Top 15 things that happened last week:

1.  Victory for Change Walmart: Some Walmart workers are getting a Christmas gift...Full-Time jobs this holiday season. 2.  Wegmans clears up that they love their employees, even though their contract negotiations with the Teamsters haven't shown much love. 3.  Despite DC Mayor's veto of the living wage bill, polls show an overwhelming majority of public support of the bill. 4.  Walgreens is shifting health coverage for 160,000 workers due to Obamacare. 5.  Whole Foods is launching a butcher training program. 6.  Staples workers made history last week, becoming the first to win a contract in North America (Canada). 7. Amazon warehouse workers are suing the company for some outrageous security precautions. 8. 30,000 grocery workers may be going on strike in Washington. 9.  Ahold has made some changes to their supervisory board. 10.  47 million people rely on SNAP, cutting it is putting us on a dangerous road. Check out why at HungerCliff  add your voice on ThunderClap.  11. Tweet of the Week: @ASPEEL1500: "So proud of @UFCW1500 shop steward Debbie Gernand, receiving @ufcw Region 1's outstanding member award! pic.twitter.com/1wzjmHZMeL" 12. Check out Rep. Joe Crowley in a creative speak out against SNAP Cuts. 13. Typical American Family Makes Less Than it Did in 1989. Census buearu report unvieled this alarming data this week. 14. T-Mobile's CEO tried his hardest to intimidate workers from voting in the CWA...Too bad for him his workers were educated, organized and prepared for scare tactics and they voted 7-1 for the union.  Yes, read that again, the CEO of T-Mobile traveled to an 8 person union election.  Seems small but David beat Goliath.   15.  We've signed a contract extension with Stop & Shop and King Kullen; extending our CBA until midnight, October 12th.

Did we miss something? Let us know, reply to this message!

Top Stories This Week:

— TOP 10 INDUSTRY/LABOR NEWS ARTICLES FROM THIS WEEK — 1. Typical American Family Makes Less Than it Did in 1989. Census buearu report unvieled this alarming data this week. 2.  We released a new update on contract negotiations with Stop & Shop and King Kullen.  Supermarket News also wrote up on it. 3.  Despite DC Mayor's veto of the living wage bill, polls show an overwhelming majority of public support of the bill. 4.  Walgreens is shifting health coverage for 160,000 workers due to Obamacare. 5.  Whole Foods is launching a butcher training program. 6.  Staples workers made history this week, becoming the first to win a contract in North America (Canada). 7. Amazon warehouse workers are suing the company for some outrageous security precautions. 8. The House passed a bill that will cut SNAP (food stamps). 9.  Rob Shaich, Panera CEO, is attempting to live on $4.25 a day joining the SNAP challenge. 10.  47 million people rely on SNAP, cutting it is putting us on a dangerous road. Check out why at HungerCliff  add your voice on ThunderClap.

What to Read on Thursday Afternoon:

Report: Foul Ball, Walmart is potentially eying a site across the street from Citi Field. 

More @ NY1.

The Gothamist is reporting that the initial report of Walmart @ Citi has no merit. 

The community in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn, has been fighting against a Walgreens replacing their only grocery store.  Yesterday Marty Markowitz joined 200 community members protesting in front of the shuttered grocery store.

"We have shown that it is possible for many years for this community to support a supermarket here," Councilman Brad Lander, D-Park Slope, told the agitated crowd assembled near the increasingly decrepit storefront at 589 Prospect Avenue.

More @: DNAinfo: Windsor Terrace Community to Walgreens: Stay out of our Neighborhood.
Brooklyn Eagle,  Patch,  Community wants Fresh Food not Drugs, Check out the campaign site Greenbeans not Walgreens.

Working in These Times asks what the CEO change @Supervalu means for the UFCW.

Two store fronts, one owner, one year: A Key Food Superstore just opened this May in New Rochelle on Pelham Rd, now they'll rename the store to Torino Market a Taste of Italy, the store is still owned by Uncle Giuseppe's. 


Target will gladly take your gay money but won't support marriage equality.  Their new marketing campaign is geared towards being "yourself" but, don't ask them to support you.

"Target is no better than Walmart," Canadian UFCW President.

Bloomberg Business Week looks where Walmart stands in the Political world.

Josh Eidelson of In These Times has an excellent in depth piece on the striking Palermo's Pizza workers in Wisconsin.

