UCLA Student Direct Action at Ralphs to Support Strikers

Rally takes strike inside Westwood Ralphs

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JONATHAN HARNISH/Daily Bruin
Fifth-year international development and Chicano studies student Cynthia Parades holds a sign reading “Honk 4 Justice” in front of the Westwood Ralphs.

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By Caitlin Roberson
DAILY BRUIN CONTRIBUTOR
croberson [at] media.ucla.edu

Usually, grocery shoppers buy what they put into their carts.

UCLA students participating in a support rally for the striking employees at Ralphs on Wednesday night, however, did not.

Roughly 40 students entered the Westwood store separately at about 6 p.m. Each one pushed a cart through the aisles until it was filled to the brim.

The group came to support strikers in their protest for healthcare benefits. The grocery clerks at Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons supermarkets have been on strike for the last three weeks.

No progress on talks between the United Food and Commercial Workers union and the major supermarket chains have been made.

Many students grabbed items at random while others seemed purposefully to select what would spoil quickly, such as frozen goods and meats. Others made salads at the salad bar or ordered sandwiches at the delicatessen.

Some students looked nervous and glanced furtively around the store, not making eye-contact with fellow students. Others smiled to themselves.

The semi-quiet atmosphere was shattered when the entire group formed lines next to cash registers and collectively chanted "shame on Ralphs."

For the next half hour, students periodically spoke both as a group and individually.

Students pointed out that people who chose to shop in this store were taking money from people who needed that money to survive.

Ralphs store director Mike Quiñones, ignoring several student attempts at conversation, agitatedly talked on his cell phone.

Various students conversed with Ralphs shoppers, encouraging them to shop elsewhere.

Some of the customers left. Others stayed in line to purchase their groceries.

Ralphs employees watched with wide eyes as they continued to aid remaining customers.

Rally participants continued to rhythmically chant various phrases.

A shattering interrupted the commotion when a sizeable vase smashed on the floor, causing Quiñones to phone the police.

All participants collectively walked through Ralphs once, chanting "shop somewhere else," before exiting the store, walking through the parking, and joining cheering strikers on the sidewalk in front of the store.

One striker, touched, tearfully said the UCLA students were exerting more effort than other Ralphs workers.

Together, students and strikers made sure to leave the sidewalk clear to avoid provoking the police.

Many participants came to support Ralphs strikers due to personal desires for universal healthcare. Others came because they believe the Ralphs in Westwood should give back to those who bring it so much profit.

"Why doesn't Ralphs give a miniscule amount of its profit back to the workers? It should," said Jackie Yu, a UCLA alumna.

Students plan to continue the rallies at Ralphs. They will meet at the Kerckhoff steps at 4 p.m. every day next week.

Another rally is scheduled to occur Nov. 1 as well.

Students said that they will rally until the strike is over because healthcare is everyone's business.

Student participants said they identified with what the strikers are going through at a time when their livelihood was being threatened.