Robert Griffith

Whenever the opportunity arises, Robert Griffith, a produce clerk and steward at Vons 2169 in Glendora, tells his younger workers that it is important to support their union.

“I tell them we have our benefits because we are in a union,” Griffith said. “It’s not because employers were feeling generous.”

Griffith has worked in the industry for 22 years. He began his career at Stater Bros. and has been at Vons for 16 years.

“I was here during the 2003-04 strike and lockout,” he said. “That experience taught many of us that what we have did not come about easily. We had to fight for it.”

Griffith is looking forward to next year’s negotiations for a new Master Food Agreement. He believes that demonstrating member solidarity will go a long way toward achieving a fair and equitable contract.

“I’ve been giving my coworkers the two buttons from the union in preparation for the negotiations,” Griffith said. “One says ‘Proud to be Union’ and the other says ‘March 2011,’ which is the month the current contract expires.

“Most of the people at my store are wearing them. I didn’t even have to encourage them, because they know what’s at stake and how important it is to show our customers and management that we are united.”

Griffith has several friends who work non-union. One recently had his pay cut.

“His boss called him in and told him that with the economy the way it is, he had to cut his pay by $3 an hour,” he said. “That could never happen at a union job.”

Another friend was laid off.

“If we ever have a layoff, it has to be done by seniority,” Griffith said. “They just can’t pick and choose anyone they want to let go.

“That’s the advantage of working under a union contract.”

Even though he has never had to use his health benefits for anything major, Griffith still values them.

“It’s good to know that if anything does happen, I won’t have to go bankrupt to pay for my medical care,” he said.

When he is not working, Griffith likes to restore old cars. He just completed work on a ’63 Chevy Nova SS.

He also recently purchased a speedway motorcycle and plans to race it competitivel.

“The City of Industry has a great speedway,” Griffith said. “I raced a little when I was younger. I like the speed and the competition.”