Wednesday Morning One Liners...

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WSJ: Working two jobs and Still Underemployed.

Workers at a Woodman’s Food Market in Wisconsin will vote next week on whether to recover the union representation it lost earlier this year.

Tom Souzzi conceded defeat on Tuesday in the race for the Nassau County executive, a harsh setback for Mr. Suozzi, the Democratic incumbent who was widely regarded as a potential candidate for higher office.

Tom Souzzi: "No one saw this coming."

Labor leaders are heading to a Job Summit at the White House tomorrow, held by President Obama.  The summit is gathering in order to address the urgent need to create jobs for the more than 26 million unemployed or underemployed workers looking for work in an economy in which there are more than six workers for every one job.

UFCW Local 1 began an organizing campaign at Weis Markets in Binghamton.

More on Local 1, who represents close to 3,800 employees of Penn Traffic, announced Tuesday they will be holding meetings about the company’s bankruptcy later in the week.

Fresh and Easy makes their California debut.

Blockbuster Express DVD rental kiosks are invading NYC, Gristedes and Duane Reade to put them up throughout stores.

7-Eleven announced plans for a Manhattan expansion.  The expansion calls for 100 stores ranging from 1,700-3,500 square feet.

A Denver News Blog asks if a mail-in vote increases chances for ratification for members of Colorado's Local 7.

National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians says its workers might boycott NBC's "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" special Wednesday.

Amazon dominates Cyber Monday.

Tuesday Morning Read,

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A&P  said last week that Allan Richards, senior vice president, human resources, labor relations, legal services and secretary, will leave the company to pursue other opportunities.

A breakthrough collective agreement has been reached between the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW Canada) and Floralia Growers of Abbotsford, B.C. Read details here.

WakeupWal-Mart covers Wal-Mart's pricing fail, the same item marked separately as four different prices. 

Massachusetts’ attorney general says Wal-Mart has agreed to pay $3 million to settle complaints it did not give some employees proper meal breaks. 

One of the most heavily trafficked food stamp offices in NYC will be shutting its' doors in Coney Island, forcing hundreds of poor to travel to Downtown NYC to collect food stamps.

The Daily News covers what's going on at the Kingsbridge Armory Supermarket development.

Detroit, fights for access to fresh healthy food.

Whole Foods protesters greet executives at the annual 'Natural Products Expo' in Boston.

Last week the NYC Planning Commission OK'd Supermarket Incentives, but neglected to allow only 'responsible employers' access to the incentives, allowing all supermarkets, including those who treat workers poorly, treat communities poorly and fail to provide healthy food, to these lucrative incentives.  The plan is short-sighted.

Politics

President Obama may sit out the NYC Mayoral race between Thompson and Bloomberg.

Governor Patterson vowed not to back out of running on National TV Sunday.

Contract negotiations are approaching, find out here when your proposal meeting is!

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Obama: "We will pass the Employee Free Choice Act,"

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President Barack Obama told AFL-CIO union leaders Tuesday in a videotaped address that the controversial Employee Free Choice Act will pass, signaling his full backing for legislation that makes union organizing easier.

"We will pass the Employee Free Choice Act," President Obama told more than 100 top labor officials in a closed-door meeting at the labor federation's winter gathering in Miami, according to people at the meeting.

Read the entire article at the Wall Street Journal

Check out UFCW's site on the Employee Free Choice Act

Canada Justices to hear Wal-Mart v.s. UFCW, Trader John's update, Monday Morning Read.

Image by Getty Images via DaylifePenn Traffic Co., Syracuse, said Friday that it would close eight stores early next month as part of a strategy to invest behind its best-performing assets. The company said it would work with union representatives and employees to find the "best solution" for the affected workers.

The recession finally hits Wal-Mart.

Lee Scott thinks retailers specifically can help the plummeting economy.

Trader Joe's is suing Gristedes....Here's more at Bloomberg News.

In Minnesota, unionization gets a renewed push.

Canada Justices to hear WalMart vs UFCW.

Up to four stores at Atlas Park may close.


Politics

With Caroline Kennedy stumbling in her debut performance as Sen. Clinton's replacement-in-waiting, some are asking why Gov. David Patterson wouldn't pick New York's attorney general, Andrew Cuomo for Clinton's seat after she is named secretary of state.

Meanwhile Patterson & Kennedy meet to discuss the Senate.

A Queens assemblyman has proposed a four-day workweek for some state employees to help offset the $15 billion budget deficit faced by New York in 2009.

Just as the recession is throwing people out of work at an alarming rate, the unemployment insurance system in New York and many other states will start cutting off benefits this week for thousands of people who have been unable to find jobs since early last year.

Anthony Weiner, trying to fight his way out of Mayor Bloomberg's shadow.

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Tuesday's News, Politics, Politics.

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In a letter sent to President-elect Barack Obama last week, the National Grocers Association urged the incoming administration to maintain a level playing field for independent grocers through an economic stimulus, fair employee-employer legislation, federal regulation of credit card interchange fees and enforcement of antitrust laws.
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A former Wal-Mart and Fresh & Easy exec joins Walgreen's.

Balducci's is offering their own caviar line.

Politics
New York City’s budget gap may reach $8 billion in 18 months as the city’s Wall Street-dependent economy deteriorates, Tom DiNapoli.

Clinton is $13 Million she lent campaign.

Bloomberg defends Kennedy's bid for Clinton's vacated seat.

Kennedy spokesman Stefan Friedman said Ms. Kennedy fully intends to support the Democratic nominee for NYC Mayor, after the would-be senator avoided answering the question over the weekend.

Event Update: Coalition of Immokalee Workers

Image by Getty Images via DaylifeCome hear Florida Tomato Pickers Speak Out!

UFCW Local 1500 & The Building Blocks Project welcomes the Coalition of Immokalee Workers to New York City, where they will speak out about working conditions and their campaigns to get fast food chains to pay a fair price for the tomatoes they pick.

Join us on Wednesday, December 10 at 7.30 pm at the Church of the Holy Trinity 316 E. 88th between 1st & 2nd Avenues.

Download the Flyer here.

For more information head here.