UFCW Protests Whole Foods, NYC could see paid sick days soon, Monday Morning Read

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“The purpose of these efforts will be to set the record straight about health care reform and to raise serious concerns about Whole Foods CEO’s position on this critical issue,”
-UFCW statement.

New York City could soon join San Francisco and Washington in requiring paid sick days for employees — a move that could affect as many as one million workers in the city.

The Fresh Grocer, a supermarket chain committed to developing new stores in communities previously overlooked by growing businesses, opened on Friday, making its first green, eco-friendly store in northwest Philadelphia, near La Salle University. It’s the eighth store opening since The Fresh Grocer began in 1996; the next Philadelphia location is expected in Progress Plaza this December.

More Local Food? A survey in London revealed that consumers wanted all supermarkets to sell local food, local meaning food grown within a 27-mile radius.

Last week Ahold said it was preparing to unveil a significant new program starting today at its Stop & Shop and Giant-Landover chains as it winds down the Value Improvement Program.

Ahold also reported strong sales for Q2.

BJ's Wholesale Club CEO Laura Sen talks about a new store prototype...And with the new size of a store in mind the idea of expanding to Syracuse.

The jobless rate is higher in NYC than the nation's.

Retailwire: Time for John Mackey to resign.

Whole Foods Boycott group on Facebook rises to 23,000.

UFCW protests Whole Foods.

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AmazonFresh stays in Seattle, Pathmark hosts a Sylvia dinner, June One Liners,...

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AmazonFresh, a food delivery system that is only available in Seattle through Amazon.com, will halt any expansion plans and only remain in Seattle for the time being.

Pathmark will host 'Sylvia's Soul Tour', events aimed at raising money for the American Cancer Society. First dinner takes place at the Harlem store on June 5 from 3-7PM

UFCW Local's 21 and 44 have merged and will now be apart of UFCW 21.

Ohio's UFCW announces a government relations director.

Wal-Mart Stores has agreed to establish a “rigorous” price inspection and monitoring system in Arizona to ensure the state’s consumers have access to accurate and clearly posted prices, the policy comes out of a lawsuit filed in July 2006 when Wal0Mart had failed 526 pricing inspections out of 976 conducted by Arizona's Department of Weights and Measures.

Connecticut could ban the sale of plastic baby bottles, food containers and cups containing Bisphenol-A, following the approval of the ban in the Connecticut Senate...BPA, is used to harden plastic and make it shatterproof, also used to line the insides of food containers, is widely considered by scientists to be a serious health threat.

Wal-Mart workers in St.Paul are rallying to organize on Thursday.

There's talk of reppealing a big box ban in California.

In Colorado King Soopers union employees were at work without a contract Monday after their previous deal expired Sunday.

Politics

There are two bills moving through NYS Legislature that would eliminate some difficult hurdles for public employee unions to strike.

Here's some info on the "Farmworker Fair Practice Act" which would provide such benefits as, collective bargining rights for farm laborers, a minimum rest guarentee, and an overtime rate.

Sarah Palin will be honored in Long Island this week.

Andrew Cuomo won't challenge Governor Patterson.

Anthony Weiner endorses Bill Thompson for Mayor of NYC.

Local 1500 files Complaint against A&P/Pathmark

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For Immediate Release Contact: Pat Purcell

April 15th, 2009

Grocery Workers Union Files Complaint against A&P/Pathmark Supermarkets with New York State Department of Labor; Unions Seeks Enforcement of State W.A.R.N. Act

United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500, New York State’s largest Local Union representing grocery workers, is responding quickly and aggressively to A&P Supermarkets attempt to avoid compliance with New York State labor laws. A&P Supermarkets is refusing to comply with the New York State W.A.R.N. act which requires employers to pay workers wages for 90 days after announcing the closing of a facility. A&P recently announced the closing of the Pathmark Supermarket in West Hempstead, Long Island. A&P is the parent corporation of Pathmark Supermarkets.

“We are extremely concerned about our members who work in that store and will do everything within our power to minimize the affect this store closing has on our members and their families,” United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500 President Bruce W. Both stated. “Additionally, I am outraged, though not surprised, that A&P would take such a callous position in regards to how they are treating our members and their families. The legal fees this company will incur battling our Union could easily be used to pay these workers according to the State law,” Both continued. “With this complaint we are putting A&P on notice that this Union will be relentless in protecting the rights of our members,” Both concluded. The Union is also looking at possible violations of Federal law.

UFCW Local 1500 also announced that they will be launching a campaign to alert consumers, shareholders, elected leaders and community organizations of A&P’s new corporate practice of treating workers as insignificant and minor contributors to A&P’s success.” The new A&P is taking a page from the text books of companies like Wal-Mart when it comes to how they are treating their employees,” President Both claimed. “Profits first wihout regard to the affect layoffs, schedule changes and other personnel changes have on workers and their families is how A&P is running their company. However, unlike Wal-Mart workers, A&P/Pathmark workers have a Union that will not sit by quietly and watch management treat workers this way,” Both declared. “Profits first, employees last is not only a failed business model, it is immoral and goes against the family values of New Yorkers.”

United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500, based out of Queens Village, represents over 23,000 grocery workers in New York City, Long Island, Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties. Members of Local 1500 are employed by Pathmark, King Kullen, Stop and Shop, Gristedes, Fairway, D’Agostino, Dairy Barn, Key Food and Shop Rite.