2-17-04
Supporters Target Albertsons Acme Stores in Philly
As part of a nationwide effort to keep Albertson's from effectively destroying meaningful health care benefits for workers in its Southern California stores, a coalition of Philadelphia union and community supporters rallied on Thursday, February 12, at Acme Market to urge shoppers "Don't Shop at Acme." Local supporters are targeting local Albertsons-owned stores -- Acme -- to send the parent company a clear message: We will not shop at your stores until you end your demands to kill health benefits for workers.
Message Brought to Maryland
Fighting biting winds and icy sidewalks, supporters with the AFL-CIO staged its "Don't Shop at Safeway" campaign in the Baltimore area over the Febraruy 7th weekend. As the picketers sent up a chorus of shouts to motorists, the drivers honked their horns and quite a few turned their cars around and left the parking lot.
This weekend, Safeway responded to the activities by community, religious and labor activists in Baltimore by closing down the store for three hours. Management also decided to throw one of their customers in jail because he dared to pay in U. S. tender, it just happened to be pennies. Ernie Grecco, President of the Baltimore CLC was given a HERO's welcome at a rally the next day after spending the night in jail "We want Safeway to know that if workers are forced to pay outrageous prices for healthcare benefits, workers may not even have pennies to buy their groceries."
Unions and community organizations at the events include: Operating Engineers, Sheetmetal Workers, Citizens for Peace, UAW, USWA, All Peoples Congress, SEIU, APWU, ACORN, OPEIU, CWA, Baltimore CLC, GUILD, AFSCME, Labor and Religion, NAACP, CASA, LIUNA, Masters and Mates Union.
Arizona Turns Up The Heat On Albertsons
Southern California striking workers extended picket lines last week to four Arizona Albertsons grocery stores to let consumers know that the workers' fight for affordable health care is national issue.
Workers at the 135 Albertsons stores in Arizona are not represented by the UFCW. UFCW Local 99 and Safeway and Fry's Food Stores (owned by Kroger) have been negotiating a contract since the beginning of November. It would cover about 14,000 employees at those stores. In October, the contract was indefinitely extended to continue talks without the immediate threat of a strike."Don't Kiss Our Healthcare Goodbye!"
Over 60 metro Washington DC activists handed out thousands of chocolate kisses and Safeway Boycott Pledge Cards to Metro Rail commuters on their way home Thursday, February 12. Meanwhile, nearly 200 activists are forming Community Action Teams to organize local actions at neighborhood Safeways, including visits with store managers, leafleting and letter-writing campaigns.
Portland Community Comes Together
Nearly 140 community activists, students, and concerned citizens, marched on the Lloyd Center Safeway in Portland, Oregon, Saturday, Jan. 31, in support of the 70,000 striking grocery workers. The activists created a boycott buzz among customers who were greeted near the entrances to the store. In a show of solidarity, many would-be shoppers destroyed their Safeway Club Cards and pledged to encourage family, friends, and neighbors not to shop Safeway until the company offers the workers a fair contract. Within the first ten minutes of leafleting outside, at least three drivers entering the parking lot turned around. One said she had no problem with driving the extra few minutes to take her business elsewhere until Safeway offered workers a fair and decent contract which did not disturb their healthcare. "I don't shop at Wal-Mart because of how they treat their workers," she noted. "Why should I shop at a store trying to treat its workers like Wal-Mart does? |
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