Weeks End One Liners: BJ's Wholesale Club to Raise Membership Fees

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

BJ's Wholesale Club announced they will raise membership fees.  They recently reported sales gains of 4.8%

Sheepshead Bites wonders if Walmart should come to the five boroughs.

Working in These Times also blogs about the potential Walmart in NYC.


Mike DeBonis of the Washington Post explains, it looks like Walmart is finally going to open in Washington D.C. with their 'urban' format stores.

Wall Street Journal and Washington Post report that Walmart plans on opening four stores in the DC area.

A tentative agreement has been reached between Albertson's and the UFCW in New Mexico.

The Teamsters said they'll honor grocery picket lines if UFCW Local 21 strikes.


Bottom Dollar Food Store is taking a vacant former Pathmark site in Trenton. NJ.com says Bottom Dollar is looking to expanding across the state.


Ahold doesn't meet sales expectations, says sales in U.S. are strong.

Baseball's, Levi's, Converse & Dell Computers, see what else made the list at Yahoo! Finance: 18 Iconic Products that America Doesn't Make Anymore.

Tomato Workers Sign Historical Agreement in Florida:

After more than 15 years of struggle, justice may be just around the corner in the Florida tomato fields. In what workers call a “watershed moment,” the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) and the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange (FTGE) yesterday signed an agreement that will extend the CIW’s Fair Food principles to more than 90 percent of the Florida tomato industry.

Migrant workers in Canada bargain historic contract:

A group of seasonal workers in Abbotsford have won what their union says is a precedent-setting contract that includes higher wages and benefits like overtime pay and statutory holidays.

NYC & Greater Area

Bloomberg "trims" thousands of jobs to cut budget.

New Jersey, due to an unclaimed property law that was recently passed, unused gift card balances were being sent to the State after two years of inactivity.  This would of course help the budget deficit that the State faces.  The Jersey Food Council won an injunction to put an end to the State collecting the revenue.

Tues, Weds & Thursday Morning One-Liners: Aldi's breaking into NYC later than sooner...

Progressive Grocer: 16,000 NY Grocery Union Contracts set to Expire June 26
(you can find all media outlets who covered our release here)

At Co-op City, Trash Piles Up as Workers Go on Strike
Mountains of trash bags sprouted across Co-op City on Tuesday as residents and office workers rushed to perform basic maintenance tasks left undone by more than 500 unionized janitors, groundskeepers and parking attendants who went on strike on a contract dispute. 


UMass Memorial, Food Workers Union reach tentative contract
UMass Memorial Health Care and the union representing 1,300 of its workers have tentatively agreed to a two-year contract, avoiding the threat of a strike. 


Shaw's workers win support in Sommerville (MA)
Striking Shaw's workers took their fight through Somerville this week for support from labor and faith groups and a protest in Twin Cities. 


Oh the Aldi NYC thing again,

Supermarket News: Aldi to Open in NYC in 2011

The discounter has agreed to locate in the Rego Park II development in Queens, with the store scheduled to open in early 2011. Aldi had previously hoped to have arrived in New York as soon as last year, but plans for its initial store fell through, company officials said. The company is now seeking to hire staff for the Queens store. 

More @ Queens Central: Aldi Supermarket to open at Rego Center
The discount supermarket chain plans to open its first New York City store at the Rego Park ll shopping center at 65-35 Junction Blvd. in Queens, in 2011

Progressive Grocer also covered Aldi's NYC Plans.

Fowl is fair! Key Food's chicken relabeling is completely kosher.
A Brooklyn Heights Key Food that has been repeatedly accused of changing the "sell-by" date on meat is off the hook this week after the state revealed that the relabeling practice is completely legal. 


Workers at 3 MMJ Businesses in Oakland Unionize
California- Workers at three medical marijuana businesses in Oakland will announce Friday that they have unionized, another step in a concerted campaign aimed at bringing legitimacy to a once-hidden sector of the state's economy and boosting the marijuana-legalization initiative.


A crowed showed up last  week at Starrett City to protest Walmart's proposed first New York City superstore.


Unions v Wal-Mart
The Economist looks at an old unions stronghold battles the bigger retailer.

