What Happened This Week? Top 10 Stories: June 27, 2014: Obama, Fox News, Walmart is Angry at the NY Times

 

Walmart, Starbucks & The Fight Against Inequality.

Just as President Both pointed out in his June column, NYTimes Editorialist Timothy Egan notes that Washington has stopped trying to help the majority of Americans who need it, and a solution could easily come from our largest employer.

FEATURED IMAGE: NYC Mayor

VIA NYS AFL-CIO

WHAT'S NEWS THIS WEEK   1. New York Times hits a Nerve on Walmart.  Following an editorial from the Times, Walmart replied by literally mocking up the piece on their corporate blog, with "facts", The Salon and the world, isn't buying it.   2. Whole Foods Fined $800k for Overcharging Customers

3. Price Chopper Lays Off 80 @ HQ

4. How Obama Can Help Re-Build the Middle Class...Without Congress

5. If Women Want Better Pay, Join a Union. More studies on the gender wage gap in our country

6. Mrs. Green's Workers Launch Support Website The illegally fired workers have launched a website to garnish more support for their fight against a multi-national employer, check it out.

7. Ikea Raises the Minimum Wage for US Employees to Average Over $10 per hour

8. Walmart Owes Damages to Former Canadian Workers

9.  France Passes- Anti-Amazon Bill- To Help Small Bookstores

10. Obama: US Must Strengthen Unions

11.  Fox News Wants Less PR, More Action from Republicans If you haven't heard, Republicans want to sue President Obama.  Yes, you read it right.  Well, even Fox News says, enough with the games, and fix America's problems.

12. Union-Made Shopping List for 4th of July Do your celebration right on the nation's birthday.  Products made by union workers.

13. The Pitchforks are Coming. An editorial warning from a billionaire.

 

Shameless Plugs:

 

UFCW 1500 June Newspaper Available Online

• Join the UFCW 1500 Cancer Kickers Team and Start Fundraising to battle Cancer!
   
• UFCW Blood Drive and BBQ is July 15th

 

Related articles

• Walmart, Wages, and the Public Good

Northwestern Union Vote Opens the Eyes to Rights at Work

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By: Joe Fedele

Today is a huge day for student athletes across the country.  Northwestern football players will be voting in a secret ballot election on joining the CAPA.  What's great about this case, is the national attention it's receiving in an industry [sports] that sparingly touches on the abuses of workers' rights.   It's also educating college students on rights they have at work.

But the best thing this attention has done, is show this audience the reaction wealthy corporations (in this case the NCAA) have, when workers (football players) start to demand more from their billionaire employers. 

In their nervousness on the threat of unionization, the NCAA has used a classic "we're not so bad and greedy after all," anti-union playbook strategy, something I've seen first hand here for years.   First, the NCAA offered free food programs to all student athletes.   A proposal was passed earlier this month that NCAA President Mark Emmert said was on the table and being discussed "since last year".   This just "happened" to be passed days leading up to the Northwestern vote.  What also helped the proposal being pushed through was UConn basketball star guard Shabazz Napier saying on national TV moments after winning the National Championship, that he would often go to bed "starving" because he didn't have enough money for food.

At UFCW Local 1500 organizing campaigns, we have seen this repeatedly.  Once employees band together and petition for a union election, companies start to straighten up their act.  At Target, in weeks leading up to the election, the company bought a brand new lunch and break room for employees (previous break room had shotty equipment and wasn't updated in years), and began having pizza parties each week for the store employees.  Even at Stop & Shop, a unionized company, last year in the days following 5,000 workers authorizing a strike, the company held Employee Appreciation Days throughout their stores, just one day prior to their contract expiring.  At the appreciation days the company bought lunch like, pizzas and Chinese food, for employees.  Ultimately Stop & Shop workers were able to negotiate a contract and avoid a work action, but the reaction of companies is the same, union or not, when employees (or student-athletes) begin to band together and demand respect.  Workers, or in this case students, clearly have always had the power.  These quick changes clearly demonstrate the absolute fear companies have just on the threat of employees unionizing.

