9/04 From the eastside to the westside follow links to two actions on Wednesday

Follow links for Newswire Coverage

• photos by J
• video by Marcus
• photos by Marcus
• article by ICP
• article by CC
• photos & audio by builder123
• photos & audio by builder123
• video by A
• photos by 1Planet1People

“This struggle didn’t start a few months ago, this struggle started long before… we came from this struggle…” ILWU
Take Part in the Struggle - click here for details.

The UFCW gave the OK to strikers to increase militancy at pickets, and started getting trade unionists to support pickets at big rallies at supermarkets. A series of local community demonstrations have been organized (read schedules) culminating in a huge rally at the Forum in Inglewood on the 31st.

Reports
• Militant Picketing in Hermosa Beach by Marcus (3 clips)
• Attorney Not Intimidated at Picket by Marcus
• (another attorney vid)
• Two Picketers Arrested
• Vons Strike at PCH by Bradley
• Choke the Chicken by Bob Morris
• NLG and Activists Firing Up Picket Line by Marcus
• Vons Civil Disobedience Arrests by Bob Morris
• Vons People Using 30's and 60's Tactics? by Marcus
• Albertson's on MLK and Crenshaw by J
• Picket Line Albertsons by Bob Morris
• NLG, LASSO Firing Up Picket Line, 1 by Marcus
• NLG, LASSO Firing Up Picket Line, 2 by Marcus
• Huge demonstrations at Vons in Garden Grove by Duane Roberts
• Militant Picket Video by a
• Militant Picket at Vons Photos by a
• UFCW Benefit Screening of Salt of the Earth by greens. About Salt of the Earth

In the progressive activist community, critics have said the union should have been more aggressive long ago, and working within the communities from the start. This strike happens against the backdrop of weakening labor power contrasted with unprecedented community support. (In Inglewood, the aggressively anti-union/anti-worker Wal-Mart fights with the City Council to introduce their huge "super center" stores.)