Top 13 Stories This Week:

— TOP 13 INDUSTRY/LABOR NEWS ARTICLES FROM THIS WEEK —

1. UFCW rejoins the AFL-CIO.  AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka: “A stronger, more unified grassroots movement of working men and women is exactly what’s needed to raise wages for workers and rebuild an American middle class. Together we are stronger—it’s as simple as that. Together working people have a stronger voice and the power to defend their rights on the job. Together we have a stronger voice in the global economy—the power to counter the excesses of CEOs and the ravages of inequality.” 2.  Check out this story about the Fight for $15...Workers who are fighting, are heroes.  Related: I work for Burger King for $7.15 per hour, here's what it's like. 3. Wish it was unbelievable: Twinkies CEO admits taking worker pensions for more executive pay. 4.  36 Senators just introduced a bill that prohibits any new law for workers' rights. Yea, read that again. 5.  Stop & Shop is cutting 670 jobs and closing ALL of their New Hampshire stores. More @ Supermarket News. 6.  Walmart is paying $190,000 after repeated serious health and safety violations throughout stores.  They're 'vowing' to improve safety issues in over 2,800 stores nationwide. 7. Tesco may close their US stores (Fresh & Easy) 8. Study confirms, consumers are paying more for mislabeled seafood. 9.  After going public, Fairway had a poor first quarter. 10.  Back to school time? Get your union-made school supplies. 11.  A bill was introduced last week that defines full-time work as 40-hours. 12.  via our friends at the NYC Central Labor Council: This Saturday Supermarket  Boycott Resumes: Golden Farm Supermarket on Church Ave. 13. Finally, a Walmart is doing good for the community- Well it's acutally an abandoned Walmart in Texas was transformed into a library.  Wonder what this country would be like if we had more libraries instead of Big-Box stores.

Wake Up Wal-Mart & Wal-Mart Watch Merge

WAL-MART WATCH JOINS WAKEUPWALMART.COM TO HOLD AMERICA’S LARGEST PRIVATE EMPLOYER ACCOUNTABLE FOR PROMISES MADE

WASHINGTON, D.C.-Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) announced that Wal-Mart Watch has joined with WakeUpWalMart.com to form one organization to maximize the ability for Walmart workers to win a voice on the job and bring change to the entire retail industry. "We find ourselves at a critical moment in our country - working families are struggling to make ends meet, while corporations like Walmart continue to reap record profits," said UFCW President Joe Hansen. "Walmart workers across America are standing up and demanding change, and the UFCW is standing with them to achieve the health care and labor law reforms that will restore and expand the middle class. The UFCW is the labor union for retail workers and we will not let Walmart, as the world’s largest retailer, shirk its responsibility to the 1.4 million employees who work for the company." "As Walmart workers continue to speak out to transform their jobs, we believe they are best served by a single organization dedicated to supporting Walmart workers and holding the retail giant accountable for its actions," said SEIU President Andy Stern. "Walmart has made a lot of promises to working families, and we plan to hold them accountable for making those changes." Walmart earns $34,880 in profit every minute, yet only 50 percent of Walmart workers are covered by the company's health care plan, because Walmart premiums and deductibles are unaffordable. Workers' schedules -- and therefore wages -- are shrinking, and when workers stand up and demand changes, they are confronted with special squad of "attitude" enforcers straight from company headquarters in Bentonville. If workers persist in standing up, they are shown the door. "We are ready for change, and feel that if we stand together, we can change this company for the better from the inside," said Cynthia Murray, an associate from Laurel, MD. "We work too hard to be pushed aside so that company executives can add a few million dollars to their bonuses this year." In April, thousands of Walmart’s 1.4 million associates across the country united to launch Walmart Workers for Change, the largest effort ever by Walmart workers to demand a voice on the job. Workers in more than 100 stores in 15 states across the country have already joined together. This historic action led to the decision by Wal-Mart Watch to unite its strength with WakeUpWalMart.com. Joining with WakeUpWalMart.com will: • Unite hundreds of thousands of activists both online and in neighborhoods across the country to support Walmart workers with one collective voice. • Allow President Obama and Members of Congress to unite with a newly strengthened group invested in transforming the world’s largest retailer. • Create a stronger partner for Walmart Workers for Change, the Walmart workers leading the campaign to create good jobs at Walmart from the inside. • Strengthen efforts to pass the Employee Free Choice Act, which will allow Walmart workers to form unions free from harassment and intimidation; and ensure passage of real and meaningful healthcare reform that holds employers like Walmart accountable.

