Tony Speelman Unanimously Elected President of New York’s Largest Grocery Workers Union

Says raising standards and wages for part-time workers across New York will be a key goal, Robert Newell unanimously elected Secretary-Treasurer

 

Tony Speelman, President, UFCW Local 1500

Tony Speelman, a committed labor leader who has dedicated nearly four decades of fighting for hard working men and women, was unanimously elected President of the over 20,000 member United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1500 (UFCW). Robert Newell, who began his career in 1990 pushing shopping carts at Pathmark, was unanimously elected Secretary-Treasurer.

Speelman, who began his career as a Local 1500 member as a part-timer at Dairy Barn on Long Island, has fought for decades to help working men and women attain better lives at work and at home with their families. He has long held irresponsible corporations accountable throughout the New York tri-state region, fighting for better rights and wages for Walmart and Target workers. He has repeatedly fought to raise the standards for all workers because he deeply believes all men and women deserve the right to improve their lives.

“I am honored to represent the proud men and women of UFCW Local 1500, a union I first became a member of when I was 17 years old, ” Speelman said. “We will work together to provide a better life for all Local 1500 members, to provide better benefits, and safer working conditions,” Speelman said. “We will make it a priority to secure better part-time scheduling, so our members can better balance a family life.”

The Local 1500 Executive Board unanimously elected Speelman and Newell on May 11, 2016. He becomes the seventh president of New York’s largest grocery workers union. Speelman began his career working part-time for Dairy Barn stores on Long Island while attending college in the 1970’s. He quickly became an instrumental part of the UFCW Local 1500 membership, fighting for better wages and benefits for his coworkers and their families. At a young age, he served on three contract negotiation teams, leading to win contracts with better wages, benefits and hours for his coworkers. Speelman then joined the UFCW Local 1500 staff in 1986, serving in every union department before becoming Secretary-Treasurer in 2009. 

Speelman succeeds retired UFCW Local 1500 President Bruce W. Both. Both served as President of UFCW Local 1500 since 2004.

“Our team will bring in a big energy change,” Speelman noted. “We’re eager to and look forward to working alongside community groups, other unions, and our International Union. We are in this together, and only together can we make a significant impact on helping the hundreds of thousands of men and women working throughout New York.  Our team will have a dedicated focus on organizing new stores and helping working women and men better their lives in the food retail industry.”

Rob Newell, Secretary-Treasurer, Local 1500

Robert Newell began his career in 1990 working as a part-time shopping cart attendant for Pathmark in Bayshore, NY.  Newell was instrumental in working to organize Wild by Nature, an organic chain of stores throughout Long Island in the 1990’s.  Prior to becoming Secretary-Treasurer, Newell was previously Assistant to the President of UFCW Local 1500. 

"I want this union to become an even greater and stronger union for the decades ahead," Newell said "Our new team will truly make a positive impact on the lives of working men and women throughout New York."

“It’s a neat story," Speelman explained, "I started as a part-timer working nights, Rob started pushing carts as a teenager. It’s because of our passion and love for the men and women in this union that we’re here today. We couldn’t be more proud and honored to lead Local 1500 to become bigger and better."

For Tony Speelman's full bio click here.

For Rob Newell's full bio click here.

Open Letter From The UFCW District Council to Stop & Shop on Contract Negotiations

Stop & Shop Workers Announce New Actions in Campaign for Fair Contract

Fight for a fair deal at Stop & Shop intensifies as profitable company demands cuts to grocery workers’ benefits

(PROVIDENCE, RI) – Today, the New England Council of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union announced a series of rallies in the campaign for a fair contract for 35,000 Stop & Shop workers in New England. Following a rally of hundreds of Stop & Shop workers, customers, elected officials, and community supporters last week, Stop & Shop workers will bring the same energy to five more rallies before the Easter holiday.

New England Stop & Shop workers are currently working under an expired union contract while the profitable company insists on cuts to hard-earned benefits. Stop & Shop’s parent company, Netherlands-based grocery giant Ahold, recently announced operating profits for last year in excess of $1.4 billion. Today, Ahold and Delhaize shareholders are expected to approve the merger of their companies, which will be completed later this year. Prior to closing of the merger, Ahold shareholders will receive a payout of more than $1 billion.

