Target Fires Pro-Union Worker 7-Weeks After Union Election

Tashawna Greene (middle), was fired 7-weeks after being a leading
pro-union voice at Valley Stream Target

By: Target Change

Aside from a new TV and microwave in a break room, Target Corp. has not changed. Not after a union election that depicted what life was like working for Target. Not after their anti-union video surfaced, illuminating what they really thing of workers banding together in order to better their lives. Not after the lies or threats. Not even after the Wall Street Journal reported on their controversial ‘sweatshop’ like factory in Northern Jordan where employees complained of rape, threats, physical violence and over 12-hour workdays. No, Target decided that they’re better off staying the same. Which is why two-weeks ago they fired Tashawna Greene, single mother of a 6-year old daughter, & a leading voice for change within Target in Valley Stream.

As a leading voice for change at Valley Stream Target, Ms.Greene would tell her co-workers they all deserved more respect at work.  She did this while remaining non-disruptive to business activity. Target claimed that Ms. Greene was fired for acting “in an overly hostile, disruptive manner that is inconsistent with Target's policies.” That's a convenient reason for Target. This is yet another repulsive act by a company who repeatedly shows they're not concerned about any repercussions for violating workers' rights.  They have fired Ms. Greene for one reason, her pro-union attitude. She was fired for believing she and her co-workers deserved more from their billion-dollar employer.  Is this the price Target workers must pay for standing up for themselves and fighting for what is right?  Ms. Greene never let her attitude towards the company affect her work. She said, “I believe I was fired because of my participation in the union campaign,” she continued, “Because I'm for the union, they wanted to get rid of me.”

She was fired almost immediately after a Local 1500 union organizer was seen dropping her off at work. The firing of Ms. Greene is another shallow, inconsiderate move by a company who has had nothing but opportunities to do right by their employees. Target continues to take these opportunities to change as opportunities to intimidate and diminish more rights for employees. Local 1500 has filed yet another Unfair Labor Practice Charge with the National Labor Relations Board alleging Ms. Greene was fired for activities with the union.  Target's scare tactics and intimidation continue, 7-weeks after the election in Valley Stream. It's sickening a company can go to this length.  "This won't stop us driving for change, this is what we need to change! This will only make us push harder," an anonymous Target worker said.

Please support Tashawna by signing the petition telling Target to Re-Hire her: http://www.change.org/petitions/manager-tell-target-to-re-hire-tashawna-greene-now

You can write Tashawna messages of support on the Facebook wall or at targetchangeny@gmail.com

 

Related articles

• Michelle Chen: Target Comes Under Fire Around the World (huffingtonpost.com)

Local 1500 Objects to A&P's bid for Bonus Pay Outs

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On Thursday, March 3, 2011, UFCW Local 1500 along with Creditors and Trustee’s objected to the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co.’s bid to pay out $6.8 million in bonuses for their “key employee retention plan”.  A&P’s ‘retention plan’ asks for a loan of $6.8 million to pay 146 non-union employees, $1.76 million of that going to their top four executives.   The plan could allow the four senior executives to earn 175% of their base salaries while providing 100% bonuses for other participants.  Local 1500 is shocked A&P made this request since they have yet to establish a one-year business recovery plan.   We valiantly oppose their bid for a bonus plan and urge A&P to focus on rebuilding their historic company.

Local 1500 Secretary-Treasurer Tony Speelman expressed his frustration; “Their plan is to take care of the executives who brought them to their current bankruptcy state right now.  Our members are insulted and saddened that A&P continues to focus on short-term goals like paying executives rather than creating a solid, sound business plan to bring this company back to the top of the grocery industry. “

Today, both the Wall Street Journal and the Dow Jones Daily Bankruptcy Review, wrote about Thursday's objection to A&P's 'Employee Retention Plan'. please follow the links above and read them.

We will be discussing Pathmark/A&P and much more at our next General Membership Meeting, March 9, 2010.  For questions or comments please contact your union representative, or email us at info@ufcw1500.org.

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Social Media Note: In effort to save tweet space, our Twitter handle is now @UFCW1500
 

Weeks End One Liners: BJ's Wholesale Club to Raise Membership Fees

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

BJ's Wholesale Club announced they will raise membership fees.  They recently reported sales gains of 4.8%

Sheepshead Bites wonders if Walmart should come to the five boroughs.

