Friday Morning One-Liners: Supermarkets are still failing inspections, Shoprite opens in Scarsdale

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NYC Department of Consumer Affairs: "NYC Supermarkets are still ripping you off." [Press Release]

DCA Commissioner Jonathan Mintz, “DCA will continue its aggressive enforcement of pricing and other consumer protection violations in the City’s supermarkets, including this year’s doubling of inspections, until these stores finally take the quality control steps necessary to get it right.”

More @ CBS: Report: City Supermarkets May Be Ripping You Off (newyork.cbslocal.com)

In Scarsdale, a Local 1500 represented ShopRite opened this week, Patch was check out the new supermarket.  January 9th will be the 'Gala Opening' with ribbon cutting.

They're [ShopRite] also holding their bi-annual can-can sale this week.

UFCW Local 1743 has filed charges against employer Klement Sausage Co., who has implemented a policy that penalizes employees for not direct depositing their paychecks.

Workers at Disney are at the bargaining table negotiating a new contract in Orlando.

Walmart has conducted another poll, this time in Charles Barron's district and the results are shockingly in favor of Walmart building a store, again. The NY Post conveniently has more.

The Neighborhood Retail Alliance posts their opinion of the Post's latest Walmart push.

Target sales dropped big in December [WSJ]

BJ's Wholesale Club announced they'll be laying off 500 workers, closing 5 stores. [BJ's Wholesale Club Workers Blog]

Today, the Department of Labor announced our Nation's unemployment rate has dropped, as we've added 103,000 jobs in December, the unemployment rate fell to 9.4%, the lowest since July 2009.  Regional and State statistics will be available on Jan. 25.

 

The New York Times has more and a interesting chart comparing past recoveries to this one.

Here is a statement from Secretary of Labor, Hilda L. Solis, on December's employment numbers.

 

Part of the strategy to create more jobs is creating more "Green Jobs".

 

And here in New York, if you're worried about the snow, the NY Times reassures us there is about one truck for every snowflake.  

Friday Morning One-Liners:

A Queens Courier Poll is showing that residents don't want a Walmart.

Brooklyn residents, and Council Member Charles Barron rallied at City Hall against Walmart on Tuesday.

Here's someone else who's not buying into Walmart's poll that discovered Small Businesses "want a Walmart":

Gotham is in the initial stages of conducting its own poll and the results are showing that the New York retail community is overwhelmingly against Wal-Mart opening a store in New York City. This poll completely refutes the polling results conducted by Wal-Mart which have been recently reported.[Press Release]

Darryl Towns has an Op-Ed in the NY Post entitled "It's not about Walmart"

The Daily News and NY Observer have pieces on our release yesterday, asking NY Politicians to send campaign contributions they received from Walmart to Toys-For-Tots. 

Meanwhile Walmart responded to our request, saying they "support[s] those who share our commitment to stimulating economic development and creating jobs..."

We're all for creating jobs, who isn't? But the world's largest company should act a little more responsible.  For one of the only companies actually profiting in a bad economy, why did they just end a Sunday premium pay for employees hired after January 1, 2011?  That's not our definition of stimulating an economy.

Meanwhile across the border, UFCW Canada is declaring victory in an 18-month free speech battle with Walmart that concentrated on the labour rights website www.walmartworkerscanada.ca. In June 2009, the world's largest retailer filed a motion with the Quebec Superior Court for an injunction against the popular and long-standing website maintained by UFCW Canada citing trade-mark infringement. [Press Release]

Reuters asks if Walmart is trying to pull a 'Circuit City on Best Buy'

Mother Jones tells the world how you can't blame unions for A&P's problems.

City Hall News has a great article on the advancement of Food Policy in New York City.

Monday Morning One-Liners: Wal-Mart's NYC Battle Continues...

"They'll have the battle of their lives. Walmart exploits workers ... and we want no part of that."

- Councilman Charles Barron, in today's Daily News. (via WFP)

Huffington Post, Al Norman: Wal-Mart Net Sales Worst Ever, But Urban Warfare Continues in Chicago and New York City

It's been a very disappointing sales year at Wal-Mart. The giant retailer just announced its worst net sales increase in history---just a 1% increase over 2009 levels. Despite these tepid numbers---or perhaps because of them---Wal-Mart's drive to expand in urban markets like Chicago and New York City are intensifying...

This week Crain's New York Business reports that Wal-Mart still thinks New York City is worth the effort. Wal-Mart is reportedly the surreptitious tenant in a massive Brooklyn project known as the Gateway II. The landowner, Related Cos., says no leases have been signed---but often in such cases Wal-Mart orders the developer not to disclose the retailer's interest. Related has already survived the toughest part of the process: Gateway II passed through the city's land-use process last summer. By hiding off-site, Wal-Mart can now reveal its interest, unbruised by the permitting process.


Crain's: Walmart Targets NY Sites, Hopes to Bypass Unions as it Targets BKLYN's Gateway
The 630,000-square-foot Gateway II shopping center off Jamaica Bay in Brooklyn is among the sites Walmart is eyeing in a renewed push to build its first New York City store, sources familiar with the situation say.

Huffington Post: Wal-Mart Scouts Brooklyn &  NY Locations

NY Daily News: Wal-Mart Eyes Brooklyn


SN: A&P said on Friday, as part of its new Lower Price Project, it would lower prices on over 400 generic prescription drugs to just $3.99, for up to a 30-day supply at A&P, SuperFresh, Waldbaum’s and Pathmark stores.

UFCW Local 135 is helping the homeless. “On a daily basis, our members’ jobs involve getting fresh and nourishing food to customers in supermarkets and elsewhere,” said Mickey Kasparian, president of UFCW Local 135 and president of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, in a statement. “But as good citizens it’s also our responsibility to get food to those who need it most and can’t afford it.”

Shaw's
Local 791 Urges SuperValu to Return to the Table
The Local has urged its members to call Craig Herkert, the chief executive officer of Supervalu, Friday to demand a resolution.