While paying out dividends to foreign shareholders, the company is demanding that workers accept cuts to longstanding benefits, decreasing take-home pay and cutting future retirement benefits despite a fully-funded and secure pension fund. The company is further demanding that future workers be given second-rate benefits and pay, transforming Stop & Shop’s once middle-class jobs into low-wage jobs.

“Stop & Shop’s proposals show that the company has strayed from its core values,” said Tim Melia, president of UFCW Local 328. “This used to be a company that took pride in offering the best wages and benefits in the region, and attracting the best workers. Our members are only asking for their fair share of the success their hard work has built.”

The hardworking men and women of Stop & Shop have been joined in their fight for a fair contract by Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts Treasurer and member of Stop & Shop’s founding family, Deb Goldberg, the combined 700,000 union members of the Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island State AFL-CIO Councils, and the 1.3 million members of the UFCW International Union.

Rallies will be held:

Wednesday, March 16th, 4-6 P.M.
Quincy Stop & Shop
65 Newport Ave., Quincy, MA

Thursday, March 17th, 4-6 P.M.
Dorchester Stop & Shop
1100 Massachusetts Ave, Dorchester, MA

Tuesday, March 22nd, 4-6 P.M.
Norwalk Stop & Shop
380 Main Ave, Norwalk, CT

Wednesday, March 23rd, 4-6 P.M.
East Hartford Stop & Shop
940 Silver Ln, East Hartford, CT

Thursday, March 24th, 4-6 P.M.
Holyoke Stop & Shop
28 Lincoln St, Holyoke, MA

Ahold, Parent Company of Stop & Shop, Earns Billions in Profit, but Refuses to Do What Is Right for its Employees.

Current Stop & Shop fruitbowl logo, shared with Giant-Landover (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Ahold continues to ignore that hard-working Stop & Shop employees are the ones who make stores a success.

 (PROVIDENCE, R.I.) – The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) New England Council released the following statement responding to Ahold’s latest earnings report: “Ahold, the parent company of Stop & Shop should be ashamed. Despite their continued profita-bility, earning in excess of $10 billion in profit last year, they continue to demand cuts to their employees’ hard-earned wages and benefits.

“The truth is that the hard-working men and women at Stop & Shop are the key to the company’s success. It is their dedication and commitment to the customers and the communities they serve that provides Stop & Shop with a real business advantage. “It is absolutely absurd to think that such a profitable company would follow a shortsighted low-road, low-wage business model. Doing so is a recipe for failure - not success.

 “The reality is that customers want to support responsible employers that reflect their values and treat their employees with respect. Stop & Shop customers deserve better, our hard-working members deserve better, and the communities they serve deserve better.

“It's time for Stop & Shop to do what is right and provide a fair contract for the thousands of hard working men and women who make their stores a success.”

Stopping Fast Track..

President Perrone: “The Best Way to Help the Jobless is to Stop Passing Trade Agreements like TPP that Kill Jobs.”

 “Our campaign for trade policy that is fair and just will continue full speed ahead.”

 Washington, D.C. — Today, Marc Perrone, International President of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), the largest private sector union in the nation, released the following statement in response to the U.S. House failing to advance fast track trade legislation.

 "This is a victory for hard-working men and women all across America. In the face of long odds, the American people sent a powerful message that their interests trump narrow political agendas and special interests.

“Today, we saw elected leaders stand up and make clear that the failed promises of global trade agreements, which only seem to serve irresponsible corporations, must come to an end. More importantly, we have seen what hard-working families can accomplish when we stand together and fight for what is right for both workers and this nation.

“With respect to TAA, we support a clean extension of the program, but the best way to help the jobless is to simply stop passing trade agreements like TPP that kill jobs. “While one vote does not end the fight, our campaign for a better America will continue full speed ahead until the threat of TPP and other unfair trade deals is gone for good.”

###

Marc Perrone Elected President of 1.3 Million Member United Food and Commercial Workers International Union

Says by uniting together, we can give workers the opportunities they deserve

Official UFCW Logo

CHICAGO, IL—Today, Marc Perrone, a labor leader who has committed four decades to fighting for hard working families, was elected International President of the 1.3 million member United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW).

As a proud leader and member of the UFCW, Perrone has long fought to organize more members, bargain the best contracts possible, and hold irresponsible corporations accountable. His values as a labor leader have been defined by the belief that every worker has the right to a decent living, a reliable schedule, quality affordable health care, and respect on the job.