Undercitting its rivals: Wal-Mart slashing prices, restoring some basics.
Wal-Mart is counting on $1 ketchup bottles and sub-$4 cases of Coke to get its low-price mojo back.


Wal-Mart Expecting a Break Out?
Wal-Mart's price action is below this important level, which makes the stock difficult to buy, as there will certainly be resistance as it approaches its 200 day moving average.



Wal-Mart says recalled Miley Cyrus jewlery was not intended for children.
In a statement released by Wal-Mart, they announced that the line of Miley Cyrus jewelry was not intended for children. That comment has been met with skepticism by many mothers of tween girls who, for the past four years, have been sleeping, eating, breathing and buying everything Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus.

1.2 million un-employed workers will lose benefits since congress failed to act.

Politics, City & Everything in between...
Schneiderman for Espaillat, UFCW Local 1500 for Levine
UFCW Local 1500 continued its early endorsement streak by becoming the first labor union to endorse in the 31st SD race, throwing its weight behind District Leader Mark Levine.

Bronx May Land Fuel Alternative
The Bloomberg administration is pushing to build New York's first public alternative-fuel station to pump natural gas, ethanol and biodiesel.

Apparently Skinny People Shop at Whole Foods:
Researchers at the University of Washington further illustrate the link between poverty and obesity.


Co-op City workers in Bronx to Strike Over Proposed Wage Freeze
Building workers at Co-op City in the Bronx will strike this morning, seething over a four-year wage freeze proposed by management of the massive complex, union officials said Monday night. 


Race against time to keep MTA workers as layoffs loom
Hundreds of bus drivers and other transit workers could get a reprieve from impending layoffs if MTA and union officials can negotiate a deal-but the clock is ticking.

Bloomberg eliminates Teachers' raises, saves 4,400 jobs: Crains NY Business.

Bloomberg wins a third term, An annual Wal-Mart & NYC article, Wednesday Morning One Liners...

Election results
Mike Bloomberg wins a third term.

Michael Barbaro says the number one factor in the race was Bloomberg's influence. 
 
Elizabeth Benjamin: Democrat Owens beats Conservative Hoffman who Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh supported

You can find all the New York election results here.

In Long Island Tom Suozzi has a slight lead.

Industry
The New York Times spotlights Fairway's continued growth and success.

New stimulus funded Stop & Shop in Rockaway breaks ground.

Shares of Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. (GAP) climbed more than 14% Tuesday amid reports that its biggest stakeholder, German supermarket operator Tengelmann Group, would consider merging the U.S. supermarket company with a competitor.

Meanwhile Food Basics, an A&P discount food store format will open it's first Connecticut store.

Guess who's back? The annual Wal-Mart NYC article: Wal-Mart is making another bid to get into New York City, the Daily News writes.  The Gothamist also comments.

Wal-Mart also received final approval on Monday of a settlement in which it will pay between $65 million and $85 million to resolve wage-and-hour violations alleged by millions of workers

The FTC has extended their deadline for Whole Foods to sell Wild Oats stores.

And Trader Joe's will be opening Friday in Millburn, New Jersey.

Another Brooklyn BJ's? Aldi denied a store for not fixing a street, Fresh Market will open upstate, Tuesday Morning Read...

Image via Wikipedia

"I asked the boss for permission to go to the hospital. She said, 'It's fine, go - but you don't have a job anymore.'"

-Adela Valdez, mother of 4, fired for catching a cold, in Sunday's New York Times.
 
Change to Win's campaign on CVS advances in South New Jersey.

The Fresh Market, an eagerly expanding gourmet grocery store, has been salivating at the thought of opening more stores in the North East. They'll break ground on their first New York store upstate, in Latham on October 13.  They'll be opening a store in Connecticut next week.

Aldi was refused permission to open a UK store for "failed negotiations to agree how much money Aldi should pay towards local roads improvement." Thankfully there are no damaged roads in Queens, so we won't encounter this problem when they open their first NY store next year.

UFCW Local 7 update: Strike may not change shopping habits. [Denver Post]
Grocery Workers wrapping up contract vote in Colorado. [AP]


Development Update: Joe Sitt of Thor Equities pitches a new BJ's site for Brooklyn.

