33 Replies to "2 stories we're watching: Weather & grocery workers"

• Ex-Westwood Resident November 19, 2010 (1:06 pm)

  Let them strike!!!
  I’ll still shop there and even put an application for part time work at any of these stores.
  Unions stopped being about the workers A LONG TIME AGO and now have become what they fought…organizations that only care for the well being of their top earners and screw the rest.

• Valerie November 19, 2010 (1:13 pm)

  That’s what PCC, Thriftway, and the West Seattle Farmer’s Market are for.

• bsmomma November 19, 2010 (1:23 pm)

  Let It Snow!!!

• Susan November 19, 2010 (1:37 pm)

  Shop Thriftway!

• Sage November 19, 2010 (2:34 pm)

  Worth knowing that PCC, Thriftway, and Metropolitan Market are union stores too (just not affected by the potential strike).

• Ex-Westwood Resident November 19, 2010 (2:58 pm)

  PCC, Thriftway and MM are also more expensive than QFC, Safeway, Fred Meyer and Albertson’s, so I won’t be shopping there.

• Shopper November 19, 2010 (3:02 pm)

  Costco is another option not affected by the strike. @Ex-Westwood Resident.. If you had any idea what the union is trying to take away from the workers, you might feel differently. However.. It’s great to know that ignorance is still alive and well.

• Michele November 19, 2010 (3:29 pm)

  Thank you Shopper!!!

  I wish more folks knew what they are trying to take away as well, it is incredibly frustrating hearing folks basically calling us “whiners”, especially when they have NO IDEA what is at stake.

  • WSB November 19, 2010 (3:32 pm)

    I haven’t seen a particularly clear regional-media summary of the proposals – do any of you “in the know” happen to have a link to anything online that does spell out “what they are trying to take away”? We do our best to link to tons of information whereever we can find it, but I haven’t found those specifics anywhere so far – TR

• Catherine November 19, 2010 (3:41 pm)

  If I were them, I’d strike too. They’re not whining- they have legitimate complaints. I hope they get what they’re looking for.

• bsmomma November 19, 2010 (3:42 pm)

  We have a close friend who works at one of the above mentioned stores and have heard some of the specifics….. It’s not nice. It’s pretty drastic. I wouldn’t say they’re whiners, they’re standing up for what’s right and fair.

• charlabob November 19, 2010 (3:44 pm)

  Could someone in the know tell me if online orders, delivered on Saturday, constitute “crossing the picket line?” I am dead serious.

• Alki resident November 19, 2010 (4:23 pm)

  Thank you shopper,i agree with you.some people just dont get it.ex westwood resident wont last long as a new store employee once she figures out whats really going on.

• Baba November 19, 2010 (4:26 pm)

  I don’t mean to start something here, but imho the workers behaviour is very narrow sighted. Striking (and getting your way) during hard economic times usually leads to inevitable layoffs in the future. What this workers don’t understand is that by getting their way now they are jeopardizing future employment of their fellow members if not their own.

• Michele November 19, 2010 (6:20 pm)

  Baba – I try not to feed trolls so no matter how much I want to respond to your comment, I will not.

  Charla – Yes, in a way it is crossing a picket line, and to add, you may not get your online order if grocery workers go on strike. There will not be much of anyone to fill the order, or drive to you.

• Baba November 19, 2010 (7:06 pm)

  Just because someone has an opinion that is different from yours, it doesn’t make her/him a troll. If I disagree with Obama’s policies, does that make me a racist?
  .
  I said, I don’t mean to start something here (please, present your arguments, if you have any…)
  .
  You are following the steps of those 5% pay raise sheriff’s deputies at the expense of 28 others.
  .
  And , Yes, if it was up to me , I would have chosen a pay, healthcare, pension whatever cut just to stay employed in half a year from now…
  .
  But, what do I know, I’m just a troll…

• Dave November 19, 2010 (7:36 pm)

  Fire them all for unlawfull CBA practices

• redblack November 19, 2010 (8:25 pm)

  dave: do you have a cite that backs up your claim that local UFCW workers engaged in a violation of collective bargaining laws?
  .
  @ (everyone): large grocery chains are turning a profit, even in a recession. they should share their profits with the people who keep their stores profitable.
  .
  especially during a recession.

• HunterG November 19, 2010 (8:39 pm)

  Baba – Settling for less and being screwed out of things you have worked hard for in my opinion makes you a COWARD and a contribution to a problem.

  The simple statement itself: “I am not not trying to start something here….” really reinforces the “troll” comment. People do not say things like that unless they actually do intend to start something.

