L.A. labor federation backs grocery workers in contract dispute

L.A. labor federation backs grocery workers in contract dispute Lines in the sand continue to be drawn in the Southern California grocery store contract dispute between workers and three national supermarket chains.
   The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor Monday announced that its 800,000 members would honor picket lines if Southern California members of the United Food and Commercial Workers strike or are locked out by storeowners.
   The LACFL represents more than 300 labor unions, including the Teamsters, the Screen Actors Guild, the Service Employees International Union, and the American Federation of Teachers.
   The federation also said it would mobilize for demonstrations, boycotts and food drives to aid grocery workers in the event of a strike or lockout.
   The UFCW contract expired March 5, but several extensions have allowed negotiations to continue.
   A strike three years ago put workers on the picket lines for months, nearly bankrupting the union and costing the supermarkets millions. Nearly 8,000 Teamster tractor-trailer drivers and warehouse employees refused to cross the picket lines, forcing the markets to hire replacement workers to keep their supply lines flowing.
   The LACFL action comes only days after the Supervalu Inc.’s Albertsons chain, Safeway Inc.’s Vons and Pavilions and Kroger Co.’s Ralphs chains announced that they would consider a strike called against one chain as a strike called against all three.
   In February, the UFCW signed contract deals with two chains, Gelson’s and Stater Bros. Union officials are pushing for higher wages and better health care benefits, as well as removing a two-tiered pay structure that was enacted under the previous contract.