Thursday Mornin' One-Liners

As we approach this important holiday, let's remember that we are united by the thirst for justice and for economic opportunity. Let's remember that we need not be limited by what we can see today, but that with faith and hard work we can transform America's dream into reality.
- Arlene Holt Baker, AFL-CIO Exec. VP in today's Detroit Free Press.

Delhazie plans to close 114 Food Lions, to close 164 total stores in US & Europe.

New Jersey wants some Fresh Direct.

Fresh & Green's, the company that bought some Superfresh stores late 2011, just selected a new marketing, advertising team.

AFL-CIO Executive VP, Arlene Holt Baker, gives an excellent guest commentary in the Detroit Free Press: "True Equality Still Challenges Us All."

Yet we know King's dream was not merely a dream about friendship, not some story about two unlikely friends communing across a great economic divide. His dream was about true equality -- economic, political and social justice.

Nike has finally agreed to pay $1 million in backwages to Indonesian workers.

The decision is being viewed as a symbolic victory, given that the compensation was rather modest and because Nike has long been accused of exploiting and underpaying employees toiling in its Third World factories.

Asbury Park Press: Pathmark in Stafford Closing Doors.

Target announced they'll be opening a store within a store today, a Target within a Target.

The UFCW Local 400 in Baltimore is embracing the #Occupy movement leading up to contract negotiations...

Weis will fill the void Pathmark left last year when the store closed in Hillsborough, New Jersey.

Updated News Briefs: NLRB Alleges Labor Violations at Target Valley Stream

The NLRB is alive if you were wondering, and has asserted via Crain's NY that Target used illegal tactics, such as threatening to "close the store if the union were to get in" during the weeks leading to June 17th election... "Target has violated labor laws & used illegal tactics in weeks leading up to the June 17th union election." 

A rival retailer was interested in purchasing BJ's Wholesale Club earlier this year.

The NLRB has filed a complaint against Target for violating federal laws weeks leading up to the union election in June.


A Stop & Shop will open in East Brunswick, replacing an A&P which closed in October 2010.

A&P opened a new Superfresh in Philly last week. The store was originally slated to be a Pathmark.

While UFCW members authorize a strike in Southern California, Sign on San Diego wonders if the grocers could survive a strike.

Wal-Mart purchases some goodwill...Some call it buying their way into the city, some call it charity, you decide.

UFCW and Kroger reach 4 week contract extension in W.V..

The Queens Chronicle writes "Pathmark workers on edge." 

DNA.info interviews two Local 1500 Members, Keith Jefferson & Flame Washington on working at Pathmark during Bankruptcy.

The Brooklyn Eagle interviewed Local 1500 Shop Steward, Sofi Rosenblum, to discuss the A&P bankruptcy.

A UFCW Local 342 Member was interviewed in the Staten Island Advance on Pathmark's Bankruptcy.

Editorial: How A&P Changed the Grocery World.

A&P announced they'll be selling local NYC pizza.

No surprise here, Unions back the NLRB proposed rule changes.

Crain's: Retail NYC workers fighting for a 40-hour work week.

Quick Friday Afternoon News Recaps

We've been tied up with the TargetChange campaign....But here's some ongoings in the NY Grocery Industry News:


AlterNet: "Anti-Union Life @Target." AlterNet looks deeper at what it's like to work at Target & other big box retail stores....
More BJ's Wholesale Club buyout rumors have surfaced, raising their stock prices.

Walmart gets a free pass from the Supreme Court over discrimination.

The Hunts Point Market is still opposed to Walmart opening in NYC.

Christine Quinn wants Walmart to buy local produce IF the chain opens in NYC.

They [Walmart] continue to donate and donate $$ into Washington DC and NYC, drawing criticisms of trying to "buy" their way into the city.

On July 20 a Pathmark in Cherry Hill, New Jersey will be up for auction.

Mrs.Green's officially confirms the purchase of A&P's Superfresh stores. More @ Gourmet.

Week's End One Liners: Changing Target...

Just a few news stories focusing on the campaign to Change Target....

 #targetchange
We've filed charges against Target for allegedly creating an 'unfair and intimidating' atmosphere for workers at Target who are voting for UFCW representation on June 17. [Crain's]

News outlets across North America are now questioning if Target is no better than Walmart.

In Canada, where Target just unveiled their new stores, the Montreal Gazette has a close eye on what's going on in Valley Stream.

The New York Times' Steven Greenhouse writes about the workers at Valley Stream Target and their campaign to change the culture at Target.

After the NYT story, Gawker posted a commentary, which resulted in current and former Target workers sending in their experiences from working at Target, the result? They say they NEED to Unionize.

We created a digital advertisement that was to run in New York City, highlighting Target's working conditions and overall culture...CBS decided to balk at the ad after accepting it and reaching out to us initially.

the American Dream Movement: Struggle to Unionize Intensifies for Target Workers at Valley Stream....

#Pathmark/A&P
Last month, Local 1500 went to Washington to ask for help in the Pathmark crisis.

A&P announced the completion of auctioning off of 25 Superfresh stores.

Mrs.Green's is taking over SuperFresh in New Brunswick.

Thursday Afternoon News Recaps: 5/1-5/5

500 Rite-Aid workers reached a tentative contract after a five-year-anti-union campaign by Rite Aid.


Acme cuts 900 Part-Time workers to reflect loss of sales volume at struggling stores.

Walmart is trying their version of Fresh Direct, "Web Grocery".

They're also investing $756 million into Brazil.

AlterNet looks at Walmart's literal impact on hundreds of millions of people throughout the world.

As they [Walmart] remain atop the Fortune 500, another study proves it: Walmart Destroys Small Business. More @ Portfolio.

