FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Friday, June 27,2025
Bertha Rodriguez
Massive community-backed rally and “Practice ULP Strike” at DTLA Ralphs shows overwhelming support for over 45,000 Southern California grocery workers
LOS ANGELES – Over 500 grocery workers, elected officials, union allies and community supporters rallied at a Downtown Los Angeles Ralphs on Friday, June 27 in a “Practice ULP Strike”. This action signals overwhelming public support for 45,000 Southern California United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) members demanding dignity, fairness, and an end to unlawful actions by their employers.
In the last few days, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 770 members have held picket captain trainings at union headquarters and “practice ULP strikes” outside stores, following an overwhelming ULP strike authorization vote against Ralphs, Albertsons, Vons, and Pavilions.
Workers are mobilizing after four months of contract negotiations. Their Southern California UFCW unions have filed Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges against Ralphs and Albertsons for breaking the law by surveilling and interrogating employees in their stores, interfering with their discussions with union representatives, equating union support with disloyalty, and preventing them from wearing union insignia.
The companies’ actions have the effect of silencing workers and impeding them from getting the contract they deserve.
“Rather than treat their workers with dignity and respect, Ralphs and Albertsons would prefer to spend resources breaking the law, surveilling, and interrogating their employees. Today’s message is simple: Ralphs and Albertsons, stop the unlawful activity against our grocery workers,” said Yvonne Wheeler, President, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO.
“Ralphs and Albertsons must stop their intimidation tactics —interrogating workers, silencing union discussions, and equating solidarity with disloyalty. These unlawful practices have no place in our workplaces,” said Lou Villalvazo, Secretary-Treasurer, Teamsters Local 630. “If grocery workers are forced to call an Unfair Labor Practice strike, rest assured all Teamsters will stand firmly beside them, any injury to one is an injury to all.”
“Ralphs is breaking the law to silence us,” said Rachel Fournier, a Ralphs employee. “We make them billions, but they push us around and violate our rights. We’re ready to go on an unfair labor practice strike if that’s what it takes to stop corporate bullying and win respect.”
“Just as our communities resist the intimidation of federal overreach in our neighborhoods, grocery workers are standing firm against corporate attacks in our workplaces,” said Jessie Mendez, a Downtown Los Angeles Ralphs worker. “Both fights are about dignity, safety, and the right to live and work without fear. We’re fighting for respect, dignity, and a fair deal for workers, customers, and our neighborhoods.”
“APALA stands in solidarity with grocery workers at Ralphs, Albertsons, Vons and Pavilions who are fighting against employer retaliation for union activity. When workers thrive, society benefits,” said Ligaya Domingo, President of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA). “All workers deserve to organize into unions. Now more than ever, it’s important for workers to stand together and organize to defend their rights so we can provide for ourselves, our families, and our communities.”
With Kroger workers already on strike in Colorado, Southern California grocery workers warn: respect the law, or expect the largest ULP strike in the region’s history.
Supporters included Los Angeles Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Yvonne Wheeler, APALA President Ligaya Domingo, Teamsters Local 630 Secretary-Treasurer Lou Villalvazo, LAANE Executive Director Víctor Sánchez, CLUE’s Pastor Yoshi Kuramoto, and UFCW Local 770 Secretary-Treasurer Danny Garcia, among other members of labor, faith, and community coalitions.
ABOUT UFCW 770
UFCW Local 770 represents nearly 30,000 workers across Southern California in industries like grocery, cannabis, retail drug, healthcare, and meatpacking, with over 20,000 grocery members in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo counties.
ABOUT APALA
Founded in 1992, the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), AFL-CIO, is the first and only national organization of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) workers. Backed with strong support of the AFL-CIO, APALA has more than 22 chapters and a national office in Washington, D.C. APALA members are celebrating their 18th Biennial Convention in Los Angeles this weekend.
ABOUT GROCERY WORKERS RISING
Grocery Workers Rising is 65,000 essential grocery workers across Southern California rising up for what they deserve. Visit the campaign at www.groceryworkersrising.org.
These workers are employed at Ralphs, Albertsons, Vons, Pavilions, Stater Bros., Gelson’s and Super A stores. Their contracts expired on Sunday, March 2, 2025.
These 65,000 grocery workers make up the largest union grocery contract in the nation, are rising up and fighting for:
- Living wages
- Affordable healthcare benefits
- A reliable pension
- More staffing and better working conditions for a better customer experience