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!

Friday Morning One-Liners:

A Queens Courier Poll is showing that residents don't want a Walmart.

Brooklyn residents, and Council Member Charles Barron rallied at City Hall against Walmart on Tuesday.

Here's someone else who's not buying into Walmart's poll that discovered Small Businesses "want a Walmart":

Gotham is in the initial stages of conducting its own poll and the results are showing that the New York retail community is overwhelmingly against Wal-Mart opening a store in New York City. This poll completely refutes the polling results conducted by Wal-Mart which have been recently reported.[Press Release]

Darryl Towns has an Op-Ed in the NY Post entitled "It's not about Walmart"

The Daily News and NY Observer have pieces on our release yesterday, asking NY Politicians to send campaign contributions they received from Walmart to Toys-For-Tots. 

Meanwhile Walmart responded to our request, saying they "support[s] those who share our commitment to stimulating economic development and creating jobs..."

We're all for creating jobs, who isn't? But the world's largest company should act a little more responsible.  For one of the only companies actually profiting in a bad economy, why did they just end a Sunday premium pay for employees hired after January 1, 2011?  That's not our definition of stimulating an economy.

Meanwhile across the border, UFCW Canada is declaring victory in an 18-month free speech battle with Walmart that concentrated on the labour rights website www.walmartworkerscanada.ca. In June 2009, the world's largest retailer filed a motion with the Quebec Superior Court for an injunction against the popular and long-standing website maintained by UFCW Canada citing trade-mark infringement. [Press Release]

Reuters asks if Walmart is trying to pull a 'Circuit City on Best Buy'

Mother Jones tells the world how you can't blame unions for A&P's problems.

City Hall News has a great article on the advancement of Food Policy in New York City.

Event Update: December 14th Wal-Mart Rally Canceled

The Rally has been canceled due to the New York City Council postponing their Wal-Mart debate...We will be posting updates and more information shortly. Please join the Wal-Mart Free NYC coalition on FB here http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wal-Mart-Free-NYC/151784818201968?ref=sgm

Tuesday's One Liners, Tomorrow's General Membership Meeting, Next Week's Walmart Rally

Reminder tomorrow is our General Membership Meeting and Annual Toy Drive @ The Inn at New Hyde Park: More information at Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/UFCWLocal1500?v=app_2344061033#!/event.php?eid=116408735089069&index=1


UFCW Local 1189 has kicked off their contract campaign in Minnesota.

Queens Courier tells food retailers in Queens that there is funding available to build grocery stores.

Global retail giant Wal-Mart has targeted low-income and rural customers in China with the opening of a no-frills compact hypermarket in the eastern province of Jiangxi.

Walmart could also potentially house Wine Kiosks. 

Walmart is in a battle with San Diego, last week San Diego City Council overtuned a Mayoral veto which prohibited Supercenters from opening in the city without conducting a survey.

Opening a supercenter in the city of San Diego became much more difficult — some suggest impossible — after the City Council on Thursday overturned Mayor Jerry Sanders’ veto of an ordinance that requires retailers to conduct a study of how the stores will affect the surrounding neighborhood before moving in.

This week, Walmart has been fighting back, they've formed a campaign committee and they're gathering signatures to sign a petition to allow them to open a store.

On Tuesday, December 14th, the NYC Council will be debating the affects Walmart will have on businesses and communities throughout the five boroughs.  We're holding a rally prior to the hearing at 9:30 AM, to tell the City Council that we need Union Jobs, not irresponsible employers in the greatest city in the world.  For more information on the rally check the Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=112443372158284&index=1

A closed Shaw's will open as a Save-A-Lot in Connecticut.

Local 1500's December General Membership is tomorrow, December 8, at 7:30 at the Inn at New Hyde Park.  FB Link: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=112443372158284&index=1#!/event.php?eid=116408735089069

Rally to Keep Wal-Mart Out of NYC

Keep NYC Walmart Free

On December 14, 2010, the New York City Council will be debating the impact a Wal-Mart will have on communities and small business if one were to potentially open within the five-boroughs. 

Prior to the hearing, we want you to join us in rallying on December 14, 2010 on the steps of City Hall to tell the New York City Council that Wal-Mart is not welcome in our city!

Save the date:
December 14th
New York City Hall
@ 9:30 AM

Keep Wal-Mart OUT of NYC


RSVP & Spread the word on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=112443372158284&index=1


For more information please reply to this email


Local 1500 is on Facebook, & Twitter, Friend Us, Follow Us!  You can find all our archived news on the 1500 Blog.

Monday Morning One-Liners: Wal-Mart's NYC Battle Continues...

"They'll have the battle of their lives. Walmart exploits workers ... and we want no part of that."

- Councilman Charles Barron, in today's Daily News. (via WFP)

Huffington Post, Al Norman: Wal-Mart Net Sales Worst Ever, But Urban Warfare Continues in Chicago and New York City

It's been a very disappointing sales year at Wal-Mart. The giant retailer just announced its worst net sales increase in history---just a 1% increase over 2009 levels. Despite these tepid numbers---or perhaps because of them---Wal-Mart's drive to expand in urban markets like Chicago and New York City are intensifying...

This week Crain's New York Business reports that Wal-Mart still thinks New York City is worth the effort. Wal-Mart is reportedly the surreptitious tenant in a massive Brooklyn project known as the Gateway II. The landowner, Related Cos., says no leases have been signed---but often in such cases Wal-Mart orders the developer not to disclose the retailer's interest. Related has already survived the toughest part of the process: Gateway II passed through the city's land-use process last summer. By hiding off-site, Wal-Mart can now reveal its interest, unbruised by the permitting process.


Crain's: Walmart Targets NY Sites, Hopes to Bypass Unions as it Targets BKLYN's Gateway
The 630,000-square-foot Gateway II shopping center off Jamaica Bay in Brooklyn is among the sites Walmart is eyeing in a renewed push to build its first New York City store, sources familiar with the situation say.

Huffington Post: Wal-Mart Scouts Brooklyn &  NY Locations

NY Daily News: Wal-Mart Eyes Brooklyn


SN: A&P said on Friday, as part of its new Lower Price Project, it would lower prices on over 400 generic prescription drugs to just $3.99, for up to a 30-day supply at A&P, SuperFresh, Waldbaum’s and Pathmark stores.

UFCW Local 135 is helping the homeless. “On a daily basis, our members’ jobs involve getting fresh and nourishing food to customers in supermarkets and elsewhere,” said Mickey Kasparian, president of UFCW Local 135 and president of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, in a statement. “But as good citizens it’s also our responsibility to get food to those who need it most and can’t afford it.”

Shaw's
Local 791 Urges SuperValu to Return to the Table
The Local has urged its members to call Craig Herkert, the chief executive officer of Supervalu, Friday to demand a resolution.