(The Associated Press circulated the following story on January 29.)
LONG BEACH, Calif. — Fifteen people were arrested Wednesday at a rally for grocery workers participating in a 4-month-old picket against three Southern California supermarket chains.
The rally, which occurred outside a Vons supermarket, was designed to “show the public (the workers) are eager to return to the negotiating table,” said Ellen Anreder, spokeswoman for the United Food and Commercial Workers.
The employees sprawled out in front of the entrance to Vons and refused to move.
Those arrested were to be cited for unlawful assembly and released with a $50 fine, police said.
More than two dozen pickets have been arrested on several other occasions, including a Jan. 21 protest outside Vons corporate headquarters in suburban Arcadia and a Jan. 17 protest outside a Vons supermarket in Gardena.
About 70,000 grocery clerks have been locked out or on strike since Oct. 11 over contract differences, particularly the cost and scope of health care benefits for current employees and future hires.
Vons spokeswoman Sandra Calderon did not immediately return calls Wednesday.