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So. California Strike
Southern California Strike
The supermarket workers' strike in Southern California has become a pivotal point in the UFCW's history, having influenced the way UFCW members now look at contract negotiations with employers from a national perspective.
Click Here to check out the UFCW grocery workers' website dedicated to upcoming contract negotiations.
Brief History
The four-and-a-half month strike during October 2003-February 2004 was the longest major strike in the history of the UFCW, the largest and longest strike in the history of the supermarket industry, and the first major strike of the 21st century.
After 20 weeks without paychecks, workers won their fight to protect affordable health care, their pensions and job security. The companies demanded separate health and pension plans for current and future employees which would have resulted in the effective elimination of health care and retirement security benefits for workers.
But workers stuck together and stood up for affordable health care. Communities rallied behind the grocery workers that served them, refusing to cross the picket lines with an average of 75% of customers shopping elsewhere--amounting to estimated loses of more than $2 billion for the companies. In standing up for affordable health care, the grocery workers put health care on the national agenda and sent a message to employers everywhere that attempts to eliminate health care benefits will come at a high price. The strike also raised alarm for national health care reform.
To read more about the strike, read the archived section on our website, Hold the Line, that was first established to raise awareness and gather support of the workers' fight for affordable health care in the communities of Southern California.
