Stop & Shop Negotiations Update

On Thursday, November 13tth, our negotiating committee met with Stop & Shop officials to begin negotiations.  We submitted our initial proposals and will meet again tomorrow, Monday November 17th, where we expect Stop & Shop to submit their proposals.

Here is our calendar of the current scheduled negotiations to date:
Thursday, November 13th
Monday, November 17th
Monday, December 4th

We'll be keeping you updated digitally through emails, our social networks and on our website ufcw1500.org.  So, if you know any coworkers that would like to be on our Stop & Shop Contract Update list, please sign them up here, or tell them to send us an email.

Thank you and in Solidarity,

Tony Speelman
Secretary-Treasurer
UFCW Local 1500

What's News This Week: Top 13 Stories.

FEATURED

 

Walmart Memo Orders Stores to Improve Groceries

 

The memo, marked “highly sensitive,” tells Walmart marketing managers to make sure that the company’s 4,965 United States stores discount aging meat and baked goods to maximize the chance that those items will sell before their expiration dates. The memo — leaked for public use by a Walmart manager unhappy about under-staffing — also tells stores to be sure to “rotate” dairy products and eggs, which means removing expired items and adding new stock at the bottom and back of display cases.

 

Related:

 

Historic First Ever Sit-In Strike at Walmart Results in Two Dozen Arrests

The sit-in was live-streamed on blackfridayprotests.org. Take action and participate in the Black Friday protests that the workers are planning to hold on 28 November.

WHAT'S NEWS THIS WEEK   1. Whole Foods Workers Threaten Action if Store Conditions Don't Change Workers at a Whole Foods Market in San Francisco’s South of Market  neighborhood are demanding higher wages and the right to collective bargaining without being reprimanded by management. Specific demands include a $5 wage increase, better working conditions, a comprehensive health plan with affordable premiums and deductibles, and no retaliation for forming a union. Whole Foods — a company that has long preached a philosophy of corporate benevolence — is the second-largest non-union food retailer in the country.     2. Obama Plan May Allow Millions of Immigrants to Live & Work in U.S. President Obama will ignore angry protests from Republicans and announce as soon as next week a broad overhaul of the nation’s immigration enforcement system that will protect up to five million unauthorized immigrants from the threat of deportation and provide many of them with work permits, according to administration officials who have direct knowledge of the plan.

3. Ahold Sales Up in Q3   3a. Stop & Shop Partners with AARP Stop & Shop has partnered with AARP to provide free supermarket store tours for Long Island, N.Y., seniors.

4. Key Food Takes Urban Market to Queens The second new concept store makes its Queens debut.

5. McDonald's Gears Up to Fight NLRB on Franchise Ruling McDonald’s Corp. and other franchise companies are preparing a major public campaign to fight a recent National Labor Relations Board determination that could hold them responsible for the labor practices of their franchisees.

6. How Clueless & Out of Touch is Congress on Raising the Minimum Wage   States are raising their own minimum wage higher than Congress' suggestion.

7. Here's 5 Ways U.S. Destroyed Manufacturing Sad, but true.

8. President Obama Speaks Out on Net-Neutrality If you haven't heard of Net-Neutrality, well, you should read about it now.

9. Postal Workers Plan Day of Action to Protest Service Cuts The nation’s four postal unions are mobilizing a National Day of Action on Nov. 14, to send a powerful message to Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe and the United States Postal Service Board of Governor’s: Stop Delaying America’s Mail.

11. Strippers win $10.9 million in NYC Wage Theft Case Exotic dancers at a midtown Manhattan strip club were awarded nearly $10.9 million by a U.S. judge who found they were employees unfairly classified by the club as independent contractors.     12. Federal Contractors Say Thanks, but $13 isn't Enough, Obama. For the first time in history, federal contract workers at the U.S. Capitol building walked off the job Thursday, fighting for a $15 minimum wage, better benefits and the right to unionize. They joined workers from the Pentagon, the Smithsonian museums, the National Zoo and other federal contract workers in the nation’s capital.   13. New NBA Players Union President, Female & Legal Wizard She told Pablo S. Torre of ESPN the Magazine, "Let's call it what it is. [Without the players,] [t]here. Would. Be. No. Money. Thirty more owners can come in, and nothing will change. These guys [the players] go? The game will change. So let's stop pretending."         Editorial of the Week:   An Open Letter to Americans: You Americans Have No Idea How Good You Have it with Obama. This one hurts, a Canadian writes an open letter to Americans giving us a reality check of all the progress President Obama has made since taking over for George W. Bush.       Photo of the week via #WalmartStrikers:

1600 Protests at Walmart Scheduled for Black Friday

This just in from Our Walmart, there will be an enormous 1,600 protests on Black Friday! Wow.  The movement has grown so much to fight back against the world's largest/wealthiest retailer, each year Black Friday protests are getting larger.  To find a protest near you please visit: blackfridayprotests.org



Here's the press release:

WALMART WORKERS ANNOUNCE BLACK FRIDAY STRIKES

Tens of thousands of teachers, voters, clergy, environmentalists, civil rights leaders to join workers at 1600 protests, calling on Walton family to pay $15 an hour and provide full-time work

NATIONWIDE – In the wake of the first-ever sit down strike at Walmart, members of OUR Walmart announced today that they will strike across the country on Black Friday in protest of the company’s illegal silencing of workers who are standing up for better jobs. Tens of thousands of Americans said they plan to support workers that day at 1600 protests nationwide—the largest mobilization of working families—calling on Walmart’s owners to raise wages to a minimum of $15 an hour and provide consistent, full-time work.

Even as Walmart brings in $16 billion in annual profits and Walmart’s owners—the Waltons—build on their $150 billion in wealth, the majority of Walmart workers are paid less than $25,000 a year.

“Walmart’s low pay business model isn’t working for our families, for our customers and for the company, but change is possible,” said Barbara Gertz, a Walmart associate from Colorado. “Walmart needs to listen to workers like us about how to fix these problems by adding hours and improving pay so that we can get the job done. Threatening and firing us for speaking out about how to improve the stores is illegal and shortsighted. That’s why I’m going on strike on Black Friday and why so many of my co-workers are joining me.”

The unprecedented Black Friday mobilization comes as an increasing number of Americans and Walmart workers point to OUR Walmart as making significant changes at the country’s largest retailer. Most recently, after public calls from OUR Walmart, the company committed to raise wages for its lowest paid workers and rolled out a new scheduling system that allows workers to sign up for open shifts. To date, workers at more than 2,100 Walmart stores nationwide have signed a petition calling on Walmart and the Waltons to publicly commit to paying $15 an hour and providing consistent, full-time hours.

A broad group of Americans who plan to protest on Black Friday, including tens of thousands of teachers, voters, members of the clergy, elected officials, civil rights leaders and women’s rights activists say America’s largest employer and richest family are driving the income inequality problems that are holding the country back. In Washington, residents plan to protest at all 60 Walmart stores in the state. In other states, Americans are planning flash mobs, marches and prayer vigils to support striking Walmart workers and call on the company to improve jobs.

"Shame on Walmart and the Waltons for creating a reality where many Walmart workers say they can't even afford to give their kids Thanksgiving dinner because of their low pay. As someone who has dedicated her career to helping children grow and achieve their dreams, that tears me apart," said teacher and AFT New Mexico President Stephanie Ly. "This Black Friday, teachers, parents and students will all be out protesting at Walmart like never before saying we've had enough. Walmart needs to raise pay and provide full-time work now so workers can feed and support their families."

The Black Friday strikes and protest announcement comes on the heels of the first-ever sit down strikes in company history in Los Angeles, where workers sat down in Crenshaw and Pico Rivera stores, and 23 people were arrested. Los Angeles is also the site of the first-ever strikes at Walmart. The group of striking workers, from stores throughout California, placed tape over their mouths signifying the company’s illegal efforts to silence workers who are calling for better jobs. Striking workers held signs resembling those of the first retail sit-down strike at Woolworth in 1937, when retail workers at the then-largest retailer in the country called for the company to increase pay, provide a 40-hour work week and stop the retaliation against workers who spoke out.

“While today, the disparity of wealth and poverty in the U.S. is just as outrageous as it was during the Great Depression, Walmart is far larger and more global than Woolworth’s ever was, and thus even more dangerous,” said labor historian Dana Frank. “Like the Woolworth's women in 1937, the workers in OUR Walmart are challenging a mass retailer with tentacles all over the world to treat its employees with respect, and inspiring a growing national movement against inequality and for the just treatment of all working people.”

A growing number of Americans say Walmart and its owners are robbing workers of a decent living by paying the majority of associates poverty wages and manipulating their hours. The Walton family, which controls the Walmart empire, is the richest family in the U.S.—with the wealth of 43% of American families combined. While many Walmart workers are unable to feed and clothe their families, the Walton family takes in $8.6 million a day in Walmart dividends alone to build on its $150 billion in wealth. Walmart brings in $16 billion in annual profits.

###
UFCW and OUR Walmart have the purpose of helping Walmart employees as individuals or groups in their dealings with Walmart over labor rights and standards and their efforts to have Walmart publicly commit to adhere to labor rights and standards. UFCW and OUR Walmart have no intent to have Walmart recognize or bargain with UFCW or OUR Walmart as the representative of its employees.