Walmart's NYC plans were on Community Board 3's agenda Tuesday.

In Southern California, a Federal Mediator has been called in to assist in talks between seven UFCW Locals representing over 60,000 grocery workers and Southern California grocers...A media blackout has also been agreed upon.

UFCW 152, along with small business owners, is fighting Walmart's expansion in New Jersey.

Last week a judge approved A&P's plan to sell 22 SuperFresh stores in Maryland.

A&P executives also won their outrageous bonuses, amidst severe objections.

Stop & Shop re-started their 'gas rewards' program @ Shell gas stations.

Target is continuing their grocery expansion, by end of 2011 they'll be revamping 850 stores.

Grocery is not the only thing Target's expanding on, CEO Gregg Steinhafel's salary increased 83% last year, yeah that's not a typo, eighty-three percent.

Target withstood Walmart's aggressive message/campaign of "price matching" last month, now Walmart is pondering new ideas how to beat Target. Read it @ DrugStoreNews.

Whole Foods saw their best Q2 results in 5 years....They're also opening their first Chicago store.

Politics

In Canada, farm workers can't organize.

via AFL-CIO Blog: Ohio Republican Gov. John Kasich, who signed into law a bill to kill collective bargaining rights for public employees, now has issued proclamations making this week “Public Service Appreciation Week” and “Teacher Appreciation Week.”

Brooklyn leads the living wage battle w/ our brothers and sisters @ RWDSU.

Elsewhere

Check out the only known video/audio of Mother Jones, yes you read that right @ 100 years old, it's a must watch for anyone in the labor movement.

Remember to support flower workers this Mother's Day.

NYC is number 1 again for business.

College Grads will see the worst job market since the Great Depression.

A complete list of all our Area meetings is available here.

NY Industry Mid-Week News Briefs: A&P Looks for More Bonuses...

“We have pride in our company, but we just don't feel they have pride in us,” said Sonia Williams, of Jamaica, Queens, an overnight clerk at the Valley Stream store...-Crain's NY "Target Workers to vote for Union Representation"

Fairway revamps their online grocery store.  They've also selected a price optimization system.

A&P top Execs are now asking for bonuses up to $3.7 million in performance bonuses.... CEO Martin could earn up to $1.3 million, or 250% of his salary, for meeting the maximum performance goals over the seven-month period. Read is @ Supermarket News: A&P amends bonus plan.

Super shopping woes at Sheepshead Bay after Pathmark closed. 

The land developer @ Cherry Street Pathmark in lower Manhattan is asking the bankruptcy judge to lift the automatic stay in A&P's bankruptcy case.

There's a lot of speculation on the 25 pending SuperFresh stores that A&P is looking to sell.

A new iPhone app allows you to scan and pay for groceries at Stop & Shop.

Last week, Target workers along with UFCW Local 1500 filed for election.  Support and join the campaign to Change Target on Facebook.  You can also send letters of support to Target workers by emailing targetchangeny@gmail.com.

Walmart is testing their online Food Buying service.

There's still a mixed reaction to Walmart in NYC, ABC News.

Jamaica Plain Patch looks at Whole Foods' history with labor & unions.

And the Public doesn't want Medicare cut, but House Republicans aren't listening.

Thursday Afternoon News Briefs

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

 "As part of our ongoing review of our store footprint, we determined that these 25 Superfresh locations are outside of A&P's core market,"
-Sam Martin, A&P CEO in today's Baltimore Sun.

#A&P/Pathmark

A&P has said it has approached bankruptcy courts to approve the sale of 25 Superfresh stores, as part of its plans to revive its business. The firm said the sale includes 22 outlets in Maryland, two in Delaware and one in Washington D.C. [Press Release]

So A&P is trying to sell 25 Superfresh stores as part as their turnaround strategy, why Superfresh? The Baltimore Sun analyzes the situation.

And then there is a planned Pathmark to open in North Liberties, PA. Where the developer has petitioned the bankruptcy judge to 'clear the way for a new supermarket to open', where Pathmark has continued to stall and are according to the motion "affecting the ability to sign leases with other tenants in the shopping center."  Read it @ Philly.com.

Seems that everyone is getting their licks in on A&P, in NYC a developer is suing A&P to recover some $6 million they put down on a deal which fell through to develop two luxury towers on Cherry Street in Manhattan. Read it @ WSJ Blogs.

Central Jersey Press: Hillsborough Pathmark to Close this Weekend.

Supermarket News covers our charge against A&P...Secretary-Treasurer Tony Speelman said on Twitter, "We will not allow A&P to 're-build' their company on our members' backs. Closing stores and laying off people who helped build this once great company is not a business plan." You can follow him on Twitter @Aspeel1500.

UFCW Reps are scheduled to speak at Ahold's (Stop & Shop owner) annual meeting in the Netherlands....  Three workers from Virginia will also attend.

UFCW California Contract: Members of seven California UFCW Locals are scheduled to take strike authorization votes next week.

#WalmartNYC

Crain's: Walmart foes battle retailer's Brooklyn Plan. 

@ NY1: Brooklyn Residents Raise Concerns on Potential Walmart.  "Walmart forces businesses to shut down. They can't compete with their low prices, and traffic is lost on neighborhood retail strips and small businesses close down," said Daniel Coates of Small Business United.  More @TheRealDeal.


New York City says "Don't be Related to Walmart!", Matt Ryan from JWJ writes in the Huffington Post.


Walmart is downsizing their electronics department for more plus-sized clothing...

#Elsewhere

A Met Foods in the Bronx is changing over to a Foodtown.


@AFL-CIO, you can show solidarity with workers, buy a 'We are ONE' pin or button.
 
The bidding for BJ's Wholesale Club starts today...

Target pushing north to Canada @FoxNews.

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