SN has named Stop & Shop and Giant of Landover the winners of the 2009 Retail Excellence Award, sponsored by Kraft Foods. The two Ahold-owned chains have reasserted their dominance as value leaders in their markets, and remain standouts in such areas as marketing, technology and health and wellness.

Meanwhile, Stop & Shop unvieled a new custom publication called "Small Victories" geared towards Mom's.

D'Agostino's will launch a radio campaign, it's first campaign on the radio in 10-years.

The Teamsters endorsed Mike Bloomberg for Mayor.

The Hotel Trades Council has reached a deal with Steve Wynn, one less roadblock he'll face on his attempt to open an enormous "Racino" at the Aqueduct.

Wal-Mart will build within a Civil War battle field, New Yorkers debate boycotting Whole Foods, Tuesday One Liners...

Wal-Mart will be building a store within a cannonball shot of a historic Civil War battle field. Image via Wikipedia

Wal-Mart continues to test their Latino thread of stores, hoping it will spark more U.S. expansion.

It's official a Wal-Mart will be built on a Civil War battle field. 

Wall Street Journal looks at Wal-Mart's international growth and sales compared to the U.S.  Wal-Mart operates 3,615 stores internationally and 4,258 in the United States.

Wal-Mart also spent $2.6 million lobbying in the 2nd quarter.

New Yorkers debate the Whole Foods boycott on WNYC.

An interview with the creator of the Facebook group 'Boycott Whole Foods'...which has grown to over 28,000 supporters.


AP: Unions target Whole Foods CEO over health piece.

Fresh Direct is offering new environmentally friendly egg packaging.

Albertson's will close 4 more stores in Florida.



Weis Markets here said yesterday it has completed the acquisition of 11 Giant Markets locations in the Binghamton, N.Y. area. 

BJ's Wholesale Club toys with the idea of 85,000 sqft stores.

Politics, City, Elsewhere

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York has named a top state labor union official its chairman, the bank announced Monday.

Crain's looks at the green rooftops across NYC.

Erick Engquist writes, if Bloomberg wins, he'll be facing a fierce watchdog

Councilwoman Maria Baez ducks out of a debate before her primary, the Daily News reports.

Guiliani, sensing an opening, continues to mull a governor bid

Stella D'oro plans to close doors in October, Tuesday Morning Read

Last week, a federal judge ordered Stella D'oro to reinstate 134 workers after a protracted 10-month strike. This week, the company invited the workers back. It also announced that it would close the factory in October.

NY Times: After Inviting workers back, cookie factory plans to shut down.

New York: Welfare checks to increase for the first time in 19-years.

"I work at Con Ed, but need food stamps to get by….And with a monthly electricity bill of some $200. I feel that Con Ed is taking back whatever little I get paid."

-Fernando Cruz, a maintenance worker who cleans the Manhattan offices of Con-Ed, in Friday's Daily News

The Connecticut Laborers' Council plans to picket three work sites in Torrington, Bristol and Ellington to protest a Plainville-based construction firm's use of nonunion workers, including a future Stop & Shop site.

Don McGeorge, who as president and chief operating officer of Kroger Co. was influential in developing many of the retailer’s strategies, including its private brands and centralized operations, is retiring after 32 years with the company.

About 1,200 Macy's workers in Washington 'OK'd' a contract.

Remember Mark Kaiser? Former executive at Ahold’s U.S. Foodservice division, who was sentenced to seven years in prison back in 2007 for his role as “organizer and leader” of a scheme that led Ahold to overstate its profits by $800 million. Kaiser was convicted of fraud in the case, in which he was found to have directed the creation of fake invoices to artificially inflate vendor rebates. Well, he is now seeking a re-trial.

Trader Joe's is receiving some criticism over sustainable fish.

Local 342 wins NLRB case against kosher meat packers.

Two more supermarkets to pay over $1 million dollars in back wages.

