“They said they had pictures of me lying down in front of the trucks, and I haven’t even done that once!” she says.
I ask what’s going to happen when the strike and lockout finally end.
“I’ve talked to a lot of employees, and our loyalty to the company is finished,” she says. “I feel betrayed. I gave up so much of my life for Ralphs. Three straight years I worked 3 to midnight, I didn’t go to family functions, and I missed a lot of my twins’ lives. I used to go after shoplifters or customers taking a lot of bags. You know what? They can have the whole store now, for all I care.”
At that moment the three young women emerge from the store and giggle when Isabel spots them.
“See?” one says, holding up empty hands. “We didn’t buy anything!”