Top 13 Stories This Week: Republicans Crush It, Voters Want High-er Wages

FEATURED

Over $100 Million Spent in Midterm Elections by Koch Brothers and Republicans

The most expensive midterm election by far was this week, and it seems to have paid off for the Koch Brothers and Republicans....Even more, they aren't done, the Freedom Partners Action Fund has already plunked down $2.1 million for the Louisiana runoff.

LOCAL FEATURE

Negotiations began with King Kullen last week, and will begin with Stop & Shop next week.

WHAT'S NEWS THIS WEEK 1. NYS Senator Gillibrand sits down with Stephen Colbert for Post Election Interview Hear her reaction to the election, and her plans for New York. 2. Costco, Publix Lead Way: Not Opening on Thanksgiving The two mega retailers are refusing to open on Thanksgiving.

3. Throwback UFCW Ad Surfaces on Facebook Checkout this old advertisement, produced by our President, Bruce Both, & Secretary-Treasurer, Tony Speelman, in the early 90's.

4. Where's the Loot? Special Report Reveals Hundreds of Companies Dodging Taxes thru Luxembourg FedEx, Pepsi, Ikea & hundreds of other companies channel 100s of billions thru Luxembourg to save billions in taxes.

5. Oil Prices are Dropping...So What? The global oil supply has increased and demand has weakened, prices are down to about $80 a barrel, a more than 25 percent drop since June, and recently fell to a three-year low.

6. John Boehner and Mitch McConnell Pledge to Repeal Obamacare. DailyKos: Go For It. Politics Round Up: Oakland Minimum Wage Wins in Land-Slide San Fran Minimum Wage Voted in @ $15 per hour Alaska, DC, Oregon Legalize Marijuana Democrats: Winning Issues, Losing Candidates Supermarket Industry Reacts to Election Voters Favor Higher Wages, Sick Days

7. Four States Vote to Raise the Minimum Wage The wage increase won its biggest margin of victory in Alaska, where it garnered 69 percent of the vote. In Arkansas, it received 65 percent; in Nebraska, 59 percent approved raising the minimum wage, while in South Dakota, the margin was 53 percent.

8. Trumka Calls on Obama for Immediate Action on Immigration Wasting no time after the midterm elections, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka immediately stepped back into the policy arena, calling on President Barack Obama to take executive action on immigration.

9. Fairway Sales Up 5.9%, but Lower Margins

10. San Fran Cab Drivers Officially Join Union...Take Aim @ Uber, Sidecar

A group of San Francisco cabdrivers in mid-August voted to unionize for the first time in decades. Three weeks ago, the alliance passed the 550 paid members requirement and the affiliation ceremony by the National Taxi Workers Alliance took place Monday, enabling members to access union resources when the taxi industry most needs them.

11. Analysts are Up on Whole Foods

12. Delhaize to Sell Bottom Dollar to Aldi

The group announced Thursday in Brussels that it has signed an agreement to sell Bottom Dollar Food's 66 store locations in the greater Philadelphia and greater Pittsburgh markets to Aldi for approximately $15 million.

Related: Market Basket Walkout Boosts Delhaize Sales

13. Local 880 Signs Contract with Giant Eagle, Heinens

Editorials of the Week:

It Shouldn't Take Congress to Raise the Minimum Wage

Why is Congress needed to force corporations to help build our nation?

An L.A. Story: Unions Show a Sign of Life

A profile of Unite Here member: Gabriela Ochoa is a vivacious woman who buses tables at the Landings Restaurant at the Holiday Inn near Los Angeles International Airport, a job she has held since 2001.

Photo of the week via State Dems:

Stop & Shop Negotations Starting Next Week

By: Tony Speelman
Secretary-Treasurer

On Thursday, November 13th,  we'll be heading into our first negotiation session with Stop & Shop. 

As I mentioned at the Shop Steward Seminar, we've had tremendous difficulty scheduling sessions with the company officials, whom until this point has refused to take these negotiations urgently by pushing it off by giving us an original date of November 17th.  However after repeated pressure from us, we were able to get them to agree to meet with us on the 13th. 

Our elected Stop & Shop negotiation committee will be led by myself,  and Assistant to the President Robert Newell. 

At the first meeting, the committee will present the company with our proposals that were submitted from contract proposal meetings in September.   Originally our first meeting was scheduled for Monday

Here is our calendar of scheduled negotiations for the month of November:  

• Thursday, November 13th
• Monday, November 17th
• Monday, November 24th

We'll be keeping you updated digitally through emails, our social networks and on our website ufcw1500.org.  So, if you know any coworkers that would like to be on our Stop & Shop Contract Update list, please sign them up here, or tell them to send us an email.

Please reply to this message with any questions, comments or suggestions.