 

Second, the NCAA just announced they will offer "full cost' scholarships.  Right now student athletes do not receive scholarships that cover the full cost of attending a University.  This new change will cover all expenses on what it actually costs to attend and live at the particular school.    Another change that immediately significantly improves the lives of college athletes.   New York Times reported Wednesday that Northwestern officials “have pulled out all the stops to squash the union before it is formed,” citing celebrity coaches having one-on-one meetings with players and contacting their families.

It's funny how these two significant changes are swiftly proposed and approved when a small group of football players decide to band together and demand more and a threat of a union present.    Without the courage to stand up for what's right, greedy companies alike will continue to take advantage of workers, students and communities.   That's why the world's largest employer (Walmart) receives subsidies to open stores in neighborhoods, while putting small mom & pop shops out of business.  Without the labor movement's message, what kind of world would we be living in?

Doesn't Walmart Have Enough to be Thankful For?

By: Adam Obernauer
adam@ufcw1500.org

A lot has been happening in the world of Walmart leading up to this Thanksgiving, and for the corporate giants, it ain’t looking good.   While Walmart CEO Mike Duke has announced that he’s stepping down, waves of strikes leading up to Black Friday have been the strongest yet.  In this past month alone, workers went on strike in Miami, Brooklyn Center, Tampa, Sacramento, Dallas, Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles, and cities throughout Ohio. Walmart has been feeling the pressure and in an effort to correct the company’s image, has tried to show the world that their employees are not telling the truth. They are the good guys that “care” about the community.

A Walmart in Ohio asked employees
to donate food to other employees "in need

In a failed effort to show how much they “care,” Walmart planned a Thanksgiving food drive for their own employees.  The food drive came from the Canton, Ohio based Walmart and the irony became a media sensation. The story hit everywhere from the New York Times' comic strip mocking the company, to Stephen Colbert’s comedy skit, to high profile actors like Ashton Kutcher getting into media battles with the company.

So what does Walmart need to do to try to create the illusion that it’s trying to help the community? This Thanksgiving, Walmart is set to donate over $1 million to food banks and local charities across New York State alone. With these recent efforts, Walmart is in line to be the most darkly ironic business in the world.  Instead of raising the pay and benefits of their own workforce that can’t afford to buy food on Thanksgiving, they’re more willing to throw large sums of money to Anti-Hunger groups in the name of “charity”.

Walmart has long established itself as the "worst of the worst" and is the epitome of corporate greed.  From the sweatshops overseas, the fires in the Bangladesh factory killing thousands, to the bribery of the Mexican government, and the thousands of workers going out on strike demanding better pay, it leaves us to think, when is enough, enough? When will Walmart be held accountable for the destruction of local communities and the devastation in factories throughout the world? When will the irony be strong enough so people no longer accept Walmart’s donations and pathetic attempts at being an accepted and respected business?

We think that the time should have come long ago and hope that this Thanksgiving, people give thanks to the workers in these stores that have to suffer day in and day out to continue to make the Walden’s the richest family in the world.

World Doesn't End, So Here's the Top News from This Week

Must Read: Walmart's Bribery Aisle: New details have emerged from the New York Times on the extent of Walmart's briberies in Mexico.

More: Bill Buck Editorial, Looking Deeper into the Walmart Mexico Bribery.

Walmart CEO, Mike Duke, spoke in NYC about corporate responsibility, without raising wages.

Update on the OUR Walmart Movement: "We are Winning!"

Fresh Market announced plans to open a new store in Saratoga N.Y.  They also plan on opening their second New Jersey store in 2013.

#TwinkieProblems: Police called in over Twinkie sale incident.

The Teamsters are back on a strike at United Natural Foods warehouse after calling it off last week.

Related articles

• Extensive report details Walmart's political bribery in Mexico

UFCW President Hansen Calls for Leadership Changes at Walmart

United Food and Commercial Workers (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Statement by UFCW International President Joe Hansen Calling for Walmart CEO and Board Chair Resignations
(Washington, D.C.) - Joe Hansen, International President of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) and Chair of Change to Win, today released the following statement to join Walmart associates in the demand for leadership changes at the retail giant.