Working in These Times also blogs about the potential Walmart in NYC.


Mike DeBonis of the Washington Post explains, it looks like Walmart is finally going to open in Washington D.C. with their 'urban' format stores.

Wall Street Journal and Washington Post report that Walmart plans on opening four stores in the DC area.

A tentative agreement has been reached between Albertson's and the UFCW in New Mexico.

The Teamsters said they'll honor grocery picket lines if UFCW Local 21 strikes.


Bottom Dollar Food Store is taking a vacant former Pathmark site in Trenton. NJ.com says Bottom Dollar is looking to expanding across the state.


Ahold doesn't meet sales expectations, says sales in U.S. are strong.

Baseball's, Levi's, Converse & Dell Computers, see what else made the list at Yahoo! Finance: 18 Iconic Products that America Doesn't Make Anymore.

Tomato Workers Sign Historical Agreement in Florida:

After more than 15 years of struggle, justice may be just around the corner in the Florida tomato fields. In what workers call a “watershed moment,” the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) and the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange (FTGE) yesterday signed an agreement that will extend the CIW’s Fair Food principles to more than 90 percent of the Florida tomato industry.

Migrant workers in Canada bargain historic contract:

A group of seasonal workers in Abbotsford have won what their union says is a precedent-setting contract that includes higher wages and benefits like overtime pay and statutory holidays.

NYC & Greater Area

Bloomberg "trims" thousands of jobs to cut budget.

New Jersey, due to an unclaimed property law that was recently passed, unused gift card balances were being sent to the State after two years of inactivity.  This would of course help the budget deficit that the State faces.  The Jersey Food Council won an injunction to put an end to the State collecting the revenue.

Thursday Afternoon News: Waldbaum's Closes Friday, More News from A&P

Waldbaum's in Levittown Closes Friday, Shoppers Forced Elsewhere
Levittown, NY--Though the store's closing has been known for quite some time, there is still no answer as to what will take its place. Rumor of a ShopRite have not been confirmed. 




Wall Street Journal: Grocery Chains Increase Ad Spending Amid Price War
Chains including Safeway and A&P are touting price cuts on thousands of items, a double whammy to profits: spending to entice customers to come in for lower-priced items. 

Meanwhile, Big Y, who purchased seven stores from A&P in Connecticut, is set to reveal their plans for the stores this week.  

Supermarket News covers the possible strike at Food Basics in New Jersey.


A&P Seeks Advice from Wall-Street Journal on Debt.


SN: Wal-Mart Confirms: Smaller Stores in Urban Areas Ahead....


They also announced that they'll spend a modest $13.5-$14.5 billion in capital spending next year, a 3.7% increase from 2010.



Wal-Mart to Boost Locally Sourced Fresh Food
Wal-Mart is planning to double the sales of fresh produce it sources from local farms in its U.S. stores by the end of 2015. 


Daily Finance: 5 Fun Facts About Wal-Mart
The Top-line numbers don't convey just how massive Wal-Mart really is. To further understand this retail giant, here are some fun facts that help illustrate its heft...


Wal-Mart's Holiday Wish: Better Sales
Although the world's largest retailer has been losing sales to its competitors this year, they expects sales to improve in the critical holiday shopping season. "We expect positive sales results in the fourth quarter"- Mike Duke, Wal-Mart's CEO

Whole Foods raises a bunch of cash to improve school lunches.

Monday News at Noon

A hearing Monday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court should seal the sale of beleaguered Penn Traffic Co. to Tops Markets.

Acme cuts hours of 131 employees
The recession and price deflation are being blamed for cuts in employee hours and positions at Akron-based grocer Acme Fresh Markets.

Walmart has laid off an unspecified number of Sam's Club staffers, say several former employees of the company, a report from Forbes.com.

More:
Business Week: Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s Sam’s Club chain, the second-largest U.S. warehouse club, will cut about 11,200 jobs in the next month after hiring an outside company to take over in-store product demonstrations.

Wall Street Journal:  Sam's Club, engaged in a tough struggle to stand apart from competitors, is cutting about 11,000 jobs and is turning to an independent marketing firm to handle in-store product demonstrations at its warehouses nationwide.

