onsolidating protestors on Oct. 31, the United Food and Commercial Workers union strategically ordered locked-out Ralphs grocery store employees to reinforce the picket lines in front of Vons and Alberstons. This action increased customer convenience and union bargaining power and eliminates the hypocrisy of directing shoppers to nonunionized grocery stores.

By moving picketers from Ralphs ‹ thus far, the most union-friendly chain ‹ UFCW has given customers a sorely missed convenience. Consumers’ choices were to either avoid the chains altogether and shop elsewhere or to cross the picket lines amid the calls and chants of protestors. With Ralphs open to consumers, shoppers can purchase in peace.

UFCW augmented its bargaining control by cleverly merging the picketers to divide the chains. This opened only Ralphs to the flow of customers. Albertsons and Vons grocery sales will continue to suffer while shoppers clog Ralphs for provisions, lopsidedly boosting sales.

Uniting the picketers benefits UFCW. Instead of directing shoppers to nonunionized, alternative grocery stores, it gives consumers the option to shop at Ralphs. The strike could potentially last until May 2004, and UFCW can guide shoppers to one of its own stores and not lose future sales.

UFCW has deftly situated itself in the bargaining process, increasing its own power and allowing consumers to fully access one store. It is a smart repositioning in the highly politicized bargaining process and will only benefit the union as the strike marches on.