Two supermarkets in Brooklyn have agreed to pay back wages to employees totaling $1.125 million after a state investigation found they did not pay some workers at all and paid others less than minimum wage. This past February Local 1500 and the Building Blocks project helped workers at Amish Market, Zeytinia, Zeytinz and Zeytuna receive over $1 million dollars in back wages. NY1 covered the story here. This is becoming too much of a common practice throughout New York City, the Building Blocks Project along with Local 1500 is working on the New York State's Dept. of Labor's Wage Watchers campaign

Wal-Mart

REGINA, Saskatchewan — A judge here has voided union certification at a Wal-Mart store where workers organized under labor laws that were since altered, reports Thursday said.

Chicago- Chicago Alderman still yearns for Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart backs drive to force companies to pay for health insurance.

Politics

Mayor Bloomberg has imposed an immediate city hiring freeze, citing “gridlock in the State Senate” that has held up votes on budget measures.

That includes a class of 250 police recruits who were slated to start at the academy tomorrow.

NY Times looks at 5 years down the road: The Stalemate in Albany, Five Years On.

Balducci's to close NY stores, Bloomberg is an Independent, Monday Morning One Liners...

Image via Wikipedia

Balducci's will four stores in June, including both New York City locations.

The NY Post has some customer reactions and more on the closing.

The Minnesota Grocery Association is offering free re-usable bags to all customers as part of a campaign to make 'Green your Routine'

The RWDSU held a protest in New Jersey in front of an Auto Parts store where 50 union members protested a 2 year wage freeze and loss of pension funding.

Politics

Atlantic City - The manager of the local Wal-Mart and its exterminator were charged with animal cruelty after they allegedly used inhumane methods to take care of birds that had gotten into the store, the president of the Atlantic County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said Thursday

Wendall Young IV, President of UFCW Local 1776 publicly debated the Employee Free Choice Act with Gene Barr, vice president of Pennslyvania's largest business association.

An executive who led what was once one of the country's biggest electrical wiring companies pleaded innocent Friday to charges that he bribed a union official. Former Petrocelli Electric chairman and principal owner Santo Petrocelli Sr. is accused of making secret payments for a decade to a representative of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

NY State AG, Andrew Cuomo is looking into charges that liquor stores have been threatening wine-makers who supported selling wine in grocery stores, a debate which ended last week.

Meanwhile, the battle of wine in grocery stores is far from over.

Dozens of migrant workers in Bradford, Markham, Leamington, and East Toronto have been arrested, detained and are likely slated for deportation at the Rexdale Immigration Holding Centre after a series of US style immigration raids carried out by CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency) throughout this week.

Daily News: Patterson must improve poll numbers or forget about 2010.

NY State passes $131 million dollar budget.

Newsday looks at how bad the budget is for Long Island.

The Independence Party has endorsed Bloomberg.

Adolfo Carrion is admist another scandal, spending campaign cash for a farewell party.

Former representative John Sweeney now faces a felony D.W.I. charge.

Monday Morning One Liners...

Image via Wikipedia

Several Southern California grocers are planning store closings and layoffs due to the impact of today's tough economy, according to a published account.

Chuck Schumer to head the Senate immigration subcommittee.

Obama raises hopes for unions...

Bloomberg's popularity falls to a 4 year low.

STUDY: 14,000 people are losing health insurance every day

According to a report released by Health Care for America Now and the Center for American Progress, 14,000 Americans are losing health insurance every day during this economic crisis.

Wal-Mart has agreed to change its recruitment and hiring methods for over-the-road truck drivers, and pay $17.5 million to thousands who say they were denied the jobs because of their race, resolving a nationwide class-action lawsuit that was set for trial next month.

Wegman's plans on more 'southern expansion'.

Wal-Mart manufactures American Flag pins in China, Patterson's wine sale proposal, Interview with BJ's Wholesale Club's new CEO, more one liners....

Image via Wikipedia
Wal-Mart awarded a manufacturing job to create American Flag pins to China, over an American company.

D'Agostino customers purchased over 9,000 food bundles this holiday season to feed the needy.

Here's an interview with the new CEO of BJ's Wholesale Club, Laura Sen.

Supermarket News has a piece on preparing Supermarkets for 2009.

