Rally for Ralphs Workers
Several hundred Venetians and others gathered,
Oct. 18, to show their support of the Ralphs workers who have been locked out by
their employer, Kroger. The crowd heard an array of speakers, including Dennis
Kucinich, Ed Asner, Mimi Kennedy and union leaders and strikers.
Several speakers pointed out that there
were many stores providing local alternatives to crossing the picket line
including: Smart & Final, 99 Cents Store, Gelsons, numerous health food
stores, the Friday farmers market next to the Venice Library and the Sunday
farmers market on Main St. in Ocean
Park.
All the speakers and performers
were terrific. Union leader Richard Cowan said that the union had wanted to give
people alternatives by only striking Vons, but that Ralphs and Albertsons had
immediately locked-out their employees. Local 1442 President Mike Straeter
warned that it could be a long strike. “The corporations want a
war,” he said.
The Ralphs is the
only centrally located supermarket that is convenient to most of Venice. Safeway
pulled out of three stores in Venice at various times, including at the Windward
Circle, Washington Square and at Rose and
Lincoln.
After a stirring speech by
Dennis Kucinich, the crowd marched past the Ralphs and down Lincoln before
returning the rally site.
Channel 7,
the AP and several newspapers and film crews covered the event. The AP story ran
in 60 newspapers nationwide.
The
speakers included (in order of
presentation):
Jim Smith (MC); Bill and
Clabe and Marjorie (musicians); DeDe McCreary (Ralphs worker and picket
captain); Mike Straeter - President, United Food and Commercial Workers Union,
Local 1442; Richard Cowan (Secretary-Treasurer of UFCW 1442); Ed Asner (Movie
and TV star); Linda Albertano (Venice poet and performance artist); Francisco
Letelier (Venice visual artist and poet); Yolanda Miranda (Co-chair, Venice
Peace and Freedom); Mimi Kennedy (Plays Abby on Dharma & Greg TV show);
Dennis Kucinich (Candidate for the Democratic Nomination for President); Jatun
Valentine (Oakwood Seniors' Representative); The Smiling Minks - Vessy Mink and
Suzy Williams; Francisca Cortez (Farmworker, Taco Bell Boycott
Campaign)
Posted: Sat
- November 1, 2003 at 04:55 PM