"The choice we face today is whether we will stand together and build an economy that lifts up all families, or watch as even more workers fall further behind and struggle to make ends meet,” Perrone said. “Cynics may believe that these divisions and inequities are irreversible. I do not. We, as a union, do not. I strongly believe that by uniting together we can give workers across North America the opportunities they deserve."

Beginning today, Perrone will spend the coming weeks and months meeting with UFCW members throughout the United States and Canada. As part of this listening tour, Perrone will have one on one conversations, visit worksites, and utilize digital and social media platforms to engage with union members and hear their thoughts and ideas on how the UFCW can grow even stronger.

"The ideas to build a stronger union do not lie within any one individual,” Perrone said. “They lie within all of us. They lie in the collective wisdom and strength of 1.3 million UFCW members who work hard every day to support their families. I want to hear their ideas. I want to hear their vision. I want to hear what we can all do to become an even greater and stronger union for the decades ahead."

Perrone will be succeeding retiring International President Joe Hansen.

Hansen started as a meatcutter in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1962 and used his experience as a rank and file union activist to help lift up UFCW members and all workers. Hansen was elected International President in 2004 and helped steer the UFCW through a Great Recession, the flood of corporate money into politics, the single greatest legislative attack on labor in history, and the rise of income inequality.

“Even in the face of unprecedented challenges, Joe Hansen never lost sight of our members,” Perrone said. “His commitment and dedication to the hard-working men and women we represent will never be forgotten.”

During his tenure, Hansen increased union density in meatpacking and processing, formed important global labor alliances, and helped lead the labor movement’s positions on comprehensive immigration reform.

* For Perrone's biography, and the announcement of new UFCW officers, please see below:

Biography of International President Marc Perrone:

Marc Perrone joined the Retail Clerks—which later became the UFCW—in 1971 while working as a courtesy clerk at Weingarten’s food store in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.  Since that time, he has held various positions within the UFCW, including Region 1-Eastern Director and National Director of Strategic Programs, Collective Bargaining and Organizing. For the last decade, he has served as International Secretary-Treasurer, keeping the UFCW on sound fiscal footing in a challenging climate.

New UFCW Officers Elected:

Under the UFCW International Constitution, the International Executive Board is charged with electing a replacement for a vacancy in the office of International President. The UFCW Executive Board consists of 50 International Vice Presidents, primarily local union leaders, and 5 Executive Committee members.

The UFCW International Executive Board also elected former Executive Vice President Pat O’Neill as International Secretary-Treasurer, Esther Lopez as Executive Vice President, and Stuart Appelbaum as Executive Vice President. Paul Meinema currently serves as Executive Vice President and National President of UFCW Canada. Executive Vice President Bill McDonough retired on October 31.

###

The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) represents more than 1.3 million workers, primarily in the retail and meatpacking, food processing and poultry industries. The UFCW protects the rights of workers and strengthens America’s middle class by fighting for health care reform, living wages, retirement security, safe working conditions and the right to unionize so that working men and women and their families can realize the American Dream. For more information about the UFCW’s effort to protect workers’ rights and strengthen America’s middle class, visit www.ufcw.org, or join our online community at www.facebook.com/UFCWinternational and www.twitter.com/ufcw.

Statement from New York's Largest Grocery Workers Union on Mayor de Blasio's Decision to Shut Down Carriages

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1500, New York State's largest grocery workers union, released the following statement regarding Mayor de Blasio's decision to shut down the horse carriage industry, and pledged full support of the Teamsters:

"The 23,000 men and women of UFCW 1500 support the Teamsters, and the more than 300 hardworking men and women who rely on this historic industry to make ends meet," said Tony Speelman, Secretary-Treasurer of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1500. "We cannot and will not sit idly by while the professional fates of these working men and women hang in the balance. We remain committed to standing with our brothers and sisters in the labor movement to protect the careers of these dedicated carriage drivers."

Both Re-Elected As International VP

UFCW Local 1500 President Bruce Both

We're pleased to announce Local 1500 President, Bruce W. Both, was unanimously re-elected as International Vice President of the UFCW International Union. The election took place yesterday at UFCW's Convention in Chicago.  

Bruce has held the position of International Vice President since January of 2007.  This is a great day for our union, especially as 30 of our contracts are set to expire in the next 12-months.  The re-election will continue to give our union a strong voice and influence on all national UFCW affairs, and reaffirms Local 1500 as one of the most powerful Local Unions within the UFCW.

