It was one year ago today more than 70,000 union grocery workers walked off the job all across Southern California. That action led to a nearly 5 month long supermarket strike and lockout, the longest in U.S. history. To this day, the effects of the strike are still being felt all across the valley.

For months, picket lines were a fixture at supermarkets like this one. It all started one year ago today. NewsChannel 3 was at the Rancho Mirage Von’s Pavillions store as grocery workers walked off the job.  At the time, those grocery clerks had no idea it would be almost 5 months before they would go back to work.

This was the beginning of what would turn out to be a hard fought and bitter labor dispute. 10 pm sharp on the night of October 11th, 2003, one year ago. Grocery workers at the Rancho Mirage Von’s Pavillions walked off the job, picked up picket signs and formed their strike lines.

“My heart dropped, hoping it wouldn't come to this point.”

The next day, grocery workers at more than 30 valley supermarkets - Ralph's, Von’s and Albertson's - were in front of stores, urging shoppers to take their business elsewhere.

“I didn't shop here anymore.”

Many valley residents like Jaci Scott avoided the big supermarket chains until the strike finally ended in late February. The stores and the union reached a deal both sides made major concessions. Scott's husband, a Von’s employee, was on the picket lines, out of work that whole time. That meant she had to work two jobs to pay the bills.

“I don't think anybody won. Everybody lost. They had to find other jobs just to take care of their family.”

Grocery workers suffered and the supermarket chains were hit hard in the wallet. Industry analysts say altogether the chains have lost more than a billion dollars in sales.

“It made an impact.”

Beyond the financial figures, many valley residents say the strike has had a lasting effect on their shopping habits. Many shoppers say they stopped going to the big three markets and never went back.

And even a year after the strike started, many shoppers say they're still picking up groceries at warehouse stores like Costco.

“We really didn't cross the lines,” said shopper Tad Burland. “It got us looking different directions and changed how we shop.”

And as for the grocery workers who lived through this long strike, their union estimates about 20 percent of them didn't come back after it was over.

And that's because the deal reached between the union and supermarkets will force grocery workers to pay part of the cost for health coverage. There was also no raise in the contract. Still, grocery workers say this supermarket strike was worth the fight.