Negotiations between Loblaw Cos. and the union representing workers at Maxi stores in Quebec resumed over the weekend as the strike affecting 14 stores continued.
Read more of this story

New York will join 35 other states that permit wine to be sold in multiple grocery stores if one of the revenue actions in the Empire State’s 2009 budget proposal is approved.
Read more of this story

A new proposal by Patterson could also boost wine sales in grocery stores.

More on the wine sales at the Progressive Grocer.


Politics

David Paterson plans a state work force reduction of about 3,000, but will suggest that layoffs can be averted if unions agree to givebacks

The governor yesterday signed a bill that would, at least in theory, provide for the collection of taxes on cigarettes sold from the state's Indian reservations.

Patterson has an Op-Ed in the NY Daily News explaining the budget cuts and new taxes.

Bloomberg calls Patterson's budget cuts in NYC "unfair".

Hillary Clinton tells supporters to back off on criticisms on Caroline Kennedy.

Monday News...

The NY Times covers the Chicago Factory sit-in.

More than 70 Mexican and Jamaican agriculture workers at multi-million dollar Ontario mushroom farm are fired, evicted and face defacto deportation [UFCW Press Release]

The Toronto Star has a more detailed story.

RWDSU President Stuart Applebaum has issued a statement.

A&P has released a "Winter preparation guide"

The Hudson Reporter offers a solution to the lack of Supermarkets, in NJ at least.

A man was kidnapped, stabbed at a Wal-Mart in San Diego.

An Immigration raid and legal action have left a northeast Iowa kosher slaughterhouse reeling, but they're not the reason the plant has struggled to remain open. Instead, a company that once was the nation's largest provider of kosher meat has crumbled largely due to a simple problem: an inability to hire enough workers.

Whole Foods has hired top lobbyists and lawyers to plead their FTC case in DC.

Whole Foods was mentioned in a WSJ article regarding 'Job Perks worth getting'

Politics

Adolfo Carrion Jr. revealed in New Haven Friday night that he’s being nominated for a top post in the incoming Obama administraiton.

Mayor Bloomberg will attend Vito Fossella's farewell bash.

The NYC City Council announces millions in cuts.

Morning Read

David Wild, who was said to be heading up the development of Wal-Mart’s small-format Marketside concept, is leaving to join British retailer Halfords Group as chief executive officer, Halfords said Friday.
Read more of this story

The King Kullen Supermarket chain has plans to build a superstore in the Tuckahoe Hills area within the next few years.

A new study has found that New York City needs at least seven new dry docks like that one that Ikea turned into a parking lot in Red Hook. Experts say it could cost about $1 billion to replace the 730-foot-long former graving dock. The Port of New York has 18 dry docks, including four larger graving docks. The study estimated the port would lose $50 million to $150 million in revenue over the next five years because it does not have enough docks. Opponents of the Ikea, which opened last week, want the city to take back its dock because they say it would be less costly than building a new one.

A&P Press Release; MONTVALE, N.J.-- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc. (A&P, NYSE Symbol: GAP) has published on it’s website, unaudited prior year quarterly information for Pathmark Stores Inc, acquired in December 2007, in response to shareholder inquiries concerning the effect of the acquisition on Pathmark’s prior year results including summarization of Pathmark’s results to conform to A&P’s quarterly reporting calendar, the impact of purchase accounting adjustments and classifications of certain non operating items consistent with A&P practices.

Supervalu Inc. hired the CEO of online grocer Fresh Direct to become its new chief marketing officer.

A permanent fresh food market will open on South Street this summer, as part of the long-term redevelopment plans for Pier 17 and the Seaport. The 16-stall market is the first of General Growth Properties' plans, which call for a 495-foot tower, hotels and condos, retail buildings, and the relocation of the landmark-protected Tin Building. A community center and a public plaza are also in the works. Read the entire story here.

The soaring price of food has complicated efforts by Whole Foods, the nation's largest natural and organic grocery store, to move toward provide "more sustainable" products, a company official said on Friday.

Here's more on how Whole Foods & Wal-Mart are coping with high food costs.

Ed Ott, the executive director of the New York City Central Labor Council, an umbrella group for the city’s labor unions, has an unexpected and unnerving warning for New York’s more than one million union members.

