In California, supermarket lockouts and a union strike have put thousands of jobs on hold for almost a month.
In Arizona, ASU students hold some of those supermarket jobs, and some of those students said they would have tough decisions to make if a similar strike happened here.
But an ASU economist said ongoing negotiations between Arizona union leaders and supermarket chains are unlikely to end in a strike like California's.
The difference: Arizona is a right-to-work state.
As a right-to-work state, not all employees must join a workers union, and should a strike occur, union members can cross picket lines and return to work.
While some may say this makes Arizona's unions weak, it's "also possible for companies to say, 'Enough of this, we're going to fire everybody,'" said Tracy Clark, an economist with the W. P. Carey School of Business. "Arizona is in a position where not only do we have a lot of grocery stores, but not all are negotiating contracts at once," Clark said.
"It would be unlikely to lead to a situation where you couldn't get milk or cereal."
Three days of negotiations between the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 99, Safeway and Fry's Food and Drug Stores ended Tuesday without a decision.
The contracts of more than 15,000 Arizona food workers were discussed.
In Maricopa County alone, the talks affect more than 8,000 jobs. Negotiators said they would meet again next week.
Student workers
ASU students hold some of these jobs, but those who chose not to join the union said if a strike occurs it will impact their decision of whether to remain on the payroll.
"Right now, I'm thinking that I wouldn't be able to [strike] because I have to work in order to have my apartment," said Tony Schuch, a pre-business sophomore who works as a courtesy clerk at the Safeway on Broadway and Rural roads. "I have bills to pay and all kinds of expenses that I need to worry about."
Schuch said his mother would side with employees who choose to go on strike and would encourage her son to do the same.
"She's already talked to me about it, and she'd want me to go on strike if there was a strike," he said, "[but] my mindset right now is that I'd probably work for the company because I have a job for a reason."
Computer systems engineering sophomore James Minton works as a courtesy clerk at the same Safeway location, but he said he was not concerned about the outcome of negotiator meetings.
"I know the union is a big part of working here," Minton said, "[but] I really don't think that it'll go to a strike in Arizona, just because it is a right-to-work state."
When Minton was hired in September, he told store management he would stay only for a couple of months. If there is a strike, Minton said he would quit.
"I already have a couple of other jobs lined up," Minton said.
"I've already interviewed for them, so I'd probably end up just waiting for those to start."
Choosing sides
On the bargaining table, the supermarket chains have proposed decreasing benefits following the Oct. 15 contract expiration.
However, union spokesmen say, despite the weak economy, workers should be entitled to the same contract terms to which they have grown accustomed to.
Mike Vespoli, director of community affairs for Local 99, said part of the problem is that Wall Street has told the companies they can increase profits by scaling back employee benefits.
Still, there is one thing the two sides can agree on, he said.
"Wal-Mart is a non-union, and their expansion with Supercenters is part of the problem."
Wal-Mart Supercenters include a grocery component, Vespoli said, and the company "does not provide access to affordable healthcare for about two-thirds of their workers. Why should they?"
But, Suzanne Haney, a spokeswoman for Wal-Mart Inc., said, "Wal-Mart offers benefits to both part-time and full-time associates."
Strike possibility
But if a strike does occur, Clark said, "It is unlikely to cause people to necessarily struggle to find their groceries."
But, he added, "The impact on the individuals [workers] and company ... that would be dramatic."
Webb, however, hinted there is light at the end of the tunnel.
"It's always a good sign that negotiations are continuing," he said.
Reach the reporter at michael.miklofsky@asu.edu.