Top 13 Stories This Week:

— TOP 13 INDUSTRY/LABOR NEWS ARTICLES FROM THIS WEEK —

1. UFCW rejoins the AFL-CIO.  AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka: “A stronger, more unified grassroots movement of working men and women is exactly what’s needed to raise wages for workers and rebuild an American middle class. Together we are stronger—it’s as simple as that. Together working people have a stronger voice and the power to defend their rights on the job. Together we have a stronger voice in the global economy—the power to counter the excesses of CEOs and the ravages of inequality.” 2.  Check out this story about the Fight for $15...Workers who are fighting, are heroes.  Related: I work for Burger King for $7.15 per hour, here's what it's like. 3. Wish it was unbelievable: Twinkies CEO admits taking worker pensions for more executive pay. 4.  36 Senators just introduced a bill that prohibits any new law for workers' rights. Yea, read that again. 5.  Stop & Shop is cutting 670 jobs and closing ALL of their New Hampshire stores. More @ Supermarket News. 6.  Walmart is paying $190,000 after repeated serious health and safety violations throughout stores.  They're 'vowing' to improve safety issues in over 2,800 stores nationwide. 7. Tesco may close their US stores (Fresh & Easy) 8. Study confirms, consumers are paying more for mislabeled seafood. 9.  After going public, Fairway had a poor first quarter. 10.  Back to school time? Get your union-made school supplies. 11.  A bill was introduced last week that defines full-time work as 40-hours. 12.  via our friends at the NYC Central Labor Council: This Saturday Supermarket  Boycott Resumes: Golden Farm Supermarket on Church Ave. 13. Finally, a Walmart is doing good for the community- Well it's acutally an abandoned Walmart in Texas was transformed into a library.  Wonder what this country would be like if we had more libraries instead of Big-Box stores.

UFCW Joins AFL-CIO

AFL–CIO (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Chicago, Illinois – Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) affiliated with the AFL-CIO in a bold move toward a stronger, more unified labor movement. UFCW President Joe Hansen, supported by a vote of the UFCW Executive Board, decided to add the 1.3 million private sector members to the AFL-CIO federation in order to build a stronger, more unified voice for the rights of workers. UFCW International President Joe Hansen today released the following statement:

 “We join the AFL-CIO because it is the right thing to do for UFCW members, giving them more power and influence. This is not about which building in Washington D.C. we call home — it is about fostering more opportunities for workers to have a true voice on the job. It is about joining forces to build a more united labor movement that can fight back against the corporate and political onslaught facing our members each and every day.

 “Our affiliation with the Change to Win Federation (CTW) has been a rewarding one. The CTW’s Strategic Organizing Center (SOC) is leading some of the best campaigns to give workers rights and dignity. While no longer an affiliate of CTW, we continue our strong relationships with the Teamsters, SEIU and the Farmworkers. We will remain active in the SOC and bring our AFL-CIO partners into collaboration with private-sector unions in an effort to build more power for workers. “The need for unity became paramount after the 2010 elections. The attacks on workers brought the UFCW into direct strategic partnership with the AFL-CIO and the entire labor movement. Our shared campaign revealed a dynamic and revitalized AFL-CIO and made it clear that it was time for the UFCW to redouble our efforts to build a more robust and unified labor movement.

 “I respect Rich Trumka’s bold leadership of the AFL-CIO and his strategic advocacy on key issues like the urgent need to pass comprehensive immigration reform, fix the Affordable Care Act so workers in multiemployer plans can keep the health care they currently have, and ensure the National Labor Relations Board protects workers’ rights. The UFCW is proud to affiliate with a transparent, strategic and innovative AFL-CIO – an AFL-CIO committed to bringing a union voice on the job to millions of workers from coast to coast.”

Today’s announcement comes as the UFCW Executive Board meets in preparation for its 7th Regular Convention which calls to order Monday, August 12 in Chicago, Illinois. UFCW delegates representing local unions in the U.S. and Canada will chart a course for the next five years and beyond that aims to raise standards and build power for workers in the grocery, retail and food manufacturing industries.

 Inspired by the theme, “Blue. Gold. Bold. Powerful Together,” UFCW delegates will deliberate on taking steps to strengthen the UFCW’s strong base of member activists who are the backbone of creative organizing campaigns, engaged bargaining programs and political activism.

