Adopted Store - Pavilion's in Beverly Hills

With a 7:10 pm strike deadline having passed supporters of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) showed up for a candlelight vigil to show community backing for the workers in front of a Pavillions market in Beverly Hills on Sunday night, September 18, 2011.

The vigil then proceeded 1/2 mile to a Ralphs market in West LA where they heard speeches from labor and elected officials speaking from a flat-bed truck.

Talks between the grocery workers union and three supermarket chains, Ralphs, Vons (owner of Pavillions) and Albertsons continued late Sunday night, thus the actual walk out of workers who were ready to strike at 12:01 am, is now on hold pending the outcome of the last minute negotiations talks. Workers are ready for calls from union officials pulling them from stores if the talks break down.

But, both sides are seeking to head off a strike by 62,000 UCFW members. Last Thursday night, unions issued a 72-hour strike notice, giving them the ability to walk out from hundreds of markets In Los Angeles, Orange and other Southern California Counties.

Union members have been working without a contract for the past 6 months, while negotiators have been attempting to reach an agreement on a new contract.

The sticking point continues to be healthcare benefits: how much should grocery workers pay for health insurance premiums, provided by the supermarket chains.

Speakers at the candlelight vigil included Los Angeles County Federation of Labor Executive Secretary–Treasurer María Elena Durazo, LA City Council Member Paul Koretz, LA City Controller Wendy Greuel and California Assembly Members Felipe Fuentes and Bob Blumenfield. California Assembly Members Mike Feuer also attended the event.

-Larry Gross, Executive Director at Coalition for Economic Survival

View album on Larry Gross's Facebeook page.

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