Monday Mornin' One-Liners: 99% Spring & Whole Foods in BK x2

The UFCW has joined the 99% spring, a movement to train activists throughout the spring of 2012.

April 9-15 we will gather across America, 100,000 strong, in homes, places of worship, campuses and the streets to train ourselves in non-violent action and join together in the work of reclaiming our country. History is calling; it’s time to step up.

American Labor Leaders are planning a door-to-door approach to help Obama's presidential campaign.

Christine Quinn has said she cannot support a paid sick days bill. 

The bill “will cost us jobs and cost us small businesses and their future in these tough economic times,” Quinn added, again using the same words spoken in January.

Great read from The Open Salon: The War Against Economic Recovery, highlights our Target Change campaign, and how our road to economic recovery starts with businesses creating good jobs.

Ad Age looks at retail in a piece focused on Target, Walmart & Kohls in: 'Size Matters in Retail'

Whole Foods is coming to Brooklyn, again.  They'll be moving into the heart of Willyburg at 242 Bedford, a 2nd Brooklyn Site.

Last week we came out against the NY GOP Senate's move to repeal the Wage Theft Prevention Act, a bill designed to protect workers and ensure they're getting paid the correct wages, the Huffington Post picked up the story.

A&P announced they're emerged from bankruptcy last week, they also named a new CFO.

UFCW Local 8 began picketing at Fresh and Easy stores last week.  In These Times (a great working blog) writes more about the clash between Fresh & Easy and San Fran natives.

Walmart in South Africa: 503 jobs reinstated as conditions of merger.  

Must Read: Not a mobster or a monster, just a union activist.

This is not just my job. It’s my lifestyle: I am a union activist. Yup, I'm one of those “maniacs” marching out on the streets with a sign that reads “STRIKE.”  But while some critics have slammed union activists as “mobsters,” I sure don’t look like what they might expect: I wear floral dresses, pink lipstick and talk to workers about their rights over coffee and jelly donuts.

Update on RWDSU's campaign Wash NY: East Harlem car wash workers confront owner over pay and working conditions.

Couldn't make the General Membership meeting last week? Check out the recap in our Blog.

Friday Afternoon News Bites

Excellent reporting by Sarah Jeffe from AlterNet on the politics of food in NYC and how the Bronx was sold out short in FreshDirect deal.

New York City, like most of the country, is hurting for jobs—good jobs that pay a living wage and provide benefits so that people can support their families. Yet billionaire mayor Michael Bloomberg, along with Governor Andrew Cuomo and Bronx borough president Ruben Diaz Jr., is about to hand over $129 million in public money, through tax exemptions and direct subsidies, to FreshDirect, a grocery delivery service that is notorious for underpaying its workers, has faced multiple accusations of discrimination and has been accused of using all sorts of shady tactics to block its workers from joining a union.

A former Target manager tells Gawker how they're trained to stay union-free, a great spot by Hamilton Nolan.

Check out more @the Daily Kos.


Target has denied flu shots for two sisters who are disabled in their Hicksville store.

Stop & Shop will be opening a new store in Hyde Park.

A newly approved King Kullen in Tuckahoe (Southampton) won't deter the community from lobbying for another new grocer in the village.


Fresh Market has said they plan on opening 14-16 stores during the fiscal 2012.

NY's Food Desert Fund Distributes $6 million since 2010:

The New York Healthy Food & Healthy Communities (HFHC) Fund, a three-year, public/private program launched in late 2010, has thus far provided $6.14 million — $4.86 million in loans and $1.28 million in grants — to seven supermarket projects aimed at improving access to nutritious food for 24,000 people in underserved communities throughout New York state, according to the Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF) here.

Community members and small business owners rallied in Chinatown LA against a proposed Walmart.

The NY Daily News has backed the RWDSU & Make the Road's new campaign "Wash NY" a movement to bring justice to car-wash workers throughout NYC.   They released a report chronicling the illness' within the industry this week.  Check out Lila Shapiro's column in the Huffington Post and the campaign website at www.washnewyork.org.

Business Insider: "Target has completely destroyed its competition."