 ###

 Convention details can be found at www.ufcwconvention.org Media Guest Registration will take place in Room W474B on the 4th floor of McCormick Place West beginning Saturday, August 10. For admittance to the Convention Floor, please present a media credential or business card. - See more at: http://www.ufcw.org/2013/08/08/ufcw-joins-afl-cio/#sthash.G4ZasHNf.dpuf

UFCW Local 1500 Members Recognized at Hurricane Sandy Exhibit

Like all of us, UFCW Local 1500 Members working at Fairway in Red Hook were severely impacted during Super Storm Sandy....They (and Fairway) are now being recognized for helping rebuild their community after the super storm hit New York.  

The AFL-CIO has opened an exhibit recognizing and documenting the work of organized labor during and after Super Storm Sandy.  Photographs of workers and volunteers during the storm are posted along with reconstruction efforts.  Among the photos throughout the exhibit, photos of Red Hook Fairway workers and a story featured in our March edition of The Register, are up for display.

UFCW Local 1500 members working at Fairway in Red Hook helped clean up the ravaged store, then helped re-open the Brooklyn cornerstone store after a three-month closure due to severe damage.  Throughout the three-month closure at their Red Hook store, Fairway kept all their workers employed at other Fairway locations throughout the tri-state area, offering a free shuttle service for local workers.

You can check out the amazing exhibit here:

Graduate Center for Worker Education
25 Broadway, New York City 7th Floor
For more information contact Ed Murphy at 518-463-2141 or emurphy@wdiny.org.

Sandy Stories exhibit will be open until June 30, 2013

#BringJobsHome: Call Your Senators Today!

The AFL-CIO is running an online action right now! We need to bring jobs back to America to help rebuild our middle class!  If you need to know why we need more American jobs, here's some quick facts.  You can call your Senators sat 888-659-9401 and urge them to support the Bring Jobs Home Act.  Then tweet at your Senators, telling them to support the bring jobs home act!

You can find your Senator on Twitter at www.tweetcongress.org

Sample tweets from supporters:

RT @AFLCIO: Your taxpayer dollars are being used to pay for companies to ship jobs overseas. But that can end today. #BringJobsHome RT!

RT @CWAUnion: We need laws that make it harder for companies like @TMobile to offshore our jobs like #BringJobsHome

.@SenRonJohnson vote for the #BringJobsHome Act to stop giving taxpayer money to outsourcers #outsourcing #1u #wiunion

@SenatorCardin: Our tax code should not reward companies for moving jobs overseas- Ben #BringJobsHome

RT: @SenGillibrand: Proud to co-sponsor #BringJobsHome Act to reward cos that return #jobs to the US. Thx Sen. @stabenow for your leadership on this impt issue.

Thanks! RT: @sengillibrand: I strongly support the #BringJobsHome Act & urge my colleagues to do the same. It's time to end outsourcing & start #insourcing. 

Monday Mornin' One Liners: Nov 4 - Nov 7th: Burkle to Chair A&P

#A&P

Ron Burkle will chair A&P under the new buyout plan.

The proposed new board of directors would also include two designees each from Goldman Sachs Asset Management and Mount Kellett Capital Management; one director selected by the United Food and Commercial Workers union; and A&P’s chief executive officer, Sam Martin. The former two companies are combining with Yucaipa on a $490 million deal to buy A&P out of U.S. Bankruptcy Court and operate it as a privately held company, as reported first in SN Thursday. The plan is predicated upon savings as a result of a new labor deal with the UFCW, which has yet to be reached.
Read more: http://supermarketnews.com/retail_financial/burkle_ap_1104/?cid=upd#ixzz1d1mrohwR

The Bergen Record: A&P Deal Called Positive for Unions, Business.

Wall Street Journal: Yucaipa keeps A&P in its Grocery Basket.

More @ Reuters, Progressive Grocer.

The Westbury Times profiles a Local 338 member working at Waldbaum's and how the A&P bankruptcy is affecting workers.

Patch highlights how A&P's negotiations have been affecting local workers in Long Island.

#Industry
Best Yet will take over for a shuttered Waldbaum's in Patchogue, Long Island.

The National Labor Relations Board accuses Target of intimidating workers at Valley Stream before their union vote this past June.

There's a Thanksgiving Food Drive at Dix Hills Stop & Shop.

King Kullen opened a new store Friday in Garden City, Long Island.

Rumors of a new "high-end" supermarket could be opening in Southampton.

30 workers at Master Food in Flatbush have been overworked and underpaid, Local 338 helped them win back wages and a union contract!

