About 45,000 grocery workers have authorized a strike at Ralphs, Albertsons, Vons and Pavilions stores in Southern California to protest unfair labor practices.

Union members of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) in Southern California and the Pacific Northwest have voted this week to authorize a worker strike against Kroger and Albertsons stores, Supermarket News reported.

For workers, a strike is tool of last resort. It's a powerful weapon, but once you employ that weapon a huge clock starts running down.Unions may have strike finds that can pay workers some portion of their lost wages,