The meat department manager and clerks “blamed me” for the strike “because I was the one that kinda kept the whole group together.” Some also blamed her for the store's closing. Management wanted meat department employees to continue another three years with no cost-of-living increase. She might have accepted that offer if the company would guaranty prices would not rise. Super Valu “wanted to set the pace in this town to go non-union.” A strike occurred when members refused to ratify the contract. “We shut the store down in six weeks.” She was the picket captain. “The first two weeks we had cut their business down in half.” They received support from the United Automobile Workers' local in Janesville. Only seven Super Valu employees were on strike. Supervisors from other towns took over meat department jobs. “The people that worked in the grocery department still don't speak to you. Especially me. They figured I was the one that closed the store up, I guess.” Two store supervisors were fired because they allowed the situation to degenerate into the closing of a profitable store.
