DOCKWORKERS CONTRIBUTE $155,000.

Byline: Eric Johnson Staff Writer

WILMINGTON - The visions of a lockout at the ports 15 months ago are still fresh in the minds of dock workers in Long Beach and Los Angeles.

That much was evident Tuesday as unions representing those workers announced that they've raised $155,000 to pay health care costs for local supermarket employees who are either locked out or striking.

And they pledged nearly $1 million more in the next six months.

The money comes from the three chapters of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union whose members work in the San Pedro ports, workers who were locked out in October 2002 over salary, pension and health care issues.

It also comes on the 101st day of the supermarket lockouts and strike (Vons employees struck while Albertson's and Ralphs employees were locked out). The work action began in October mostly over the supermarket chains' insistence that workers share the burden of health care costs.

In front of a backdrop of placards that read ``Stop Corporate Greed,'' members of Locals 13, 63, and 94 stood and clapped as Local 13 President Joe Donato decried the lockout as a sign of things to come.

``It would be one thing if these companies were struggling financially, but they're not,'' he said. ``This will fester, this will snowball. Health care will be taken away.''

Members of the grocery store union are facing the loss of benefits because the supermarket chains have stopped paying into the employees' benefit fund.

Warren Chapman, a picketing Vons employee, fought back tears as he described how he might not be able to afford medicine and doctor visits for his young son, who has a rare heart condition.

``He needs constant medical care,'' Chapman said. ``Without that, he might not live to be a teenager.''

Chapman said he worried for his family and for other union workers if the supermarket chains get their way.

``We give our lives to these companies and all we're asking for is a little support,'' he said.

His health care won't be discontinued, he said, thanks to the dock workers' donations.

Asked if he felt hopeless, Chapman gestured to the longshoremen and responded: ``Standing here with my brothers and sisters, I don't feel hopeless.''

Ray Familatha, a dispatcher at the ports and a union member, said he felt an obligation to stand by his fellow laborers.

``If you can't go to a doctor and get treated, you have nothing,'' he said. ``This is personal to every ILWU worker, and it should be personal whether you're a member of organized labor or not.''

Being locked out himself in 2002 is still a fresh memory.

``Should a family have to make the decision, `Should I pay for health care or care insurance?''' Familia asked. ``The ILWU was faced with this same situation. For months and months, they wanted concessions over health care.''