(The following story by Leo Moniz appeared on the Desert Dispatch website on December 15.)
BARSTOW, Calif. — In a gesture of union solidarity and Christmas cheer, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad workers presented Vons strikers with gift certificates to grocery competitor Stater Bros. on Friday, challenging other local unions to give similar support.
At a ceremony outside the Main Street Vons Friday afternoon, Denis Moon, president of Carmen Lodge 6713 of the Transportation Communications International Union, presented $4,000 worth of gift certificates to strike captain Mark Kent.
“We truly believe in the stand that you’re taking,” Moon said. “You’re taking a stand for all union people.”
Moon said the donations were authorized by the railroad union’s grand lodge in Rockville, Md., but the funds came from local coffers.
“Christmas is right around the corner, and we’re concerned about their families,” Moon said. “What it all comes down to is Barstow people taking care of each other.”
Kent said the donations will be divided among 33 picketers.
“My wife and daughter will have a little bit better Christmas because of it,” said striker Robert Ernest. “We’re not going to do anything extravagant, obviously, but we do appreciate everything they’ve done for us.”
Striker Rozlynn Yarber said she will use her share of the donations to help support her 2-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son. A single mother, Yarber arranges to have family members baby-sit her children while she spends 40 hours a week on the picket lines.
“I wouldn’t be nowhere else,” she said. “We have to be out here fighting for our rights.”
The grocery strike began after the United Food and Commercial Workers union voted Oct. 11 to reject a three-year contract at Albertsons, Ralphs and Vons stores.
UFCW representatives have said the sticking points are cuts to health care benefits and pensions, and a proposed two-tier hiring system that would spell lower wages for new employees. Vons officials have said they are only asking workers to pay a fair share of health-care costs.
On Friday, Vons spokesman Daymond Rice said recent talks with union representatives broke down on Sunday. No new talks are scheduled, Rice said.
Moon said he hopes other area unions will follow the lead of the Carmen.
“We’d like to put a challenge out,” he said. “Barstow’s a big union town, with Santa Fe, the Marine base. We’d like to see other unions step up.”