Throughout the month Local 1500 members have been donating and collecting toys, as they do every year, for families in need this holiday season. This week we delivered hundreds of toys donated by our amazing members! Thanks to all who donated and found a way to give back to those in need this holiday season! Happy Holidays!
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| Image courtesy of www.homesteadcards.com Union Made Holiday Cards! |
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| Christine Quinn speaking at a rally supporting workers at Amish Market fighting against Wage Theft in 2010 |
The demonstration came on the heels of last week'sFast-Food Forward protest -- where employees at different fast-food establishments across the city walked off of the job in order to demand higher wages, benefits and the right to unionize.
Fast-food strikers joined forces yesterday with other fed-up workers -- in health-care, construction, security, service industries and other marginalized sectors -- in order to let the rest of the city know that their plight will no longer be ignored.
"President Obama has long opposed so-called ‘right to work’ laws and he continues to oppose them now," said White House spokesperson Matt Lehrich. "The President believes our economy is stronger when workers get good wages and good benefits, and he opposes attempts to roll back their rights. Michigan – and its workers' role in the revival of the US automobile industry – is a prime example of how unions have helped build a strong middle class and a strong American economy."
Previously Cerberus, which owns the Albertsons LLC stores — now transitioning to Albertsons Market — was reported to have been in talks to acquire all of Supervalu, but was unable to secure financing.The Brit Corporation, Tesco, said they're reviewing their controversial chain, Fresh and Easy. Speculation has risen that the chain will shut down its' 13 Bay Area stores. Check out the inside scoop at Fresh & Easy Buzz.
Its employees are not unionized in the United States, where the retailer has become infamous for its staunch opposition to labor groups. Even in Canada, it closed a store after workers there organized. But in the United Kingdom, Wal-Mart touts a growing roster of union employees and has negotiated contracts with entrenched labor groups in Brazil and Argentina for decades.
“We recognize those rights,” said John Peter “J.P.” Suarez , senior vice president of international business development at Wal-Mart. “In that market, that’s what the associates want, and that’s the prevailing practice.”Documents now show Walmart said 'No' to paying for fire safety at a factory in Bangladesh, where a fire broke out last month, and over 100 workers were killed. More at the New York Times.
Throughout the last month, UFCW Local 1500 members and staff have been dedicating their time, money and resources towards helping New Yorkers recover from Hurricane Sandy. 
Keep up with the Black Friday Strikes on Tumblr: http://changewalmart.tumblr.com/