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The 1.3 million member United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) is America's neighborhood union representing workers in neighborhood grocery stores across the country. UFCW puts dinner on the table for America's families with members working in meatpacking and food processing.

An Employee Free Choice Compromise? More Overtime violations in NYC, Tuesday Afternoon One Liners...

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Whole Foods, Costsco, Starbucks have moved for a Employee Free Choice Act compromise.

The Washington Post has more on the 'executive compromise details.'

The owner of eight Asian restaurants in Manhattan, including Ollie’s Noodle Shop and Grill, agreed to pay $2.3 million to 813 workers in what the State Labor Department called the largest amount ever collected in a single case of minimum-wage and overtime violations.

Whole Foods: Fired over a Tuna Sandwhich.

Civil War Battle Field becomes a potential Wal-Mart site.

Bashas' is expanding their shopping cart sanitation system.

A study confirmed that retail sales will remain weak.

A&P here is readying a new natural/organic private-label line that is scheduled to officially debut next month around Earth Day.

Wal-Mart to give employee bonuses.

More technology carts are sprouting throughout the country.

Ahold gets consumer input on 'healthy ideas'

Foodtown will re-banner as 'FoodKing'

Aldi will debut it's 1,000th store.

SEIU and California nurses association are now working together.

Update on Stop & Shop looking for another Hyde Park location.

Citarella's in Hamptons.

Politics

Just two of 51 council members score 100% on attendance.

Anthony Weiner, who said he's not actively campaigning for mayor and has indicated that he may not run, would still beat Bill Thompson in a Democratic mayoral primary, according to a Quinnipiac poll released this morning.

Peter King rejects bill to tax corporate bonuses.

Connecticut has passed a plastic bag bill, going into effect this week.

Hiram Monserrate reportedly rejected a plea deal before he was indicted.

Top Economists agree, Employee Free Choice right for the country

From Wal-Mart Watch Daily News Clips:

• Prominent Economists Endorse Employee Free Choice Act [Talking Points Memo]
  The Employee Free Choice Act is not a panacea, but it would restore some balance to our labor markets. As economists, we believe this is a critically important step in rebuilding our economy and strengthening our democracy by enhancing the voice of working people in the workplace.
  

• Many, Many Economists: We Like What the Employee Free Choice Act Does [SEIU Blog]
  Today, in a full page ad in the Washington Post, thirty-eight prominent American economists released a statement, entitled "Passage of the Employee Free Choice Act is critical to rebuilding our economy and strengthening our democracy."

SEIU HEAD ANDY STERN: EFCA COMING SOON

• SEIU head Andy Stern predicts quick action on health care, card-check [USA Today]
  Stern also said there are 60 senators who either support the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) or would vote to cut off a filibuster. He said he expects action by August.
  

Fight against "card check" escalates [Kansas City Star (Mo.)]
Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives today launched a pre-emptive strike against the most controversial labor-related bill expected in Congress this year.

Gourmet Industry not seeing economic woes, Port Jefferson Stop & Shop to close Friday, Wednesday news...

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The Gourmet Industry not seeing economic woes...

Wal-Mart aims at responding to critics.

But here's why efficient light bulbs fail to thrive...

West Virginia Kroger employees approve a new contract.

The Port Jefferson Station Stop & Shop, longtime anchor store at the Port Plaza, closed its doors for the last time Friday at 4 pm. In its place, an Uncle Giuseppe's Marketplace is expected to open by the beginning of next year, according to a press release from Edens & Avant, which owns the 20-store shopping center.

The controversial new grocery store in Manhattan originally called Trader John's will be rechristened Grocer John's, according to terms of a settlement between its owner, Gristedes Foods, and Trader Joe's, the nearby specialty store that sued it for trademark infringement.
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The call for President Obama to influence Americans' food choices is growing louder.
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Andy Stern, president of the SEIU, said he was appointing two trustees to run a dissident local that represents 150,000 health care workers in California.

Politics

MSNBC: Kennedys Want Revenge: Report

Gillibrand on Immigration.

Poll shows NY is split over Gillibrand.

Rush Limbaugh on Obama: "I hope he fails."

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