No holiday strike out at supermarkets

Jenny Marder

Workers striking at area supermarkets won’t be locked out of the

holidays, at least.

On Sunday, members of the Huntington Beach Police Officer’s

Foundation, the police department’s fundraising arm, filled up seven

Toys R Us shopping carts with $2,000 worth of toys for children of

the strikers. The toys were delivered to the union headquarters on

Monday night and picked up by Orange County families Tuesday evening.

“We’re not taking sides in the strike, we’re just taking care of

the kids,” said Russell Reinhart, president of the Huntington Beach

Police Officers’ Foundation.

With savings dwindling and purse strings tight, holiday gifts are

out of the question for some workers.

“Families are having a hard time paying rent, mortgages and car

payments,” said Rocky Corda, 53, a picket leader at Albertsons on

Beach Boulevard and Adams Avenue. “All the money they do have has to

go to bills, so Christmas is out.”

The United Food and Commercials Workers union called on thousands

of workers to walk out of their jobs on Oct. 11 in a massive protest

of health care cuts and pension rollbacks.

More than two months has gone by, and union leaders and the

companies that operate Vons, Pavilions, Albertsons and Ralphs have

yet to reach an agreement.

Families of striking and locked out workers were invited to pick

up food and pick out toys at Union Hall in Buena Park on Tuesday. A

variety of organizations joined Surf City’s police officers’

foundation to donate toys and food.

“When we first saw the numbers, they were staggering,” said Rick

Eiden, director of organizing with the United Food and Commercial

Workers Local 324. “We thought, there was no way we were going to

have enough food to feed everybody. ... But then the donations came

pouring in. It’s unbelievable to see the support we’re getting.”

Reinhart said his own kids were made jealous by the sea of toys,

which were chosen piece by piece for boys and girls of all ages.

“This really helps the people that don’t have anything, especially

the kids, this time of year,” Corda said.

Though paychecks are down, morale is still high, strikers say.

“[Christmas] is about family, and we haven’t lost that yet, so

it’s OK,” said Joseph Baca Jr., 37, an Albertsons employee and

Huntington Beach resident.

Support is also soaring. Community members have been amassing in

droves to help strikers make it through the holidays.

People have been dropping off pizzas, doughnuts and candy canes

for the locked-out workers at Albertsons. Somebody even deposited a

bundle of Christmas trees by the door.

Michelle Keahey, 26, who went home with a fresh Christmas tree

Monday, said she’s thankful for the help.

“I wasn’t able to buy [a tree] this year, and it made me feel

really good,” Keahey said.

Keahey was also unable to buy gifts this year, but said she is

still looking forward to spending Christmas with her family.

“It’s been very, very difficult,” Eiden said. “But the members

have really been strong. ... It’s been amazing the solidarity and the

strength of our members in their convictions to win this fight.”

* JENNY MARDER covers City Hall. She can be reached at (714)

965-7173 or by e-mail at [email protected].