The strikers are members of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1360. The workers are fighting for part-time workers to have health-care coverage for dependents and against company moves to impose higher medical coverage co-payments on the workforce.

After more than two weeks on strike, which began September 6, pickets remain convinced of the justice of their fight. Business at the struck stores is down by an estimated 80 percent.

According to striker Jason Belfiore, store owners are refusing to negotiate. The stores belong to the Wakefern Co-op, which is headquartered in northern New Jersey. The company has been busing in supervisors, office workers, and temporary workers to work at the struck stores.

Outside the stores uniformed and jackbooted security cops patrol with video cameras and keep a constant pressure on pickets to keep moving and conform to a court injunction limiting where the strikers can have their picket line.  
 
Strike during imperialist war buildup
In face of the imperialist war drive following the destruction of the World Trade Center, the unionists have faced some hostility. Strikers Debbie Goldman and Ryan Masters said union members were spit on or had marbles or quarters thrown at them, along with remarks such as, "Can't you look at what's going on in New York?" Another asked, "Are you trying to terrorize me?"

Belfiore said a hostile passerby told him, "You should be with the rest of union workers helping dig out in New York. It's un-American to be out here." Jason pointed out that "since ShopRite was open for business I was going to stay right there, on the picket line."

In addition, sister UFCW Local 56 representing 1,000 meat cutters and deli department workers in the same stores have gone back to work after honoring and staffing Local 1360's picket lines for two weeks. According to strike captain Larry Meredith, many members of the local did not want to go back to work; they themselves face a contract renewal in November.

Meredith described how returning meat cutters refused company demands they learn how to run a cash register and put groceries on the shelves. In retaliation, the company cut work hours to four a day and the workers are being threatened with layoffs.

George Chalmers is a member of the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees.  
 
 
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