[Smogger]

These supermarket employees are trying to make a full-time, high-paying career of something that can be done by teenage school kids working part time for minimum wage. The only way they can do it, apparently, is by force

Your wrong. Many of the picketers I have seen ARE teenage school kids. Anyhow I will goto Food 4 Less, and Stater Bros rather then cross the picket lines at Albertsons, Vons, or Ralphs. Vons and Ralphs are outragously expensive, and I never shop there anyhow, and I don't have much sympathy for them since it's not a strike but a lockout.

People have a lot of choices for grocery store shopping in So. California at least here in the IE where I live so don't expect people to start crossing the picket lines anytime soon. Also the Food warehouse employees walkout soon in a show of support, so it's going to get a lot worse before it gets beeter.

[Snerfling]

Food4Less is yucky - they always seem to be in the barrio. Reminds me of going down to Norwalk or Santa Ana to file any county paperwork. TJ all the way.

[diotima]

On Wednesday, I went to Pavillion's to pick up some groceries and I heard the sign-holding kids talking about how much they are getting paid to hold the signs. (Shouldn't this union money be going to the poor dis-enfranchised workers?)

The people outside the store are not the employees, they are people hired to "strike."

I doubt people will be able to stay away much longer. I gladly cross the picket lines, but even if I decided not to cross, there are no other stores near me where I can shop. It will just be a matter of time. Plenty people pay a co-pay on their health care plan, I can't imagine there will be much sympathy.

[Solson]

Brilliant plan. Food4Less is a Kroger owned banner (they also own Ralphs) and operates with non-union employees. So, despite your best wishes you are still supporting the parent company.

But, hey, you're a smart consumer...keep it up!

[BurbankKarl]

I had SAG extras manning the picket lines at a Ralphs store here in Burbank...they said they were getting paid $5/hr by the Grocery Workers Union. yes, the numbers of picketers are dwindling...the ones I see at the stores that I normally shop at are the married ones...all the single ones are probably trying to find temp work.

It is just frustrating...there is a Ralphs next door, and I usually hit it up for either a salad or sandwich at lunch, then get cash back when I check out. Now I actually have to drive around looking for an ATM (got some new $20s though) and then go to some other place...takes up more of my lunch, which I use to read the WSJ

[2kids2cats]

"Many of the picketers I have seen ARE teenage school kids."

Drive by the Ralph's and Von's in Anaheim Hills. You'd think this is a freakin pep rally. All these little "daddy made me get a job" cheerleaders are picketing, and then get into their brand new Beetle Convertibles and go to the mall. They have no clue. I just laugh as I proudly stride by them to shop.