I worked in the grocery industry for over 15 years and I can tell you that those checkers and top wage workers are worth every penny. Especially when you consider that jouneyman(person?) wage comes after at least 5 years of full time work, but there are very few full time employees in a grocery store. Most every job in a store is part time, between 8 to 31 hours. 32 hours or more is considered full time. It took me 9 years to get top wage. Plus in order to qualify for benefits you have to work an average of 20 hours a week. Depending on how sales are doing, you may qualify for benifits one month and then none the next. I thankfully no longer work in this industry.
After talking to some friends who still work in grocery stores here in Washington, their contract came up before California's, and they decided to settle, instead of striking, for NO raises for the next 4 years, plus that have to pay an increased amount (I don't recall the sum, but it's more than $20 a month) for medical benefits that will increase yearly. So, they are effectively taking a pay cut for the next 4 years. These are just a couple of the major issues, but you get the idea. Next this same contract was taken to the California area. You see what they thought of it.