Thursday 3/3 Lunchtime One-Liners:

 “I've worked there from August 2004 and I have never had a vacation; I've gotten sick and had to go to work sick; I've worked on holidays and haven't gotten paid extra; and I never got overtime,” said Jesus Najera, a 31-year-old immigrant from Honduras who plans to vote in favor of the union. “We think that with the union there will be changes for the better at the store.” -From Today's Crain's: Two Brooklyn Supermarkets Hit with Class-Action Suits.

#Industry 

Target has beaten Walmart in a pricing survey.

Meanwhile, they've [Target] just paid $35M for a hefty piece of property in the Bronx, looking for their third store in the borough. 

BJ's Wholesale Club is projecting gains in 2011.

King Kullen's new nutritional shopping guide is a hit, so far.

BJ's Wholesale Club's profit's are in the decline by 81%, but rising fuel costs have been a major help... Their Q4 was dragged down by expenses but its adjusted results beat expectations, sending its shares higher.

Ahold's (Stop & Shop) Q4 profit is down 42%. More @CanadianBusiness.

CBS News says retail sales were strong, but expect price increases soon.

Atlantic City Press: Town board to review Walmart's Expansion.

Our brothers and sisters @Local338 & @NYChange (NY Communities for Change) are working to improve working conditions at two Brooklyn Supermarkets. Great work!

If you've been following the Walmart South Africa story, Walmart's merger w/ Massmart (South Africa) is a threat, both sides have been unwilling to unwillingness to make any  commitments that would address public interest concerns about the impact of the merger on local procurement, food security and broad-based black economic empowerment: “A merger of the size of the proposed Wal-Mart/Massmart transaction, and with the size and leverage of the parties which are involved, could, if not properly regulated, go some way towards undermining the New Growth Path”, the departments said.

#WalmartNYC

Brooklyn Business Owners Fear Walmart's Presence...Edgar Andrade fears Wal-Mart's low prices would drive his hardware and dollar store out of business if the company opened a location nearby.

#Walmart’s Women Problem: "New Yorkers might think twice before allowing such drama into our City"  http://exm.nr/i80GYP

#StandupUnions

More than 20,000 rally for Ohio for Public Employees. But yesterday Ohio's Senate passed a Bill to weaken collective bargaining rights for public employees, the bill bans the right to strike, read more @ The NY Times: 

In Ohio, Nina Turner, a Senate Democrat, said, “This bill seeks to vilify our public employees and turn what used to be the virtue of public service into a crime.” At its heart, the bill redraws rules governing how several hundred thousand public-sector workers bargain with the governments that employ them. Among the most objectionable parts, workers said, are the rules giving local officials the final say in breaking labor impasses. Currently, non-elected, third parties decide.

Why are workers being used as bailouts for economic problems? The elected officials are mostly to blame for fiscal problems, not workers!

UFCW Activists, help workers in Ohio!

Recap of the NYC Council Hearing: When Walmart Comes to Town

By: Diana Robinson, Food Policy Coordinator

Wal-Mart is the largest private in employer in the country; it also has the largest class action law suit against them for discriminating against female employees. In addition to this it is recognized by Human Rights Watch as the greatest violator of worker rights. So it is no surprise that Wal-Mart was a no show at New York City Council hearing yesterday to discuss Wal-Mart’s labor practices and documented history of discrimination against women.

Before the hearing there was a demonstration in front of the Emigrant Savings Bank where the hearing was held. Protesters held up signs that said “Wal-Mart is Anti Women” and “Wal-Mart sucks the life out of Communities”. They also chanted “Wal-Mart cheats, Wal-Mart hates, Wal-Mart discriminates”. Joining protesters were former Wal-Mart employees from around the country, who testified on their experiences working for Wal-Mart.

During the hearing several panels gave testimony on facts about Wal-Mart’s practices in discriminating against women and violating workers rights. Annette Bernhardt, Policy Co-Director at National Employment Law Project testified that Wal-Mart participates in a practiced called “time-shaving” where if any employee is over 40 Hours they will go into the system and remove the overtime hours to avoid having to pay the employees’ overtime.

Kenneth James a former Wal-Mart department manager testified how after he participated in a press conference to support the Employee Free Choice Act his hours were reduced from 37 hours a week to 18 hours a week; he went on to say that at one point he received a paycheck for $514, and was then forced to live off of $14 for two weeks after having to pay his rent. He also testified that female co-worker also suffered retaliation after participating in the press conference and her hours were reduced to zero.

Councilman Eric Ulrich commented that” We have the toughest laws, Wal-Mart won’t [participate in wage theft] do it here, and that with these economic times any job would be good.” To which Bernhardt responded that is doesn’t matter what laws are in existent if they cannot be enforced because of lack of resources and when the only solution are lawsuits. Councilwoman Melissa Mark Viverito also responded to Ulrich’s comments by saying that New Yorkers ‘don’t just want any jobs, they want good jobs that will help our communities and the people in them grow.’

It was clear throughout the hearing that Wal-Mart has systematic pattern of violating workers rights and discriminating against women: whether it be by cutting pro union workers hours or denying women promotions. Their promise of jobs and low prices isn’t enough for New Yorkers. Wal-Mart’ decision to not appear at the New York City Council hearings and defend its self shows its unwillingness to face the facts and own up to what they have done. It is also insulting to the NYC Council members and the New Yorkers that they represent. How can we allow them to enter our communities if they are not willing to answer our questions and face us?

Friday Morning One Liners: Gristedes Makes a Push toward Food Emporium, Beef with Wal-Mart why not Target?

Castimatidis: “it's no secret that we have interest in [Food Emporium].”
According to a report from Crain's John Castimatidis, owner of Gristedes is apparently the front runner and highest bidder in the Food Emporium fire sale.

The Crain's article also comments on D'Agostino's struggles:

Separately, family-owned D'Agostino's grocery-store chain is selling its only three stores in Westchester, according to a company insider. Those stores, located in Chappaqua, Rye Brook and Cross River, have struggled against competitors like Whole Foods, Super Stop & Shop and others, said supermarket consultant Burt Flickinger.

Very interesting piece in the Wall Street Journal: In the Cities That Battle Wal-Mart, Target gets a Welcome.

The Gawker looks at what Wal-Mart would mean for New York.

A&P is shuttering stores today in Yorktown, NY, two others  in the Philadelphia area (Pathmark in Broomall, PA loses108 jobs lost & a SuperFresh in Hatfield, PA), another Pathmark in Millville, NJ where Wal-Mart has actually proposed to a 40,000 sqft store w/ grocery to fill the vacant space.

Some good news though, the UFCW Canada's victory at Saskatchewan Wal-Mart was upheld, unanimously, in court yesterday.



The Grand Opening and celebration party for the new Rockaway Stop & Shop is slated for October 21.

The Windsor Star: Strike continues to loom in second local Loblaw vote

Other Bargaining News:
Unionized workers at Walt Disney World voted against a proposed labor contract Thursday, despite the largest of the resort's unions coming out in support of the contract before the vote.


And in Politics Frank Padavan, out raises and is out spending Tony Avella.