COUNTY UNIONS OFFER STRIKE SUPPORT MOVE INTENDED TO TURN UP HEAT ON GROCERY CHAINS.

Byline: KERRY CAVANAUGH

Staff Writer

Hoping to increase pressure on three major supermarket chains, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor voted Monday to boycott the stores and aid grocery workers if they decide to strike.

Approved by representatives of 300 local unions, the strike sanction means organized labor will help organize picket lines, demonstrations and food drives for United Food and Commercial Workers locked out of Vons, Albertsons and Ralphs stores.

"No longer will we tolerate companies, who in their race to make more profits, are destroying what once made this city great: a strong middle class," said Maria Elena Durazo, executive secretary-treasurer of County Fed.

"In the event that grocery workers choose to call a strike at Vons, Albertsons or Ralphs, those workers will have the full support of the Los Angeles labor movement."

A spokeswoman for the supermarkets said it's common for a union to seek a strike sanction after its members authorize a strike, as Albertsons workers did in March.

"This action will have no impact on our continued commitment to the negotiation process and to achieving a peaceful contract settlement," Adena Tessler said.

An extension of the contract between the stores and the union expired at 11:59 p.m. Monday, and the agreement is automatically being renewed on a day-to-day basis. Either side can cancel the contract with 72 hours' notice.

While a strike is uncertain -- the two sides are expected back at the negotiating table next Monday -- there is lingering concern that there could be a repeat of the 139-day strike three years ago.

That job action cost the chains an estimated $2 billion and resulted in a two-tier contract that is the main point of contention in the current negotiations.

The system maintains higher wages and better benefits for veteran workers, while new employees have a lower pay scale and take longer to qualify for health care coverage.

The union wants to eliminate the two-tier system, raise wages and improve the benefits package. Its leaders note that Gelson's and Stater Bros. recently eliminated the two-tier system.

Ralphs worker Chris Zazueta, 42, said employees haven't gotten a raise in five years and are facing rising health care costs.

"We know what their profits are and we know they can afford a decent contract," said Zazueta, who works in Sherman Oaks. "Why not cut down the bonuses for company executives?"

kerry.cavanaugh(at)dailynews.com

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