“The corruption scandal and reported cover-up exposed an unacceptable failure of leadership within Walmart. Walmart Chairman Rob Walton and CEO Mike Duke must resign immediately in an effort to restore integrity and accountability for Walmart associates, shareholders, customers, and communities.

“The New York Times exposed a widespread pattern of Walmart executives bribing government officials to secure permits to build stores in Mexico, followed by a cover-up led by corporate leaders including Duke and Walton. The article raises serious questions about whether Walmart has used the same tactics for its expansion in the United States and across the globe.\

“For decades, Walmart has pursued a growth-at-any-cost strategy in cities and towns across the United States and globally. In the U.S., we have watched Walmart secure the building permits, variances, and zoning changes to open its stores, in spite of concerted community opposition.

“The public deserves a wholly independent and thorough investigation of Walmart’s practices. Communities across the globe should take heed of Walmart’s reported unlawful and unethical practices in Mexico, as the company works at a rapid pace to in expand its retail stores in South Africa, India, and China, to name a few, in addition to its global supply chain operations.”

The UFCW represents 1.3 million workers, 250,000 in the meatpacking and poultry industries. UFCW members also work in the health care, garment, chemical, distillery and retail industries. 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 http://www.facebook.com/UFCWinternational and www.twitter.com/ufcw

Making Change at Walmart is a campaign challenging Walmart to help rebuild our economy and strengthen working families. Anchored by UFCW, we are a coalition of Walmart associates, union members, small business owners, religious leaders, women advocacy groups, multi-ethnic coalitions, elected officials, and ordinary citizens who believe that changing Walmart is vital for the future of our country.

Press Release: A Call For Additional Hearings on Wal-Mart

Grocery Workers Union Calls for Additional Wal-Mart Hearings
Urges New York City Council to Continue Oversight Of "Corrupt and Predatory" Practices

In light of a New York Times special report documenting corruption at the highest levels at Walmart (Vast Mexico Bribery Case Hushed Up by Wal-Mart After Top-Level Struggle, 4/21/2012), New York State's largest Union representing grocery workers called for additional New York City Council hearings into mega-retailer, Wal-Mart's, "corrupt and predatory" business practices and the impact of those policies on New York City's small business community, working families and community organizations.  The New York City Council had previously held hearings on Wal-Mart in the winter of 2011.

United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Local 1500, representing 23,000 members in the metro New York area, suggested that the continued oversight of Wal-Mart's business practices is necessary so New York City residents, real estate developers and landlords, members of the business community, non-profit organizations and other entities to not only have full disclosure and better understanding of Wal-Mart's corrupt, predatory practices, but examine to what extent they want to partner with, work with and be associated with Wal-Mart in the future.

"The Saturday New York Times article documenting the culture of bribery and corruption created, fostered and then ignored by Wal-Mart, despite warnings they may be in violation of  U.S. and Mexican law, proves that when the spotlight of accountability is not on Wal-Mart, they operate in a dark, corrupt and viciously predatory manner,” said Patrick Purcell Jr. spokesperson for UFCW Local 1500.

"Our Union has been the leading organization urging that New York City, the greatest city in the world, not allow itself to be another victim on the endless list of workers, businesses, community groups and so many others across the globe that have been destroyed and victimized by the mega-retailer," Purcell continued.

"Anyone surprised by Saturday's Times article outlining yet another chapter in Wal-Mart's long history of outrageous and offensive business practices all in the name of growth and profit has either not been paying attention to the facts or has been in a deep state of denial," Purcell continued.

"If the child labor issues, gender discrimination accusations and billions of dollars wage and hour violations had not previously been convincing enough, the New York Times article should persuade even the most biased and ardent Wal-Mart supporters to abandon their position.  I cannot imagine anyone who would want to stand next to Wal-Mart at any event, public or private," Purcell concluded.

The New York Times reported this weekend that Wal-Mart Stores Inc. investigators probing its Mexican operations found a paper trail of hundreds of suspect payments worth more than $24 million made to grow its business in Mexico.  The Times said that in September 2005, a senior Wal-Mart lawyer received an e-mail from Sergio Cicero Zapata, a former executive at the company's largest foreign unit, Wal-Mart de Mexico, describing how the subsidiary had paid bribes to obtain permits to build stores in the country.  However, Wal-Mart, having dispatched officials to investigate the allegations subsequently quashed the investigation.  Wal-Mart never notified either U.S. or Mexican law enforcement officials of the suspected violations of law.