The Hudson Reporter reports on the new Walmart in Bergen County's impact on other supermarkets throughout New Jersey.

The New York Times reports on Walmart's continued struggles expanding in Chicago.

Walmart is also facing expansion troubles in Ontario.

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle covers the Outer Borough Supermarket Attraction event.

Brooklyn Daily Eagle: Borough Pres calls for more Affordable Units, Supermarket in retail space.

And Elizabeth Benjamin reports Bloomberg says the city will be forced to layoff 18,500 workers if Patterson's "unfair" budget is enacted.

Wednesday Morning One Liners...

Image via Wikipedia

Local 1102 has filed an unfair labor charge against Saks following a move by the upscale retailer to eliminate 115 jobs in the cosmetics department of its Fifth Avenue store in New York at the end of this month.  , the Wall Street Journal reports.  A spokeswoman for the company said the decision "was completely unrelated to any union activity,"

CVS gears up for Employee Free Choice fight.

The absence of a supermarket in downtown Somerville, NJ, has community residents begging for anything.

ABC News: Price Wars, Decade's Best and Worst Industries

Harold Ford Jr. will challenge Kristin Gillibrand for Senate.

Bill Thompson has announced he will run for Mayor of NYC in 2013.

Advocates for the poor and working poor rallied Tuesday for a $10 minimum wage, jobs for welfare recipients and better ethics in state government. Read more at the Times Union.

Wal-Mart will build within a Civil War battle field, New Yorkers debate boycotting Whole Foods, Tuesday One Liners...

Wal-Mart will be building a store within a cannonball shot of a historic Civil War battle field. Image via Wikipedia

Wal-Mart continues to test their Latino thread of stores, hoping it will spark more U.S. expansion.

It's official a Wal-Mart will be built on a Civil War battle field. 

Wall Street Journal looks at Wal-Mart's international growth and sales compared to the U.S.  Wal-Mart operates 3,615 stores internationally and 4,258 in the United States.

Wal-Mart also spent $2.6 million lobbying in the 2nd quarter.

New Yorkers debate the Whole Foods boycott on WNYC.

An interview with the creator of the Facebook group 'Boycott Whole Foods'...which has grown to over 28,000 supporters.


AP: Unions target Whole Foods CEO over health piece.

Fresh Direct is offering new environmentally friendly egg packaging.

Albertson's will close 4 more stores in Florida.



Weis Markets here said yesterday it has completed the acquisition of 11 Giant Markets locations in the Binghamton, N.Y. area. 

BJ's Wholesale Club toys with the idea of 85,000 sqft stores.

Politics, City, Elsewhere

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York has named a top state labor union official its chairman, the bank announced Monday.

Crain's looks at the green rooftops across NYC.

Erick Engquist writes, if Bloomberg wins, he'll be facing a fierce watchdog

Councilwoman Maria Baez ducks out of a debate before her primary, the Daily News reports.

Guiliani, sensing an opening, continues to mull a governor bid

Seattle says no to plastic bag tax, Boycott Whole Foods reaches 12,000 on Fbook, Wednesday Read

Image by gezellig-girl.com via Flickr

The city of Seattle voted down a referendum that would put a 20 cent tax on all paper and plastic bags at most retail stores in the city.

The Wall Street Journal looks at supermarkets failure to upgrade their (queues) line system, .

Target's "P-Fresh" (essentially moreover a Target with more floor space for groceries)is expected to be opened in Philadelphia.

Everyday there is a new story on Whole Foods customers boycotting due to John Mackey's comments, today CNN Money and the Washington Post joined in...

If you head to Facebook, you’ll find more than 12,000 people have signed up for the new Boycott Whole Foods group.

The NY Times has more on the on again off again Whole Foods wine store in NYC.

UFCW Local 700 won an election this week at Scott's.

Despite the recession, more than 30% of 137 large retailers throughout NYC have expanded, according to the Center for Urban Future released report yesterday.

Kiss [the band], sells out...again.

Pension funds in NYC

And City Council Member Kendall Stewart lies about his endorsements.

Kingsbridge Armory update, Town Hall's filled with union members, Tuesday Read....

Image via Wikipedia

UFCW and other union members are packing Obama's town halls as the Washington Post reports.

