Monday News after Noon...

FDA Needs Help Inspecting Food Imports
SAN ANTONIO- As food safety legislation continues to be considered in the Senate, the Food & Drug Administration finds itself lacking resources needed for inspections of imported foods and other products. 


Wegmans CEO recognized by business association
Danny Wegman, cheif executive officer of Wegmans Food Markets, received an award for his lifetime contributions to the retail food industry. 


Wegmans of Collegeville Promotes Available Full-Service Catering Options
The local epicurean experts of the high-quality grocery outlet, Wegmans extend their invitations to assist area residents in all facets of summer entertaining


Kroger says it has deal to avert Michigan strike
Kroger Co. says it's reached a tentative three-year agreement with a labor union, averting a strike by 14,000 workers at 133 stores


Whole Foods Eyes Scotland Expansion


Canaan Elementary gets a helping hand from Hannaford
Canaan Elementary School Principal, Steve Swindells,recently received a $1,000 dollar check from Skowhegan Hannaford. Canaan Elementary School received the bonus for raising the most money for area schools through the Hannaford Helps Schools program. 


Cargo Workers Stage Job Actions
SEATTLE- Backed by Teamsters Local 117, workers at a several loading companies in the Puget Sound region where scheduled to stage job actions Friday at distribution centers operated by Safeway, Fred Meyer and Unified Grocers, among others. 

Foxwoods Bartenders Seek Labor Union Under U.S. Supervision

Bartenders at Foxwoods Resort Casino are trying to form a labor union under the supervision of the U.S. government after failing to organize under the rules of the Indian tribe that owns the casino. 

More: Foxwoods Resort Casino Faces New Demand for Union...[Daily Caller]



In China, Unlikely Labor Leader Just Wanted a Middle-Class Life
Tan Guocheng uis hardly a self-styled labor leader, but last month an hour into his shift at Honda factory in the southern city of Foshan, Mr. Tan pressed an emergency button that shut down his production line. "Let's go out on strike!" he shouted. 


Students Stage Walkout over MetroCard Elimination
About 1,000 students from 23 high schools in Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens met at a rally at City Hall Park, marched across the Brooklyn Bridge and briefly rallied at the Transit Building on Jay Street in Brooklyn to protest the planned cut

We're Back, Thursday Afternoon One Liners; A&P CEO Departs, Is Target Organic?...

Greetings readers, our blog has been down the past week, we're posting a few stories we missed during that time and today's stories, thanks for your patience!

"These jobs are not going to allow Bronx families to get themselves out of poverty. "

-Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., on a giveaway deal to redevelop the Kingsbridge Armory without a living wage agreement, in the New York Times.

  

A&P CEO Eric Claus departs, posts wider 2Q loss... [Wall Street Journal] 

When asked why, no reasons were given for his departure according to NJBiz...The stock plummeted 14%.

 

A&P also named Andreas  Guldin chief strategy offer. 

 

Ahold posted 3Q gains...

 

The City Planning Commission approved a controversial plan on Monday to turn the Kingsbridge Armory, a soaring red-brick castle in the northwest Bronx, into a mall that will include a large department store, dozens of shops and a movie theater.

 

The Daily News has more on the criticisms of the plan, and the long battle that has ensued. 

 

NY Times: Contractors cheating minority workers out of wages during recession.

Target was accused of Organic Food Fraud....Target also announced Monday they'll give every customer a 5-cent discount for every re-usable bag used to pack their purchases.

Bringing Big Box to the Big City, NY Times.

300 union members protest a new Wal-Mart in New Jersey yesterday.

There is little progress in the Safeway, Soopers contract negotiations in Colorado...The Denver Post says 'Talks have collapsed'

Wal-Mart Stores  has agreed to pay $11 million to settle a class-action lawsuit brought by Iowa workers charging the retailer forced workers to skip breaks and work off the clock, according to the Associated Press.

 

The Fresh Market opened it's doors in Westport, CT. this week.

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555 in Oregon has filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board against Fred Meyer, after a store manager in Hillsboro, Ore., called local police to stop union representatives from talking to store employees.

 

Study: Half of NYC is without Paid Sick Days. 

 

 

Politics

Last Week: Thousands of Puerto Rican union members gathered Thursday in a financial district outside San Juan to protest the government’s plan to lay off more than 20,000 workers in a territory with a jobless rate of 15 percent.

 

College costs keep rising.

 

The Teamsters make jobs number one priority, back Bloomberg for Mayor.  

 

Andrew Cuomo's popularity continues to surge.

A report see's increases in Long Island house sales.

The NY Post says some people are 'Fizzy over Soda Tax'

The Nassau County Legislature voted along party lines Monday to approve the $2.6-billion county budget for 2010 proposed by County Executive Thomas Suozzi.