United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1500 is New York's largest Grocery Workers Union, representing 23,000 workers throughout New York City and the Greater New York City region.

Press contact: Pat Purcell, joinus1500@aol.com

###

What to Read this Monday: Walmart Bribes their way into Mexico, NYC will not be next...

A New York Times front page story unveiled, Walmart bribed their way into Mexico, had an investigation, then covered it up.  They then admitted to to the bribery after the story broke.

A spokesman for Walmart said "If these allegations are true, it is not a reflection of who we are or what we stand for," which of course makes a lot of sense given their outstanding track record.

The news of the bribery has raised the eyebrows of many N.Y. politicians and has The Business Insider calling for resignation of the CEO.   And Walmart stock dropped sharply Monday morning.


With all this brewing, and Earth Day, the New York Observer is asking, If Walmart is Bad For the Environment, What about New York?


Adage writes on the slow process of Walmart's sustainability program.

The New Hyde Park Jazz band performed inside the King Kullen in New Hyde Park.

Stop & Shop added themselves to the growing list of retailers not buying 'pink slime' beef.

Someone is trying to steal copper from vacant A&P's.

Big Lots is eying some vacant A&P sites.

Tell your senators to stand with workers!  From American Rights at Work: 

Starting today, the U.S. Senate will consider a bill aimed at overturning the NLRB’s recent, commonsense rule that will help ensure workers who want a union election can have one without facing needless bureaucratic delay.

Related articles

• Walmart May Have Spent $24 Million in Mexican Bribes [Walmart]

Monday Morning One Liners: More Assualts on Unions, Target Teams with Apple

Excellent Editorial in the New York Times: Continuing Assault on Unions focuses on the relentless, shameful attack by the Republican party on unions and workers' rights, in a time and economy when we need them most.

A proposed bill in New Jersey would allow NJ residents to get Jersey vineyard wines shipped right to their homes.

Alec Baldwin was dropped as the Wegman's earlier this week, then re-hired once customers were outraged.

The Nation highlights UFCW's campaign to Change Walmart.

Walmart is buying up more and more social media companies.

Last week Walmart was Blacklisted by one of the world's largest pension funds.  The reason? Poor labor practices and their anti-union/worker stances.  Sixteen other companies were blacklisted along with Walmart, nearly all of them excluded for producing chemical or nuclear weapons that violate the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.  Check out Lila Shapiro's piece in the Huffington Post:

Walmart typically shrugs off criticism of its labor practices as union-driven propaganda and insists that its employees are happy and well-managed, but investing experts say that when one of the largest pension funds in the world divests, the company would be wise to listen to the message. It's the same message the American labor movement has been pushing for decades.

Great article from Grist, looks at the dominance Walmart is gaining on our entire Food System and why we should be scared:

We had a leak in the cooler that didn't get fixed for a month and all this moldy food was going out on the floor." Walmart doesn't accept the idea that "a supermarket takes any skill to run," she said. "They treated the produce like any other kind of merchandise."

A&P announced the launch of plans to deploy a category optimization solution to "help enhance its merchandising strategy and improve the customer experience across its more than 300 northeast and Mid-Atlantic stores."

In Belleville, NJ, a Pathmark who was a community fixture for over 30 years, and fell victim to store closings, remains vacant over one year later.  Though the community remains hopeful.  

Hooray! (sarcasm) Apple mini-stores are coming to Target.  A perfect match for the employer who faces federal labor law charges (Target) and the company where they reward their employees in titles like Geniuses, and not pay, benefits or basic rights at work.  Looks e-harmony couldn't have matched these two any better.

Last week the National Labor Relations Board announced they would be adding more labor charges to the existing federal charges Target Corp. faces for allegedly violating the law in the weeks leading up to the union election in June, 2011.

Meanwhile Target reported increased December sales but missed expectations.

Number 8 on Brooklyn Papers top 12 to watch for in 2012 is a Brooklyn Walmart, Big Box store.

