Grocery Strike: Both Sides Talking
Negoitiations Held At Undisclosed Location
POSTED: 4:39 p.m. PST November 10, 2003
UPDATED: 4:50 p.m. PST November 10, 2003
SAN DIEGO -- Negotiators for grocery clerks and three supermarket chains met with a federal mediator Monday, the first such talks since a strike and walkout began more than a month ago.
Local strikers say they're feeling hopeful, but are not going to expect too much.
"You can't get your hopes up. We're not going to get everything we want and we got to prepare for that. We're going to have to make some sacrifices and that's understandable. There are just some things that are not worth sacrificing and we have to make stand on," union worker Jasel Germain said.
Few details are expected from the meetings because they are being held in an undisclosed location and the federal mediator has asked both sides not to comment to the media.
The work stoppage began with 21,000 Vons workers going on strike Oct. 11. In response, Ralphs Grocery Co. and Albertsons Inc. locked out 49,000 other workers in solidarity with Safeway Inc., parent of Vons Co. Inc.
The strike and lockout have affected 859 grocery stores from the Mexican border to Bishop. However, the union lifted the pickets outside Ralphs stores last week.
Shoppers have flooding back to Ralphs and the union says it hopes that will weaken the bond between the three supermarket chains.
 GROCERY STRIKE LOCK OUT  VOTE: Cross Picket Line To Shop? DISCUSS: Share Your Thoughts EMAIL ALERT: Sign Up For Grocery Strike Major Development Emails LINKS:  UFCW135.comAlbertsons.comSafeway.comVons.com |
Local strikers say they're feeling hopeful, but are not going to expect too much.
"You can't get your hopes up. We're not going to get everything we want and we got to prepare for that. We're going to have to make some sacrifices and that's understandable. There are just some things that are not worth sacrificing and we have to make stand on," union worker Jasel Germain said.
Few details are expected from the meetings because they are being held in an undisclosed location and the federal mediator has asked both sides not to comment to the media.
The work stoppage began with 21,000 Vons workers going on strike Oct. 11. In response, Ralphs Grocery Co. and Albertsons Inc. locked out 49,000 other workers in solidarity with Safeway Inc., parent of Vons Co. Inc.
The strike and lockout have affected 859 grocery stores from the Mexican border to Bishop. However, the union lifted the pickets outside Ralphs stores last week.
Shoppers have flooding back to Ralphs and the union says it hopes that will weaken the bond between the three supermarket chains.
Previous Stories:
- October 31, 2003: Union 'Making Life Easier' For Grocery Consumers
- October 22, 2003: Grocers: Wal-Mart Playing Part In Grocery Strike
- October 20, 2003: Strike Splits Small Town Between Stores, Workers
- October 19, 2003: Strike Takes Toll On Stores
- October 16, 2003: Economist: Strike Could Cost State $6M Per Day
- October 15, 2003: Lawyer: Union Lawsuit Has No Merit
- October 14, 2003: Grocery Clerks Continue To Picket
- October 14, 2003: Supermarket Strike Sends Shoppers Elsewhere
- October 13, 2003: Grocery Workers Strike, Locked Out
- October 10, 2003: Stock Up Before Supermarket Strike
- October 8, 2003: Supermarket Strike Around The Corner?
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