Welcome back Bottle Bill, Monday Morning Read...

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The heavily debated Bottle Bill is back for the attack, after a federal judge overturned the injunction that had previously halted the bill. The New York Times has more on how the State can start collecting in on what is estimated to be 10's of millions of dollars.

The Progressive Grocer covers the opening of Pathmark in New Dorp.

Last week, when Whole Foods stance on Healthcare was released, many customers are serious about boycotting the store.

Local

The New York Times writes that Long Islanders are hopeful that the new 'Lighthouse' project in Hempstead will bring jobs, development and much needed revenue to Nassau County.

Slumlords are getting $81 million of the stimulus, despite owning hazardous buildings with numerous code violations.

The Gotham Gazette looks at the City Council District 33 race, and the changes that candidates are facing.

New polls are showing that David Patterson is far behind Andrew Cuomo for NYS Governor.

Tim Bishop has a new challenger.

Bruno's to close 38 stores, UFCW Local Authorizes strike, Manhattan gets a Costco...

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Bankrupt Bruno’s Supermarkets Inc. has informed the state that 38 of its 60 Alabama stores may close by mid May, affecting nearly 2,200 employees.

UFCW Local 371 has authorized a strike at 15 A&P locations.

Two UFCW locals have merged into UFCW Local 75.

Looks like Manhattan will be graced with its first Costco.

Reeling from the real estate downturn in the city, construction unions and builders are edging closer to an agreement that they say will reduce labor costs and enable at least some of their projects in Manhattan to proceed despite the weak economy.

Younger shoppers use more online coupons.

NJ Star Ledger: the Employee Free Choice Act, backbone for a strong economy.

Labor leader Denis Rivera praised Mike Bloomberg.

The Daily News looks at Local 1500's early endorsements for the New York City Council.

Bigger Better Bottle Bill is in the new state budget.

Local 1500 Asks Governor Patterson to leave Bottle Bill out of the Budget

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[PDF Available here]
News from UFCW Local 1500

For more information contact: Patrick Purcell, 973-583-9651

Grocery Workers Union Ask Governor to Remove Bottle Bill from Budget Process

Union Members Ask Governor to Side with Workers Over Drugstores

QUEENS VILLAGE, NY (03/26/2009; 1714)(readMedia)-- United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500 is asking Governor David Patterson to side with working men and women who are employed in grocery stores and not the interest of corporate giants CVS and Walgreens. The Governor is supporting the passage of the Bigger Better Bottle Bill (BBBB) in the current State budget being negotiated. The law currently has minimal enforcement procedures, places an unfair economic burden on Supermarkets and gives a virtual free pass to companies like drug stores CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreens who have no bottle redemption centers, a history of violating the current redemption law and are notorious for refusing bottles from consumers seeking to return them.

UFCW Local 1500 members are asking that the BBBB be removed from the budget process and put into the legislative arena.

"The $500.00 fine and minimal enforcement of the existing bottle bill has been hurting grocery workers for years while companies such as CVS and Rite Aid routinely thumb their nose at the law," said Patrick Purcell, Director of Special Projects for United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500, New York State's largest grocery workers Union. "As with any law, we should want the penalties to fit the crime and that there be compliance. That is not the case with existing law," Purcell explained. "Now the administration wants to expand the law and make those obeying it do even more," Purcell continued. "This bill continues to reward bad behavior and penalize good behavior. It is truly Bizzaro world legislation," Purcell stated. "We agree the Bottle Bill is bigger, but it clearly is not better."

"Our members are eager to support this Governor as he faces difficult decisions during an economic crisis. He is a good man seeking difficult answers. Still, our members are at loss for understanding why he refuses to hear them on this issue, especially when it is clear the members of the Senate and Assembly are eager to hammer out a fair bill and compromise during the rest of the legislative season," Purcell said. "We hope the Governor is hearing from his top environmental advisor the truth about the opposition to this bill."

"We are imploring the Governor to support open government, a fair legislative process, the spirit of compromise and to please remove the Bigger Better Bottle Bill from the budget. There are so many people utilizing the "my way or the highway" approach with the Governor during these budget talks, yet our members are simply seeking a fair compromise," Purcell concluded.

United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500, based out of Queens Village, represents over 23,000 grocery workers in New York City, Long Island, Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties. Members of Local 1500 are employed by Pathmark, King Kullen, Stop and Shop, Shop Rite, Gristedes, Fairway, D'Agostino, Key Food, Dairy Barn and Shop Rite.

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Wal-Mart NYC rumors, BJ's gains, Patterson cuts salary...

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Wal-Mart NYC rumors spur up again.

Costco is pressuring suppliers for lower prices.

BJ's Wholesale Club is anticipating comparable-store sales increases of 5%-7% this year — after gains of 6.4% in 2008

Endorsements of a new "Food Safety Bill"

Wegmans is soliciting customer support for the state wine proposal.

AFL-CIO is in talks with Change to Win on reuniting.

Wal-Mart eyes Japan expansion.

Wal-Mart February sales soared once again.

Politics

David Paterson promises to cut his pay by 10 percent.

The Bottle Bill gets a public hearing, and another to come on Friday.