Stop & Shop will open their Hyde Park store in November.

The Fresh Market continues to grow, they hit a new 52-week high.

The Caterpillar strike is now in its fourth month. On July 25, Caterpillar reported a second-quarter profit of $1.7 billion, or $2.54 per share, up 67 percent from the year-earlier period's $1.02 billion, or $1.52 per share. Revenue was $17.4 billion.  That apparently is not enough.


Walmart named a former KPMG exec to their board.

Rite Aid is facing a strike threat in Orange County, California.

Excited about Mitt Romney's plan?  Hike Middle Class Taxes, Outsource American Jobs.  Another reason why UFCW members should support the Active Ballot Club.


Last Saturday the Oregon AFL-CIO set up "Hug a Thug" tables in an Oregon park, conservatives love calling Union members "Thugs" so the Oregon AFL-CIO wanted to remind the community that these so called "Thugs" are firefighters, teachers, nurses, cops, postal workers and hundreds of people they interact with each day.

Forced to work with a broken ankle? Really?!  Check out a first hand look at what went on at a Poultry Plant in Arkansas and what brought workers together to fight for change and for a union.

Quick One Liners: Seattle UFCW Takes Strike Vote, Scarsdale gets a ShopRite

Walgreens Sues Wegmans Over Logo
Walgreens has filed a federal trade dress suit against Wegmans, alleging that the supermarket chain's stylized "W" logos are too similar to those of Walgreens. 


Wegmans Says No To Albany Stores
"We are not pursing sites in Albany or the Capital District"- Jo Natale, a spokeswoman for the western New York supermarket chain. 


New ShopRite Opening in Scarsdale 
"The brand new, completely renovated ShopRite of Scarsdale will bring more than 300 jobs to the local community, as well as new life and vitality to the Midway Shopping Center."

Trader Joe's Admits Its Crime Problem 
Brooklyn, NY--A new sign at the entrance to the popular supermarket reads: "We know it's hard to focus with so many amazing values in the store, but please keep a close eye on your belongings!"


Kroger Associates in Cincinnati Ratify New Labor Agreement
The three-year agreement provides good wages, high-quality affordable health care and a pension for associates when they retire. 


Seattle UFCW takes Strike Vote
Approximately 25,000 grocery workers and meat cutters in three union locals are scheduled to vote through Wednesday on an employer contract offer- an offer union officials have asked employees to reject while also asking them to authorize a strike. 


Whole Foods Sees Consumers Rebounding
Citing indications that its customers are spending more freely, Whole Foods Market said last week that its optimistic about its prospects for fiscal 2011. 

Thursday Afternoon News...

UFCW Local 876 Auto Parts Workers Authorize Strike

"Even in these tough economic times, Continental Coatings workers deserve better than the company's last offer."- Rodger Robinson, Local 876's president. 


Protest Questions Human Cost of Trader Joe's Cheap Tomatoes

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers is protesting to end abuse against farmworkers who pick tomatoes sold to the Trader Joe's chain. 


Earth 911: Whole Foods Packaging Really Is Compostable! 
Whole Foods to-go boxes officially passed a home composting test.


Whole Foods Launches Salad Bar Project
Chef Ann Cooper and Whole Foods partner up to improve school lunch programs nationwide.


Progressive Grocer: Walgreens Expands Food Selection in 10 Chicago Stores
Walgreens unveiled its new expanded food selection in several Chicago communities that lack access to basic food necessary to maintain a healthy diet. 

Fridays News: Local 1000 Reaches a Deal with Kroger

Image via Wikipedia

BJ's Wholesale Club to Announce First Quarter Earnings Results on May 19th 2010
On May 19th, 2010 BJ's management plans to hold a conference call at 8:30am. Eastern Time to discuss the first quarter result.

Whole Foods tops S&P gainers; reaches 2-yr high
Shares surged to their highest level in more than two years

Kroger and United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1000 in Dallas Reach Tentatice Agreement

Baltimore Should be Skeptical of Wal-Mart

Walgreens Halts Plans to Sell OTC Genetic Test after FDA Query
Walgreens says it is reversing a desicion to sell a saliva test made by Pathway Genomics that promises to scan a customer's DNA to determine the risk for a host of diseases including breast cancer, diabetes and obesity.

Hannaford opens new Kennebunk store (ME)