Tuesday Mornin' News Briefs

Image via Wikipedia

"Right to Work" laws are for the 1%.

A&P to close 14 stores, here is their Press Release.  More @ Progressive Grocer, CityBizRealEstate,  ABC News, Supermarket News, Atlantic City Press.

A&P is accusing Stop & Shop of purposefully snarling its Chapter 11 bankruptcy case by making “illusory” claims of potential pension liabilities. From Supermarket News:

Ahold on behalf of its U.S. banners Giant-Landover and Stop & Shop has filed 216 separate proofs of claim for any increases in pension contributions that Giant and Stop & Shop may have to pay as a result of A&P’s withdrawal from multi-employer pension plans in which Giant and Stop & Shop participate.

The NLRB swears in three new members.

Epoch Times writes about the proposed new Walmart in East Patchogue, Long Island.  More at Newsday (subscription required) and at Patch.

Target Change: Target & Apple a match made in heaven. 

The UFCW Local 1500 Fairway in Douglaston, Queens, raised nearly $7k for the slain NYPD Detective, Peter Figoski's family.  In total, Fairway donated $20,000 to the scholarship fund.

"We have a long standing history of supporting those who serve New York City and when we saw the tragedy that happened, we felt we had to jump in and help out in any way that we could,” he said of the market’s decision to donate to the scholarship fund. “What’s unique about how we did this is that we involved our customers as well.”
Figoski, 47, who was the father of four daughters between the ages of 14 and 20 years, was killed when he and his partner showed up at the scene of an alleged drug robbery that was taking place in Brooklyn.

Republicans in Indiana, in what the AFL-CIO blog calls a 5-minute charade this morning, have pushed a "right to work" bill in an 8-5 vote.

Not only were Democrats barred from offering any amendments, no discussion of the bill was allowed and immediately after the vote, the hearing was adjourned. Rep. John Bartlett (D) told reporters that he’d “never seen a charade like this in my life.”

And Trader Joe's plans in Albany need minimal approval.

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.

Mid-Week News Briefs:

Image via WikipediaWalmart is currently in the largest class action suit in US history, on Tuesday, the Supreme Court heard the case Walmart Stores v. Dukes, in order to determine if Walmart is simply "too big" for a class action suit.  More @Supermarket News.

ABC News looks at how other companies embrace women at the workplace.

A&P's retired executives are seeking representation in A&P's Chapter 11, they stopped receiving payments in November from their plan.


Governor Walker is ignoring a court order and publishing his law, curbing collective bargaining for public employees.

The Governor in Maine has removed a mural which illustrated the history of working families in the state.  More:[Video]

Supermarket News reported on UFCW's push for April 4th, We are ONE rally.

Crain's reports a new 16,000 sqft Grocer will be opening on 110th Street.

Walmart is paying attention to the "changing consumer".


The NY Times looks at Aldi, where Walmart (NYC) has failed, they've succeeded.

The Walmart Truth Tour is coming to NYC on Thursday! Earlier this week they were in Chicago, check out the video and report from Progressive Illinois.

Austin Guest from JWJ, "Walmart Associates in their own words, 'this company doesn't respect workers'"

Must Read: Excellent editorial from Matt Ryan of NYJWJ: Sometimes It Takes a Fire to Wake Us Up.

The Atlantic makes is simple, Walmart is greedy and just wants more.

Ohio continues attack on workers, passes Anti-Worker bill.

In Oregon, the UFCW is rallying supporting workers from Albertsons, Fred Myer & Safeway.

Michigan's Item Pricing Law was repealed.

Trader Joe's frozen pizza has been recalled, 131,000 pounds of it.

In Pittsburgh, the UFCW is protesting Giant Eagle's massive cutbacks in workers' hours.

Contracts with 100,000 NY State workers end today at midnight.

Thursday's Mid Week One-Liners: Walmart Buys its Way into Africa, Will NYC be next?

"Despite the advent of democracy in 1994, South Africa remains one of the most inequitable societies in the world, said Tyotyo James, deputy-president of the Congress of South African Trade Unions.”The acquisition of 51% of Massmart by Walmart will cut out even more local ownership of one of the major retail players in the country."
After Walmart's 51% bid on the major retailer Massmart was approved this week. "Walmart buys its way into Africa"

In Walmart's latest PR move they've donated a bunch of $$ to Food Bank's and are now offering healthy food, thanks, it's 2011, guess that's a good year to start offering healthy food.

Small business poll finds Walmart is not welcome in NYC. [NY Daily News]

Here's eight reasons we should keep Walmart out of major cities.

Sources say that Stop and Shop is eying a former Shaw's site in New Haven, CT.

John Castimatidis, Gristedes Owner "Walmart is a real danger to the overall economy and character of NYC" read the entire Op-Ed in the NY Daily News.

Blog: Walmart is trying to invade NYC.  

A Walmart grows in Brooklyn, not if we can help it...

ABC News: Report, NYC Walmart would lower wages.

Yahoo! says it's only a matter of time for Walmart in NYC.

More media outlets are covering drug stores, Target and Walmart's desire to sell you groceries.

Walmart may team up with the UDC (University of District Columbia Community College) to combat many concerns with their flawed employment practices.

It's not just a domestic problem with Walmart, across the world they're notoriously known for exploitation of workers, in South Africa they're getting a lot of resistance for buying out the retail chain Massmart and attempting to monopolize the South African retail market.

Now that the Massmart deal cleared all the regulatory hurdles, a massive boycott is being planned for all Walmart/Massmart affiliated stores. [Financial Mail]

Yournabe: Small businesses don't want a Walmart, but are confident in retaining shoppers.

A&P's Q3 Results are "in line" with expectations. [Progressive Grocer]

A mayor in New Jersey has asked to residents to boycott a local (union) ShopRite, and it's flat out wrong.  Read the editorial here.

Target's CEO plans for Canada expansion.

Costco is receiving a $1 million tax break to open a store in Chicago.

A Williamsburg Duane Reade is offering beer on tap, yeah that says Duane Reade.

The Politicker has Mayor Bloomberg's complete 'State of the City' speech here.

Related articles

• The World's Smallest Walmart Opens At The University Of Arkansas (huffingtonpost.com)

Walmartnyc.com Promotes Report which Confirms a Walmart NYC Store would Lower Wages

Here's something you don't see everyday, Walmart is telling the truth.

The ingenious website www.walmartnyc.com which does a great job promoting real "New York" opinions, is promoting a report from ABC News which covered NYC Public Advocate's Bill de Blasio's report that if a Walmart were to open in NYC retail wages would suffer.  Here's a screen shot from WalmartNYC's newsroom:

via: www.walmartnyc.com

The page can be found here (while it's still up) http://www.walmartnyc.com/2011/01/13/report-nyc-walmart-jobs-would-lower-wages/

Thanks for finally admitting the truth and being honest with us New Yorkers, Walmart!

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.