Workers at VPH Pharmacy, a Michigan-based distributor of pharmaceutical products, recently won the right to join UFCW Local 876!!

International President, Joe Hansen, appluaded President Obama's recess appointments.
“We applaud President Obama’s recent decision to fill vacant posts at the National Labor Relations Board and the Consumer Protection Financial Bureau and. These agencies play an important role in safeguarding the rights of workers and their families..."

In California, retailers are being fought on alcohol sales at self-checkouts.  Most retailers are complying says the SF Chronicle, but Fresh & Easy is struggling following the newly passed law.

Good Read: Paul Krugman in his latest piece for NY Times, "Unlevel Playing Field" says it's a fiction that GOP and Romney care about equal opportunity.

Uh-oh alert...Wall-Street employees are threatening to quit if their bonuses aren't enough.

Whole Foods is closing their Dallas Bake-house.

Trader Joe's is opening up in Albany, their first store in the capital region makes the Business Review ponder if  other retailers follow them.

via AFL-CIO Blog: The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) urged the Indiana state legislature to reject a so-called right to work bill. “As Indianapolis proudly prepares to host the Super Bowl,” says the union, “it should be a time to shine in the national spotlight and highlight the hardworking families that make Indiana run instead of launching political attacks on their basic rights.”

Last week, the awesome union employer, Fairway Market, not only does right by their employees but does great for their community.  Ten percent of all sales made during the seven-hour period at Fairway locations in Red Hook, Douglaston and Plainview goes straight to the fund created shortly after Officer Figoski was killed to help his four daughters attend college.  Check out the story @WPIX.  Great job, Fairway!

And just for fun, a man was arrested at a Walmart last week for trying to use a $1 million dollar bill.

Monday One-Liners: 3/26-2/28:

Image via Wikipedia

The firm who facilitated the sale of Penn Traffic last year was honored.

Target's P-Fresh (Grocery) is opening in Connecticut & St.Louis. 

Analysis from Supermarket News: "Stop & Shop's Expansion Continues with Foodtown Purchases"

The NY Times looks at Walmart's Political Campaign to enter NYC. 

Walmart has spent a lot of money on their political campaign to gain support of New Yorkers in order to open their first NYC Store,  WalmartWatch is holding an event on Thursday, March 31 @ NYU with workers from across the Globe... From WalmartWatch:

The company is spending a lot of money to change the debate from the real issue, which is how it treats its associates and creates poverty-level jobs throughout its supply chain. As the world’s largest retailer, how Walmart impacts workers across the globe is a good preview of what kind of jobs it is going to try to bring to NYC. Three workers representing different links in the Wal...mart supply chain will be appearing in New York on Thursday, March 31th as part of Sweatshop, Warehouse, Walmart: A Worker Truth Tour. RSVP on Facebook!

UFCW Local 8 will begin an informational picket at a new Fresh and Easy in California, you can read Fresh & Easy Buzz's take.

This morning, a Walmart Organizer spoke on a panel at the White House, at a Women's History Month Event.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court will hear the infamous Dukes vs Walmart, the largest discrimination suit in United States history.

If you haven't had enough of Walmart NYC polls, there is a new one, showing that New Yorkers agree that a Walmart in NYC would be bad for business.

Wisconsin, Politics, Nation:

What's going in the Midwest, has many middle class workers re-thinking their allegiance to the GOP.  And with high union voter turnout, the Wisconsin Senators are likely to be recalled.

Tom Morello rallied with the UFCW and unions across California this past Saturday, check out the video!

AFL-CIO Blog: Wisconsin Protests, Opportunity for Labor.

In Nassau the MTA eliminated more than half of their 48 bus lines, affecting an estimated 16,000 riders.  Check this image out to see the reductions in service.

Governor Andrew Cuomo said a tentative $132.5 billion state budget deal was struck late Sunday night.


Embattled Suffolk County executive, Steve Levy, who flipped to Republican last election season, has ended his bid for a third term.

As of Friday, there has been no ruling on Scott Walker's Wisconsin "Union Law" curbing bargaining rights for Public Workers.  A lower court declined to weigh in, now the state Supreme Court will weigh in.

