SAN FRANCISCO - Pending ratification of a tentative agreement, some 32,000 members of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union returned to work at supermarkets throughout northern California April 15.

The day after the strike ended, Brian Fassler wore a button that read, "Solidarity Works," as he collected grocery carts in the parking lot of the Rockridge Safeway supermarket in Oakland. He and Vi Lieu described the support the strike had received. "Safeway never imagined in a million years that other people would support us like that," said Fassler.

"That's why we're back so soon. This place was empty!" said Lieu. "About the only people who came to shop were from the retirement home across the street. And we had drivers to take them somewhere else. They didn't really want to come here, and we made sure they didn't have to."

According to the San Francisco Examiner, the new agreement will provide full health coverage for all employees. Any increases in insurance costs will be deducted from reserves of the employees health and welfare trust fund. The three- year contract is supposed to freeze wages at their present level.

Workers this reporter interviewed did not yet know the details of the proposed contract. The UFCW has not scheduled meetings, and members will vote by mail.

"The benefits were the main thing for us," said Lieu. "And we hung onto those. I don't think that the company is going to forget what other people did for us either."

"If there's still no raise, I might vote against it," said Fassler. "Three years at the same pay doesn't even keep up with the cost of living."

Some 18,000 workers at 208 Safeway supermarkets from Fresno to the Oregon border walked off the job after contract talks broke down April 5. Within two days, 180 Lucky and 17 Save Mart stores locked out 14,000 UFCW members as part of a bargaining agreement with Safeway.

Once the strike began many supermarkets were deserted as thousands of people showed their solidarity with the workers by refusing to shop at the facilities.

Last year, Safeway alone pocketed $250 million in profits. In the first quarter of 1995, earnings were up to $62 million. The supermarket owners wanted major cuts in health benefits for full-time workers, and complete elimination of health benefits for part-time workers and retirees. The majority of the grocery workers are employed on a part-time basis.

"So many other people are facing the same thing now," said striker Sally Lair. "It doesn't matter what industry you work in, they're all trying to make us pay for their problems. That has to stop, and we're doing something."

Workers on the picket lines handed out flyers that explained the issues and asked people not to shop at the stores. The flyers were printed in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Chinese. Most workers supported the strikers and vowed not to shop at the struck stores.

Kathleen Denny is a member of International Association of Machinists Lodge 1781 in Oakland.  
 
 
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