There already are vending machines outside most so-called big-box stores that dispense soda cans. But similar machines may soon be collecting them. A bill that cleared the state Senate last week and is now before the Assembly for a vote will, if it passes, require large retail stores such Costco, Sam's Club, BJ's Wholesale Club and Wal-Mart to install reverse vending machines, or RVMs.

Politics

Francis H. Powers, a retired Wall Street executive who was recently selected by Republican leaders on Staten Island as their candidate for the Congressional seat being vacated by Representative Vito J. Fossella, died on Saturday at his home on Staten Island.

When the numbers were finally and officially tallied a little over a week ago, Anthony Como had won a special election for a City Council seat by a mere 41 votes. Mr. Como’s razor-thin victory in a four-candidate race is not only a triumph for him, but also a victory that brings bragging rights for the Queens County Republican Party’s leadership.

Rep. Anthony Weiner has sworn off special interest money for his mayoral campaign next year - but he's raking it in for his congressional reelection bid this fall, federal records show.

Brooklyn community activists are putting up candidates for the borough's Democratic county committee.

Community Board 2 is set to vote on the Hunts Point new mega-development.

Hillary Clinton made her first major public appearance in New York yesterday.

In addition to Obama and McCain, Clinton will speak at the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials

Local 1500 responds to Mayor Bloomberg's Wal-Mart comments

For Immediate Release Contact: Pat Purcell

April 15^th, 2007 (973) 583-9651

New York City’s Largest Grocery Workers Union Responds to Mayor Bloomberg Calling Wal-mart Responsible and Welcome in New York City

The President of New York City’s largest grocery workers Union called on Mayor Michael Bloomberg to consider all of Wal-marts business practices before declaring them “ responsible and the kind of companies we want in NYC.”

“With all due respect to the Mayor, I would ask him to take a close look at Wal-marts long, well documented history of being one this country’s most irresponsible employers. Wal-mart has paid hundreds of millions of dollars in wage and hour violations, encouraged workers to go on tax payer funded healthcare rather than provide accessible insurance, has allowed overseas child labor to produce their products, is a defendant in this Nation’s largest gender discrimination lawsuit and been responsible for the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs and lost local businesses. Their overall behavior has been anything but responsible,” stated Bruce W. Both, President of United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500.

“That is why time and time again New York City residents, community organizations, elected leaders and leaders within the faith based community have rejected Wal-mart coming to New York City. That is why poll after poll has shown a large percentage of New Yorkers disapprove of Wal-mart business practices,” Both stated. “Furthermore, I would remind the Mayor that it was Wal-mart CEO Lee Scott himself who said “I don't care if we ever have a store here,” when discussing our great City. I believe that is a sentiment shared by millions of new Yorkers,” Both concluded.

United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500 is both New York State’s and New York City’s largest local Union representing grocery store workers. UFCW Local 1500 represents over 22,000 workers employed by Pathmark, Stop and Shop, King Kullen, Gristedes, Key Food D’agastinos and Fairway Supermarkets. Of their 22,000 members, over 10,000 of them reside here in New York City with their families.

UFCW Local 1500 Director of Special Projects Patrick Purcell also suggested that the Mayor use the same influence he exerted on Wal-mart with gun control to get them to adhere to a responsible employer’s code of conduct. “If the Mayor is able to exert this type of influence over Wal-mart on gun control, imagine his ability to get them to start doing the right thing on dozens of other issues that are affecting hundreds of thousands of their workers every day, as well as others affected by their irresponsible business practices,” Purcell concluded.

“We are eager to meet with the Mayor on this issue and to begin a dialogue so that the Mayor may become more informed on the topic before making the declaration that Wal-mart is a responsible company,” Purcell concluded.

The Union did salute Mayor Bloomberg for reaching this agreement with retail stores on tougher rules regarding the selling of guns. However, the Union questions why “with billions and billions in profits, Wal-mart feels the need to sell guns. There are plenty of places to get guns in this world, as we here in New York City know all too well, and there seems to be no reason why people should be able to purchase guns at the same place they get their underwear,” Purcell stated.