Kingsbridge Armory Supermarket:
Borough President Ruben Diaz has joined with the entire Bronx City Council delegation in opposing a new supermarket at the Kingsbridge Armory.

The Daily News picks up the story on the failures and foreclosures at Atlas Park, in Glendale, Queens.

The Wall Street Journal wonders what the Whole Foods boycott will do to the publicly traded company.

Supermarket News and the New York Times also ran stories regarding Mackey's comments.

The New York Times previews BJ's Wholesale Club's second quarter earnings, after J.P. Morgan downgraded the stock yesterday.

A problem-plagued $22.4 million scheme to transform a 222-acre former Bronx landfill into a spectacular PGA-regulation golf course has not only missed its deadline by eight years, it will now cost an additional $100 million, The NY Post reported.

Politics

Crain's says "the Bronx is burning" over failed real estate deals.

NYC gets stimulus for affordable housing. The NY Times has more.

The New York Times also looks at the economic health in Staten Island.

Former Bronx borough president is endorsing de Blasio.

John Mackey on Healthcare, Friday Morning Read...

Image by JOE M500 via Flickr

Catsimatidis says in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle that the Myrtle Avenue development will be built, but depend mainly on the economy.

Former Tesco manager vows to take on Whole Foods.

ABC News reports that after John Mackey's Op-Ed in the Wall-Street Journal regarding Healthcare, more and more customers are vowing not to patronize their once favorite company and threatening a boycott.

The L.A. Times thinks Whole Foods is in a whole lot of trouble because of Mackey.

Must Read:
Produce Truck encourages Healthy Eating in Detroit: In a neighborhood served by 26 liquor stores but only one grocery, a community group is peddling fresh fruits and vegetables like ice cream.

Update on Wal-Mart's attempts to build a store on a Civil War battle field.

The price of sugar continues to increase, putting the US and food makers on alert.

Queens Crap: The end of Amish Market.

Boston pushes for paid sick days.

Long Island Immigrants are fighting for unpaid wages.

Thursday Morning One Liners...

Image via Wikipedia

Wal-Mart continues to pursue building a store on a Civil War battle field for some reason.

Gourmet Garage will take the upper west side Balducci's location, they have also made an offer on the 14th St. location. Here's a photo of the sign in the window of the UWS location.

The Upper East Side Informer has more on what this means to the UES.

King Soopers workers reject another contract offer in Colorado.

Meanwhile the companies advertisements for 'temp jobs' drew crowds.

Out in Riverhead Long Island, communities are begging for a Trader Joe's to open.

The Wall Street Journal looks at the strong earnings of Supermarkets.

Senator Harkin is considering a compromise on Employee Free Choice
More here

Fresh & Easy, Whole Foods does the right thing for Florida workers, Thursday Morning One Liners...

Image via Wikipedia

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market here said yesterday it plans to introduce more than 200 additional private-label products by the end of the year.
Read more of this story

 

Whole Foods Market said it will work with the 4,000-plus member Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), the Florida-based farm worker organization that is promoting the Campaign for Fair Food, to help improve wages and working conditions for Florida tomato pickers.

JBS Swift fires about 100 Muslims for 'violation' of union contract

 Wal-Mart said it is celebrating Hispanic Heritage month through a national campaign that provides information and resources for the pursuit of higher education. 

More trendier small-box stores: The Market, a 14,000-square-foot grocery store its developers say is a "state-of-the-art" store taking advantage of the trend toward smaller stores specializing in fresh foods and essential groceries, is set to open here next week, published reports said.
Read more of this story

 

Walgreens in Illinois, is challenging the legality of a recently passed San Francisco ordinance that will ban sales of tobacco products at pharmacies there beginning Oct. 1, according to published reports.
Read more of this story

 

Thousands of grocery store workers throughout Saskatchewan are taking a strike vote to pressure their employer to ante up in contract talks.

Developer Bruce Ratner said he will break ground on the $4 billion Brooklyn Atlantic Yards project in December.

Political

Election Shows the Power of Working Families Party

Mike Tomasky wonders if the truth will "catch up" to McCain-Palin.

 Upstate primaries may help topple State Senate majority Three primaries in the Buffalo area yesterday could help determine whether Democrats take control of the State Senate in January for the first time in more than 40 years

The Daily Dose of Palin:

"I am a liberal but I love Sarah Palin."