LONGSHOREMEN TO RESCUE AFL-CIO TO BROADEN SUPERMARKET STRIKE.

Byline: Nicholas Grudin Staff Writer

As part of a new strategy, the powerful AFL-CIO labor union called Tuesday for its members across the nation to implement a broader attack against three big supermarket chains locked in a bitter strike with Southern California grocery clerks.

The plan, worked out during a meeting in Washington, D.C., between officials from the AFL-CIO - the nation's largest federation of local unions - and the United Food and Commercial Workers union focuses on attacking the parent companies of Albertson's, Vons and Ralphs in their markets elsewhere.

Pleasanton-base Safeway, one of the largest grocery chains in North America, is parent of Safeway. Albertson's Inc. is based in Boise, Idaho, and Ralphs' parent, Kroger Co., is based in Cincinnati.

Other elements include wider use of informational pickets outside California, town hall meetings, demonstrations at the homes of company executives and pressuring big investors to punish the companies for their stance in the dispute by selling off their shares.

UFCW officials said the added support will cement the notion that the Southern California labor dispute has national implications for health care policy.

The AFL-CIO has supported the striking clerks almost since the dispute started.

``The union is determined to expand its efforts nationally, be coordinating our structure of local labor networks and allowing them to coordinate local movement,'' said union spokesman Ron Blackwell, director of corporate affairs for the AFL-CIO.

``The companies are choosing to do this with the encouragement of Wall Street and if they can do it in Southern California, they can do it across the country. We are expanding the reach of the UFCW to try to defend these workers.''

Officials for Ralphs and Albertson's refused to comment on the AFL-CIO's plans. Safeway officials did not immediately return calls.

Grocers union officials believe their battle has national implications.

``This is a regional strike against three national supermarket chains - the outcome of this strike, specifically the ability of grocery workers to keep their affordable health care, will effect every working American. With 14 million working Americans affiliated with the AFL-CIO, we're very pleased to have their assistance,'' said Barbara Maynard, a spokeswoman for the UFCW Local 770.

The moves come just a day after the 100th day of the grocery store strike, with no talks scheduled between UFCW leaders and company officials.

The strike began Oct. 11, when labor leaders announced a strike against Vons and Pavilions stores due to disagreements over a new contract proposal. The next day, Albertson's and Ralphs locked out their employees.

The crux of the dispute is proposed cuts to medical benefits for new hires and returning workers. Union leaders say the cuts will drastically reduce their health care benefits and pave the way for an uninsured work force, while supermarket officials claim they are only asking for a $5 to $15 weekly concession.

Health policy experts have said that the companies' proposal could have dramatic implications.

According to labor experts, active participation and leadership from the AFL-CIO could help change momentum in the strike, which appeared to be waning in the past few weeks as some workers crossed the picket lines and others found work elsewhere.

``The AFL-CIO national participation is a shot in the arm. One of the challenges has always been to broaden support and make inroads into other unions,'' said Kent Wong, director of the UCLA Center for Labor Research and Education.

Nicholas Grudin, [phone]

nicholas.grudin(at)dailynews.com