 

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.

Monday Afternoon One Liners: Happy Valentines Day, JPMorgan Downgrades Walmart,

This weekend, hundreds lined up to meet Martha Stewart at Fairway in Stamford, Connecticut.

Times Square Gossip says A&P is ripping off New Yorkers.

#WalmartNYC

Brooklyn Eagle: Mom & Pop stores Protest Walmart.

Fight against Walmart has stepped up.

Walmart Won't Fix New York, New Yorkers Will...[Huffington Post]

Brooklyn Paper: ShopRite wants to beat Walmart to Gateway II.

NY Mag: Brooklyn, Who would you rather have ShopRite or Walmart?

Walmart continues push toward urban domination.

NYTimes: With Walmart silent on plans, critics turn to rumored site.

Walmart Stores shares drop hard after JPMorgan downgrade.

Business Insider: Walmart's Reign is Over.

Elsewhere:

In our weekly, "Thanks, Walmart" spot, an interesting story, Walmart sells a fake ipad, then refuses to refund his money.  Now the customer is suing Walmart.  Check the story at The Consumerist.

Walmart's Massmart bid has cleared the first hurdle (South Africa). More @ New York Times.

A&P's Senior VP and CFO has resigned.

Michael J. Wilson, the National Director of Americans for Democratic Action has an excellent editorial in the Huffington Post titled "Changing the Rules for Workers"

It's no surprise that Republicans and their corporate allies are up to their old games. Or, to paraphrase Ronald Reagan, "There they go again!" Having successfully blocked congressional efforts to strengthen the right of workers to organize a union, they now want to stop workers from learning their rights under weak existing labor law.

Last week, workers at JBS ratified their first union contract with UFCW Local 1776.

Some people are happy that Aldi is not selling Tobacco.

The NY Post doesn't have much to write about notices that Aldi hasn't gotten the New York "Walmart" treatment.

BJ's Wholesale Club is under 'investor investigation' over takeover bid rumors.

Big Y is in talks with a Connecticut town over taking a former ShopRite site.

A new fuel cell in a Stop & Shop store located in Connecticut has made the store 90% more 'greener'.  [S&S Press Release]

AFL-CIO Blog: Show some Union love on Valentines Day.

Tuesday Morning One-Liners

Everyone is talking about Walmart backing out of the New York City Council hearing tomorrow,

Brooklyn Eagle, New York Times, The Gothamist, DNAinfo,  WNYC

"If they don't show up it's because they don't have anything to say to refute the arguments that my colleagues and myself have put forth," Quinn told the paper.
"If they did...why wouldn't they come and rub my face in it?"

Financial Post: Walmart's New York campaign.  Supermarket News comments on Walmart's NYC website.

Public Advocate, Bill de Blasio has released a report on Walmart, citing for every two jobs they create, three are lost. [Daily News]

The Brooklyn Paper wonders if Brooklyn can handle Walmart and the side effects that come with it (parking, traffic).

Scarsdale ShopRite has a ribbon cutting ceremony, is a huge hit with the neighborhood. [Patch]

BJ's Sales Up, To Cut Jobs. [Daily Market]

A&P's magazine gets a facelift and a judge has approved their $800 million loan in New Jersey.

Happy New Year Morning One Liners

YourNabe (Queens Edition) explains the Walmart poll,  gets a few opinions from local elected officials in Queens, U.S. Representative Weiner had to say on the issue,

“I think that Walmart is an omnivorous competitor that squashes small business wherever it goes and small business is the lifeblood of New York City,” Weiner said. “I think that people like the shopping strips of Queens, which would become ghost towns if Walmart moved to the neighborhood.”

The story also quotes the President of the local Chamber of Commerce who said no one has came up to her, asking for a Walmart in the neighborhood.  Read the entire spot here: http://www.yournabe.com/articles/2010/12/30/queens/qns_queens_walmart_20101230.txt  

More @ The Queens Courier 

From Racked via WWD, gives a nicely detailed report on the potential Walmart NYC store format (with picture) with quotes from Steven Restivo, Walmart's Northeast Director of Community Relations, questioning the NYC Council hearing.

