Grocery Workers, Congressman Rally at Ralphs

Congressman Brad Sherman, who is gearing up for a tough re-election battle, joined forces Tuesday with grocery workers at a rally staged in front of Ralphs market on Burbank Boulevard in Sherman Oaks.

Sherman, appearing in support of the United Food and Commercial Workers union, which is threatening to strike, called upon Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons to improve their offer in contract talks with the union.

"These people have been working without a contract for six months," Sherman told a crowd of about 50 people. "It's time the supermarket chains shared some of their millions in profits with their workers."

Union members, listening to Sherman, carried signs saying, "Health care, not welfare for grocery workers."

Grocery workers recently voted to authorize a strike, and a federal mediator has been called into the talks. The sticking point continues to be the companies' health care benefits plan.

"Under the proposal which they are pitching us, I would have to spend half my salary to pay for health care coverage," said Jackie Gitmed, a cashier who has worked at Ralphs market for 35 years.

In a statement, the supermarket chains said, "The increase in weekly contributions the employers are asking from employees will still keep employee costs well below that of competitors and other companies. Under the companies’ proposal, the cost for single coverage is $9 a week, and $23 a week for family coverage. The national average for full family coverage is $76 a week according to the Kaiser Family Foundation."

At one point in the rally, Sherman led the crowd on a march into Ralphs, which was crowded with shoppers. Sherman handed the store manager a letter from his office that called upon the company's negotiators to improve their offer in the contract talks.

It was a low-key affair. Store manager Larry Thompson accepted the letter and the crowd exited the store.

Sherman is locked into what is shaping up as a tough re-election battle with fellow Democrat Howard Berman. Both men have represented portions of the West San Fernando Vally over the past decade.

Redistricting has placed both of these congressional veterans in the same district, and the campaign race is being dubbed "the battle of the titans," because both candidates are popular and are expected to raise large sums of money for next year's campaign.

Since the new boundaries were finalized in August, Sherman has been much more active than Berman in holding events and making speeches in the district. Political analysts consider Sherman to be an underdog in the race, mainly because Berman has more seniority in Congress and his roots in the community go back longer, more than 30 years.

Union members who attended the rally said they appreciated Sherman's presence and support.

When asked if she would be willing to strike, Gitmed said, "I don't want to strike, but I will if that's what it takes."