Wisconsin in California?

Protest against Wisconsin's Governor Scott Walker seemed to inspired many to keep collective bargaining or to use collective bargaining as a voice for the working class against the ruling class. In Wisconsin, the ruling class are the corporation while in the private sector, the same is happening. One such is the possible strike from the UFCW (United Food and Commercial Workers)

3/04/11

An Extension Agreement has been signed with Albertsons, Ralphs and Vons through March 31, 2011. 

http://www.ufcw770.org/

Here is a statement of the members at UFCW.

Southern California Grocery Contract Set to Expire

Vons, Ralphs, and Albertsons management refusing to meet in timely manner

The union negotiated with management to extend the deadline from the sixth, which is today, as of me blogging to the 31st. I spoke to the members and none of them want to strike. The last strike lasted 141 days. Morale was waning, but they held their ground. When the contract was negotiated, it seemed that the UFCW sold out its members, but then, this happened:

Judge certifies class-action cases against Ralphs, Albertsons

A federal judge in Los Angeles has certified two separate class-action lawsuits against grocery chains Ralphs and Albertsons -- the latest step that moves forward a legal fight between the retailers and 9,000 workers who claim they were illegally denied millions of dollars in benefits during the 2003-04 grocery lockout and strike.

• Read more

Federal Appellate Court Finds Supermarkets Violated US Law in 2003-2004 Grocery Lockout

The 9th Circuit Federal Appellate Court today issued its opinion holding the Supermarket employers involved in the 2003-2004 Grocery Lockout in violation of U.S. anti-trust law in forming a mutual assistance pact to gain advantage in a labor dispute.

“This decision is a vindication of our position that the market’s actions were in violation of US law, unfair and damaging to consumers,” said Rick Icaza, President of the union representing grocery workers, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 770.
 

In other words, the union took down the giant and won. Read the story. So as I sit typing this blog or watching the protest in Wisconsin, I am eager to see union members from all over protesting the same giants who took advantage of workers and our commons for a quick buck. And unlike the previous protest, I see a better relationship with the community.