Steward: Solidarity key to success in negotiations As a car enthusiast, Gabe Hernandez knows something about traveling on tough roads. Hernandez, who is a meat cutter and steward at Stater Bros. 123 in Victorville, sees a “tough road” ahead in negotiations for a new Master Food Agreement. “It’s nothing we can’t navigate successfully,” Hernandez said. “If we stick together and we all do our part, we can meet the challenge.” Solidarity is the key, Hernandez said. “Solidarity means demonstrating our strength at every opportunity,” he said.  “It’s our duty as union members.” Hernandez said that means going to union meetings, ignoring rumors and relying on stewards and Union Representatives for accurate information.

Gabe Hernandez

Hernandez is a 15-year union veteran and has been a steward for three years. “I wanted to do something for the union and the members at my store,” Hernandez said. “It’s important to have a liaison with the union so we can be better informed about what is going on. That’s especially important during negotiations.”

Hernandez comes from a union family. His grandfather worked for the Santa Fe Railroad. He has several uncles who are members of the cement masons union and other relatives who are members of teachers’ unions.
“I remember many family discussions around the dinner table talking about unions,” he said. “I learned early on that the only way to get the best pay and benefits is to work at a union job.”

When Hernandez is not at work or spending time with his two adult sons, he works on old cars. He does everything from simple refinishing to rebuilding the car from the frame up. He drives a ’63 Chevy Short Bed pickup with more than 300,000 miles on it and is a proud member of the Ol’ Skool Wayz car club. “We meet once a week in front of the Lowes in Hesperia for our cruise night,” Hernandez said. “We get about 200-300 car restoration enthusiasts from throughout the High Desert. “It’s a lot of fun to not only restore the cars but also to drive them.” His favorite car is his son’s 1979 Oldsmobile Cutlass.
“It’s a car I grew up with,” he said, “and as I get older, many of those cars have become classics.”

Hernandez said he is optimistic that negotiations for a new contract can be resolved successfully. “We have met challenges in the past,” he said. “The key is to make sure the companies see we are united and they know we will do whatever it takes to get a fair contract.”