SALINAS, Calif. -- It's been almost a full week since grocery store workers across the Central Coast have been on strike.
On Wednesday, they were holding large hand-written signs and chanting at the South Main Street entrance, the Blanco Road entrance, and at the front of the Salinas Nob Hill store. The employees are demanding their benefits back.
A father wrote into Central Coast News Wednesday night saying he was appalled at the attitude from the workers. He wrote this, "I had a previously ordered item from Nob Hill and went to pick it up today. Now, I have no problem with them voicing their opinions and protesting, but they are going way beyond that. I had my 5-year-old son and, going in and coming out, I was verbally berated, cussed at and engaged with a very negitive converstation."
The father, named Jason, said he's wondering how he is supposed to react to these people the next time he sees them at the grocery store.
The strike is happening all over state.
"I'm eating my yogurt trying to decide what to do," said Connie Bugge.
Bugge was in the Nob Hill parking lot in Capitola having a hard time deciding if she should cross the picket lines.
"It's intimidating because they are all smiling saying don't go in there. It's just intimidating, and its where I shop," said Bugge.
However, Nob Hill workers said they are in it for the long haul. The United Food and Commercial Workers Union said Nob Hill wants to permanently cut back on employee benefits.
"That last and final offer included deleting the employees' medical plan, the way it is now, and switching it over to a substandard plan," said Pete Maturino, with UFCW
The union said they aren't asking for anything, they just want things to stay the way they are.
While Bugge understands the issue at hand she said its no reason to scare people away. "They have to understand that not everybody is entitled to have benefits," said Bugge.
The union doesn't see that way and said they aren't planning on backing down. "Why should we cut back here and why should employees at other places cut back?" said Maturino.
Even though Bugge won't go in and get her groceries today, for now, she is not too worried.
"Luckily I did all my shopping on Saturday so I've been good so far," said Bugge.