Workers at a Flatbush supermarket who charged they were illegally stiffed on their wages for years settled a lawsuit for $300,000 - and a union contract.

The 30 workers at Master Food on Church Ave. charged they worked 12 hour days, six or seven days a week, for as little as $3.93 an hour, and never got required overtime pay. Read more: @ Daily News

#Politics

Prioritizing attacks on NLRB at the expense of Jobs:
 According to a new report from American Rights at Work in 2011 alone Republicans have launched nearly 50 attacks on the National Labor Relations Board. 

The AFL-CIO says it right: "The assaults on workers’ rights comes at a time when most Americans say jobs are the nation’s No. 1 priority."

Check out the report along with some interesting graphics here.

  

AFL-CIO Blog: For the third time in a month, senate repbulicans kill "Rebuild America Act," an act which would create hundreds of thousands of jobs.

The AFL-CIO Blog also lists Verizon and 29 other very large corporations who haven't paid taxes since 2007.

Unions supply food for thousands of Occupy Oakland protesters.

UFCW Blog: 80,000 Jobs aren't enough to re-start our economy.

Afternoon News Recaps: 6/8/11

UFCW Contract Update: Southern California grocery struggle to preserve medical benefits.
 ....Authorizing strikes at major supermarket chains in San Diego.

UFCW urges shoppers to respect picket line in Southern California.

Congressional Republicans threatening to cut National Labor Relations Board.

Chronic unemployment worse than Great Depression.

The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. has hammered out a new money-saving agreement with its wholsale supplier.

A&P makes deal with major supplier to cut costs.

Protests in 10 cities to support FLOC.

Wal-Mart works with unions abroad, not at home.

Valley Stream Target vote being watched closely by other big-box retailers.

Sparks start to fly in Target fight 


Local 324 members of Southern California struggle to preserve medical benefits in new collective bargaining agreement.

Chronic unemployment worse than Great Depression.

Local 135 of San Diego can effectively srtike major supermarket chains.

The British Embassay in Washington, D.C., and consulates in nine U.S. cities were picketed by Union activists.

Wal-Mart works with unions abroad, but not at home.

NY Industry News Briefs: 5/7-5/10

Image via Wikipedia

Stop & Shop's personnel is moving back to their new million dollar offices in Mass.

The Patriot News wonders if Rite-Aid can recover.

A recently closed Pathmark will remain a supermarket.

UFCW Local 1189 has held up a scheduled May 15th vote on a new grocery industry contract while the international union reviews the proposal.

A 70,000 sqft ShopRite is proposed in New Millford, NJ.

Whole Foods sets a new goal: 1,000 stores.  Currently they operate 304.

The Supreme Court in Canada, upholds the ban on Ontario Farm Unions.

South Africa, Walmart's next ambition, is arguing that Walmart's entry into the country must be met with strong conditions or rejected.

 Forbes Blog: Why Walmart is Bad for Africa. Wal-Mart’s global sourcing model will definitely force African suppliers to match the prices of companies from countries like China which thrive on cheap, low standard labor. The domino effect of this is far reaching.

A new report surfaced concluding that a Walmart in South Africa will cost and cut 4,000 SA jobs.

A former Walmart boss was grilled in a South African Tribunal about Walmart's stance on labor and unions.

Check out recent bargaining news @AFL-CIO's blog.

NY Industry News Briefs: 4/1-4/5

Cover of Martin Luther King, Jr.

In March, jobs increased by 216,000.

AFL-CIO Blog: Walker's attacks on workers creates a new interest for unions in America.

Stop & Shop hires 150 local workers, 100 from the closed Shaw's store in CT.

Last week a judge upheld the ruling for Walmart's $7K fine from OSHA, for the tragedy at their Valley Stream store, when a temporary employee was trampled to death on Black Friday in 2008.  The Times reports how Walmart aggressively fought this fine, and is planning to appeal it, spending over $2 million fighting the $7,000 fine. More @ Columbia Journalism Review.

Walmart is also thinking of testing California deliveries. More @ Consumerist.

Last month, the NY POST wrote an article which inaccurately depicted supermarket prices throughout NYC.  Today, Nicholas Dagostino published his response.

On April Fools Day the Working Families Party put out a fake press release announcing a partnership with Walmart.

No joke, Mini-Walmarts are coming; WSJ.

