Feature Archives

2/14:Hundreds of people marched from the Reclaim the Streets party on Haight Street to the Safeway near 7th and Fulton on Saturday afternoon. The store was mostly closed down by lines of police before the arrival of the march. The radical cheerleaders performed, and some people spoke about the struggle of the grocery workers to maintain their health benefits. There was one arrest.
Photos: 1 2 3
There are pickets in the East Bay on Wednesdays and Fridays and there are often pickets in other locations. Some people are pledging to not cross the picket lines. Sales have dropped slightly at Safeway stores.

Two months after Safeway CEO Steve Burd forced 70,000 families to strike against healthcare and pay cuts, the Bush administration appointed him as a presidential advisor on domestic terrorism. On February 11, about 150 people gathered at the Mission St. Safeway in Santa Cruz to send George Bush a message that, "Healthcare IS Homeland Security... and Steve Burd is a Domestic Terrorist.
Photos:  1  2  |  Santa Cruz Indymedia

On Wednesday February 11th, approximately 500 people gathered outside the Pacific Stock Exchange demanding shareholders drop their Safeway stock in solidarity with the striking Southern Californian grocery workers (Photos Video: 1 2). There are now regular pickets on Friday nights at the Broadway Safeway in Oakland and every Wednesday from 5-7:30pm at the North Berkeley Safeway at Shattuck and Rose (More Details).
Three giant corporations, Safeway (Vons), Kroger (Ralphs) and Albertsons, are attempting to eliminate health care benefits at work for 70,000 Southern California supermarket workers. Some of the grocery workers have sacrificed their homes, others their cars.
UFCW | Central Labor Council of Alameda County
On Friday 13, labor is planning a pow-wow to discuss Safeway boycott: Video

2/7/2004: At eleven am Saturday two dozen Raging Grannies gathered in front of the Mountain View Walmart to protest the chain's low wages, lack of health insurance for workers, sex discrimination and use of sweatshops. The demonstration consisted of satrical songs directed at Walmart and the passing out of informational leaflets to the store's customers. The manager, who refused to be identified, came out after ten minutes and ordered the Grannies to leave. The singers ignored the order and the manager left. Soon the manager returned and ordered the grannies to move down the sidewalk, they were not blocking the entrance, they ignored her again. The manager then moved to the side and watched, when asked to comment she refused. The police did not arrive and the protest continued without further incident.
Photos | Walmart Watch.com | Walmartyrs

2/6/2004: The District Attorney of Alameda County is still attempting to prosecute 25 persons arrested at the Port of Oakland on April 7, 2003. Over the last several months there has been a series of pretrial hearings. At the hearing today, Judge C. Don Clay is expected to decide whether the case of the Oakland 25 will go to trial. Defense attorneys will present motions to demur and dismiss charges for “vindictive prosecution” against defendants whose only “crime” was to exercise their First Amendment rights. The defendants are being charged with several misdemeanors including “disrupting a business” and “creating a public nuisance.”
Before the hearing today there was a rally of several hundred labor and antiwar activists in front of the courthouse. Pictures:  1  2
On April 7, 2003 the Oakland Police Dept. opened fire with "less-lethal" weapons on a peaceful anti-war picket line in the Port of Oakland protesting the war profiteers shipping military cargo. The demo was called by Direct Action to Stop the War. Dozens of demonstrators and 9 longshore workers, members of ILWU Local 10, were seriously injured and 25 were also arrested.
Committee to Defend ILWU Local 10 BA Jack Heyman | April 7th Protest

1/28/2004: With police helicopters hovering overhead 250 striking Southern California grocery store workers and their families marched on the luxurious gated Alamo home of Safeway CEO Steve Burd. The Pilgrimage for Justice had brought the strikers from Southern California in buses and vans to deliver over 10,000 postcards to Burd’s house urging him to negotiate in good faith. Progressive clergy from throughout California who appealed to his conscience organized the march. Pictures | Report

On Saturday January 31st there was a protest against Safeway in the East Bay. Over 1000 people gathered at Mosswood Park and marched to the Safeway at Broadway and 51st St. As hundreds picketed in front of the store, several local labor organizers and clergy sat down in the road in an act of civil disobedience.
Photos:   1   2   3   4   5   6   |   Reports:   1   |   Videos:  1   2   3   4   5
Actions in LA this weekend: Critical Mass | March of 20,000 people
The strike by 70,000 Vons, Ralph’s and Albertson workers for affordable healthcare is now past its 100th day. If the giant food chains gets it way health costs for these workers will rise 50% and put it out of reach for many who make an average of $20,000 a year. The contract for Northern California grocery store workers expires this summer and the struggle being waged in the South will have a big impact on their contract as well as the entire labor movement. The state Attorney General's Office is expected to file a lawsuit Monday alleging the companies are breaking antitrust laws in an effort to crush the union. Questions are also being raised about the treatment of janitors placed at the supermarkets by janitorial contracting companies; evidence suggests the supermarkets knew the janitors were not being paid as required by California wage and hour laws, and permitted the exploitation.
Central Labor Council of Alameda County | UFCW | UFCW 770 | Update From LA Indymedia