The Stakes Are High

The So. Cal. grocery workers strike continues, better than ever (snippets):

The stakes are high. Victory for the strikers would accelerate attempts to unionize other big service companies, say union organizers; defeat could have a chilling effect on recruitment. Union leaders say the strike could be the first round in a fight in which major companies seek to reduce traditional benefits because they claim they are being undercut by vast non-union firms, such as Wal-Mart. ...... Ellen Andreder, the UFCW spokeswoman in southern California, said other unions were watching closely and support was coming from unions across the US. "I've never seen anything like this in 19 years," Ms Andreder said. "This is probably the biggest strike - in terms of numbers and locations - in the history of the labor movement. The Teamsters and other unions see a direct link: no industry would be immune [from cuts in benefits] if they get away with it here. "Our feeling is that we have come too far as a society to lower the bar and go back to the days of Carnegie and Rockefeller when the more you exploited your workers, the more successful you were." Ms Andreder said the companies had enjoyed a 91% increase in profits in the past five years and could well afford to continue paying benefits. Safeway has an annual turnover of $30bn (£17bn). "This strike should send a message," said Greg Denier, the UFCW communications director. "Healthcare is a major issue now and people understand and are sympathetic." He said the dispute would have a major effect on the union movement: "This experience will shape a whole new generation of trade unionists. We're getting more and more members and support from other unions. "But the most important support we have had is from the grocery shopper, and the fact that they have not been crossing picket lines is a sign of our success." The local Teamsters president, Jim Santangelo, declared on announcing that the drivers would respect picket lines at depots: "We either end this thing together or we die together."