Unity! NAACP & 9to5 Support Grocery Workers

Editors Note: Filmaker Victoria Linssen has produced a powerful documentary about the struggle of Grocery Workers in California. Cathy Deppe, 9to5 organizer and other community leaders in Los Angeles are featured.

"Ralphs we demand!" screams Rigo Valdez into the megaphone. “Contracts” screams back the crowd.” Despite the yelling and screaming back and forth, the crowd seemed almost upbeat as they marched towards the Ralphs grocery store in downtown Los Angeles. Some danced, some cheered, some shared their stories and their fear of economic insecurity.

The crowd has reason to be worried. Union contracts for the Ralphs, Albertsons and Vons grocery stores have been held up in negotiations since March. At stake for the grocery workers are proposed significant cuts in healthcare benefits. If the contracts go through as they are currently written, workers could potentially lose fifty percent of their paychecks to cover their health care benefits.

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While the rally itself was peaceful, with many members of the community coming out to speak powerfully on the behalf of the grocery workers, including: Reverend Dr. Eric P. Lee of the SCLC greater Los Angeles, Don Cast, Speaker John Perez, State Assembly member Ricardo Lara and Bridie Robers of CLUE-LA, the outcome is still uncertain.

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