Jan 1, 2004 12:00 PM

Jim Hoffa, general president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, announced that nearly 7,000 Teamsters drivers and warehouse workers honoring United Food and Commercial Workers Union picket lines in Southern California will receive a weekly strike assistance benefit.

The union's General Executive Board unanimously voted to provide the $200-per-week benefit during quarterly meetings in Washington DC recently. Checks will be distributed to workers throughout Southern California. The benefit will cost the International Union nearly $1.4 million per week.

“These corporations must understand our commitment to our brothers and sisters on strike,” Hoffa said.