Walmart's massive PR campaign continued today with new mailers going out throughout NYC.

Here's why Martin Luther King Jr. would support Public Workers.

MLK III is also making a push for living wage with elected officials. 

A&P is suing Stop & Shop for hiring Ex-Operations Vice President.

A&P also announced a new Kosher promotion, hiring/establishing a new "Kosher category manager".

Friday Morning One-Liners: 3/9-3/11;

“And for those politicians who seek to emulate Governor Walker, rest assured, these attacks on middle class families have unified and inspired an even stronger grassroots movement for change in this country.”   UFCW International's statement on GOP attacking workers' rights.

Wednesday night under sobering pressure from polls and recalls, Governor Walker urgently rammed through his anti-union legislation.  "In 30 minutes, the 18 Republican senators stripped away 50 years of worker rights," Poll after poll shows support for Public Workers and thousands of protesters rushed the state Capitol in Wisconsin.

The UFCW International released a statement on Wisconsin GOP's attack on workers. 

Labor has vowed to step up the recall effort in Wisconsin, "This legislative gimmick proves Walker's attack on the middle class was never about balancing the budget; it was always about stripping workers of a voice and rewarding the cronies who helped finance his campaign." Read more @ Huffington Post.

Mad about Wisconsin?? Tell your NY elected officials via AFL-CIO.  

32 BJ Press Release: Democracy, Not Just Wages, Under Attack in Wisconsin & Elsewhere.

Thousands gather @ Indiana's Statehouse for a labor rally.

NFL Players back Indiana's public workers.

#Industry

The first three 15,000 sqft Walmarts will open between May and early summer in Arkansas.  More @Bloomberg.

Business Week & The WSJ report Walmart plans on opening 'hundreds' of small stores.

On Thursday, Walmart said the company is considering acquiring retailers with smaller stores to help turn around its weakened U.S. business.  More @ ABC News.

In a few days, Betty Dukes will be fighting Walmart in the Supreme Court, send her a message of encouragement.

Join Walmart Watch in calling Justice Antonin Scalia to recuse himself from the Dukes v. Walmart case.  The Justice's son is a partner at Walmart's law firm in the massive gender discrimination suit.

A  BJ's Wholesale club will be opening in Garden City in 2012.

Fresh Direct is receiving a $50M investment to expand out of NY.

Friday Morning One-Liners:

A&P will next week ask a bankruptcy judge to approve $1.76 million in payments to four of its top executives, part of a $6.8 million "key employee retention plan" that covers 146 non-union employees.  Read more @ WSJ.

NY Times: U.S. Economy adds 192,00 Jobs, Rate Falls to 8.9&

The nation’s employers added 192,000 jobs in February, after having added just 63,000 the previous month.  Find the latest statistics here.

Yesterday, Creditors, Unions (UFCW), Trustee Objected to A&P's Bonus Plan.  Calling the plan a "band-aid" retention plan.

More @WSJ: A&P will next week ask a bankruptcy judge to approve $1.76 million in payments to four of its top executives, part of a $6.8 million "key employee retention plan" that covers 146 non-union employees. 

Three days until California contracts expire covering 62,000 UFCW grocery workers. More @PressEnterprise.

Ahold's Q4 summary shows "solid" numbers.

Ahold, Looking for Growth: “We're actively looking for growth opportunities where we see a strategic fit, the price is right, and we can integrate smoothly,” Dick Boer, chief executive officer of Ahold, from today's Supermarket News.

Major LGBT groups say NO to Walmart in NYC.

John Castimatidis (CEO of Gristedes) joined Neil Cavuto to discuss rising inflation.

Target will pay $22.5M for illegally dumping Toxic Waste out in California.

NYPIRG has 2010's top lobbyist clients, 2010 broke records on $$ spent, with Beverage and Teachers topping the list.

#Wisconsin

Scott Walker, Governor of Wisconsin, says he will start issuing layoff warnings to public sector unions representing 1,500 employees on Friday, if his bill remained in limbo.  Read more @NYTimes

Walker's Budget extends attacks on Seniors, Children & Poor.

AFL-CIO Blog: Killing Workplace Rights is Un-American.  

Must Watch: Watch Congressman George Miller's speech on the floor: Attack on Middle-Class American's.

Must Read: The New Yorker, Union Blues. & Richard Trumka's Op-Ed in WSJ: Scott Walker's False Choice

Half of Wisconsin's workers want to recall Walker.