Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live At Daybreak

Grocery Clerks Walking Picket Lines in Southern California

Aired October 13, 2003 - 05:16   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Grocery clerks are walking the picket lines in southern California. Union negotiations broke down over health care costs.
CNN's Miguel Marquez has more on the issues that led to the strike.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don't cross the picket line!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Support us!

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): From stockers to cashiers to butchers, almost 70,000 workers from three major grocery stores on strike or locked out over health care.

CARLA ROMERO, RALPH'S EMPLOYEE: I just got promoted, you know? And this is affecting me, you know, and it's affecting everybody, you know? And I don't think it's fair.

MARQUEZ: And it's not just 900 California stores. Grocery store workers in St. Louis are striking against three chains there and another strike looms in West Virginia. Caught in the middle? Consumers.

ROSA LAFOSSE, SHOPPER: I feel bad for the workers that are on strike but this is something we've got to do. We've got to come shop here.

MARQUEZ: Management of California's Vons, Ralph's and Alderson's stores say the fast rising costs of health care and competition from mega chains like Wal-Mart leaves them little choice but to have employees kick in a small portion to cover their benefits.

CATHI SCHAFER, VONS EMPLOYEE: We're happy to have a higher co- payment.

MARQUEZ: Cathi Schafer has worked for Vons as a cashier for 28 years. Eight years ago, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She says the problem goes beyond co-payments. The new plan, she says, wouldn't come close to covering her expenses.

SCHAFER: Because I'm a single parent. I have a 16-year-old son. The lifetime cap they want to put on chemotherapy is $20,000. If I had a recurrence, there's no way I could pay for the difference. MARQUEZ: Schafer still takes five different medications and will for the rest of her life. She says now it is her health care that gets her out of bed every day and behind the cash register.

SCHAFER: If I wasn't getting the benefits that I have now and the halfway decent wages that I have now, I'd be probably getting welfare.

MARQUEZ (on camera): Union leadership says the only way this strike will end is if management meets their terms. And they say the only way that will happen is if the public stops shopping.

Miguel Marquez, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




California>


Aired October 13, 2003 - 05:16   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Grocery clerks are walking the picket lines in southern California. Union negotiations broke down over health care costs.
CNN's Miguel Marquez has more on the issues that led to the strike.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don't cross the picket line!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Support us!

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): From stockers to cashiers to butchers, almost 70,000 workers from three major grocery stores on strike or locked out over health care.

CARLA ROMERO, RALPH'S EMPLOYEE: I just got promoted, you know? And this is affecting me, you know, and it's affecting everybody, you know? And I don't think it's fair.

MARQUEZ: And it's not just 900 California stores. Grocery store workers in St. Louis are striking against three chains there and another strike looms in West Virginia. Caught in the middle? Consumers.

ROSA LAFOSSE, SHOPPER: I feel bad for the workers that are on strike but this is something we've got to do. We've got to come shop here.

MARQUEZ: Management of California's Vons, Ralph's and Alderson's stores say the fast rising costs of health care and competition from mega chains like Wal-Mart leaves them little choice but to have employees kick in a small portion to cover their benefits.

CATHI SCHAFER, VONS EMPLOYEE: We're happy to have a higher co- payment.

MARQUEZ: Cathi Schafer has worked for Vons as a cashier for 28 years. Eight years ago, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She says the problem goes beyond co-payments. The new plan, she says, wouldn't come close to covering her expenses.

SCHAFER: Because I'm a single parent. I have a 16-year-old son. The lifetime cap they want to put on chemotherapy is $20,000. If I had a recurrence, there's no way I could pay for the difference. MARQUEZ: Schafer still takes five different medications and will for the rest of her life. She says now it is her health care that gets her out of bed every day and behind the cash register.

SCHAFER: If I wasn't getting the benefits that I have now and the halfway decent wages that I have now, I'd be probably getting welfare.

MARQUEZ (on camera): Union leadership says the only way this strike will end is if management meets their terms. And they say the only way that will happen is if the public stops shopping.

Miguel Marquez, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




California>