Next Animation TV created an interesting video of the Walmart/NYC saga.  The Observer has more.
 

NY Mag tell their readers that 'Wal-Mart Will Invade Brooklyn Come Hell, High Water, Or Lack of Parking Space', and asks, why won't Walmart listen to our disinterest and why do we need a Walmart in NYC?

In non-Walmart news, there will be a CB-11 hearing tonight on the new Fairway in Douglaston, Queens. [Patch]

Upstate NY, Supermarket Price Wars: Weis Markets, Wegman's Aldi, Walmart, Price Chopper continue.

Boston Herald: BJ's Takeover Back in the Spotlight

In Manchester, Iowa, a Mom & Pop store owner is circulating a petition to not allow Walmart's grocery expansion of their store.  The family operated store "Main Street Market" would be in jeopardy of closing if the Walmart expansion would occur. [Chicago Tribune]

Andrew Cuomo is seeking a One-Year salary freeze for all state employees. [NY Times]

Monday Morning One Liners:

Supermarket News: Inside the A&P Bankruptcy, A&P seeks to 'Right Size' in Chapter 11.

Last week, the judge in A&P’s federal bankruptcy case granted the retailer’s request to reject 73 leases for properties where A&P no longer operates a store. Rent expenses for these closed properties were a major drain on expenses for A&P, the retailer said, even though landlords for many of the properties said A&P had stopped paying rent on them earlier this year and filed separate suits seeking rent payments. [Supermarket News]

ShopRite moves into White Plains on January 5.

The New York Times does a piece on Target's grocery expansion.

In effort to mend relationships, President Obama met with labor leaders last week.

CUNY tuition is getting hiked 5%, instead of rioting and flipping cars, students filed a lawsuit.

Thursday Morning One-Liners...DCA Supermarket Study, A&P Closures....

A&P
Long Island Business News: Three Long Island Stores on A&P's 25 Cut List...

ABC News: Major Grocery Chain Closing Stores....

SN: Exec. VP Kramer Out @ A&P...

They have now appointed Paul Hertz to the role of Executive Vice President, Operations.

Star-Ledger: At least 8 Pathmark's to close in New Jersey

A&P has filed suit against Stop & Shop in U.S. District Court here, accusing its rival of making misleading statements in comparative price advertisements.

NYC Department of Consumer Affairs: One out of Two Supermarkets Fail Inspections
The city's Department of Consumer Affairs says one out of two food stores it inspected in the city was overcharging its customers.  According to the DCA Commissioner Jonathan Mintz, the agency checked out 983 supermarkets across the five boroughs over the past year to see if mistakes were made at the cash register.

"The results of our inspection were very troubling," Mintz said. "We're very unhappy with what we're seeing out there"  

Here is the DCA Press Release.

More @ [NY Times] [NY Post] [NY1 with video]

The DCA has put together a PDF guide on how to "Save at the Supermarket"

Supermarket News reports that BJ's Wholesale Club is citing an "intense level of price competition", causing margins and earnings to fall short of expectations.

New York Times covers the Mott's Strike: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/18/business/18motts.html?ref=nyregion


Acme and UFCW Local 1776 discuss Labor Buyout...

Monday Morning One Liners....A&P to Close 25 Stores...

Image via WikipediaThe stock of Delhaize Group fell more than 11% on Friday after the company reported weak U.S. sales at its Food Lion division in the second quarter.

A&P on Friday said it would close 25 stores as it begins the implementation of its newly announced turnaround plan.A&P officials declined to provide a list of stores slated for closure, although a spokeswoman told SN Friday the closures “include those across our A&P, Waldbaum’s, Pathmark, Super Fresh and Super Foodmart banners.”

More @ Crain's

Here is A&P's official statement [Press Release]

AP: Smithfield, UFCW, Getting along after years of fighting..."Surprisingly, for the 17 years of fighting we had, our relationship is as good as any place with Smithfield that we represent,"

New York Times: The Laborers’ International Union has agreed to rejoin the A.F.L.-C.I.O., increasing hopes for the once-splintered labor movement to reunite under a single umbrella

More @ Politico