  Do you really expect that your statements would not get people fired up? Especially people who this issue directly effects, like myself and many other kind, hard working people then you are an idiot. Let me clarify, I am not calling you an idiot, but if you expect your statements not to create any sort of reaction… you could be. (In my own humble opinion.)

• Baba November 19, 2010 (8:53 pm)

  redblack,
  ” large grocery chains are turning a profit, even in a recession. they should share their profits with the people who keep their stores profitable.”————–
  Are they really? or their overpaid accountants make it look that way? Please explain their need to cut? Oh, yeah, I forgot, the top 2% are greedier than ever…

• HunterG November 19, 2010 (10:11 pm)

  When individuals spout off uneducated statements due to anger because someone has questioned and challenged their statements hints at an extremely volatile, insecure person.

  Redblack I am with you, and many many others are as well!!

  I find it amazing what people will write online. Those same individuals when met face to face would pull their offensive comments back in cowardice if met with someone confidently passionate about their purpose.

  And by the way, the large chains are turning a profit, and the need to “cut” is called greed. Should I get out my dictionary and define the term?

• HunterG November 19, 2010 (10:18 pm)

  When it all boils down, those not affected probably won’t care.

  For at least 75% of the population, we could say that that the “American Way” is: unless it is happening to me I don’t care.”

  Let’s wait until their benefits, compensation and retirement are on the chopping block. Let’s see how callous they are then.

• The Hepcat November 20, 2010 (12:33 am)

  Yes, grocery stores are in business to make a profit,even though most store’s margins are 1 or 2%. As for unions(and I was in UFCW at Larry’s,) their time has come and gone. Last I checked, we aren’t chaining 13 year olds to sewing machines.

  They should share their profits with the people who make them profitable? Really? Says who? Union employees who, by and large, earn a signifigant hourly wage, have generous benefits, OT, etc.?

  hunter, before you blast off on me, I’m simply a realist. The economy sucks for everyone. Most people I know would love to have your income. I’m tired of the rhetoric from the entitlement junkies who somehow think that they are owed much more than the average (non-union) worker. Life’s hard my friend, wear a cup.

• produce man November 20, 2010 (2:09 am)

  @baba, when the ceo is takin home a 9.5 million dollar bonus i highly doubt the company is gonna flop, and thats fact i work at safeway. and we dont want anything, we just dont want anything taken away and our new hires to be treated as human beings.

• produce man November 20, 2010 (2:16 am)

  @hepcat the corps understandably dont share profits but they should by paying us employees a decent wage. I personally think if all of us employees were paid better we would be happier and produce better customer service as well, thus increasing sales and better PR for future stores. If i was the ceo i would do things entirely diferent instaed of walking around with my hands behind my back pouting about a bonus.

• HunterG November 20, 2010 (2:20 am)

  Hepcat, I won’t blast off on those that pose an intelligent argument. Ever. So I thank you for yours.

  I do understand, that many in this economy would love to have my income. I do have to inform you though that my income is cumulative much like everyone elses in this industry. To earn a “Journeyman” wage if you work part time starting at minimum wage it would take you an estimated 6 to 7 years maybe more. Many start out at Washington State Minimum Wage, depending on the job.

  I work with a guy who has been a meat cutter for 25+ years in the grocery industry. These negotiations are trying to completely cut out their pension. There’s no wait another 15 years to collect it, but just getting rid of it altogether. Aw SH%T sorry, that retirement you wanted and worked for….too bad.

  We are facing pay cuts, for what we have worked years to get. (You know how tough it is to work with the public by the way?) Not only that, the recent proposal cuts healthcare and dental benefits to single people and families more than doubling co pays and almost altogether cutting prescription coverage. It seems silly but when should anyone have to wait two years before they get dental insurance? And those things are just a drop in the bucket.

  My father has worked in the grocery industry for 30+ years, ever since he found out my mom was pregnant with me and wanted to find a good job to help support his new family, something that had health benefits. If he hadn’t, I would probably be deaf today as I suffered from chronic ear infections and ear problems growing up.

  I have seen first hand the injuries he has endured because of his labor. When I was little, I always said “Poppa, if I ever make a million dollars, I’ll buy you a new back so you don’t have to hurt anymore.” Now not only are the health benefits he needs to get physical therapy whenever he throws his back out from lugging YOUR pumpkins or YOUR watermelons or YOUR turkeys around he also might lose his retirement.

  Something he signed up for 30 years ago and has worked hard for, bad back, pain everyday and all. Does anyone not in the industry really understand what your food service workers do for you? Or do you just magically expect food to be at the store when you are there?

  An agreement is an agreement as far as I am concerned.

  If anything, I don’t care too much about myself, I would forfeit what I have to give the others what they deserve who have worked for 30+ years in this industry for it.

  And in my own humble opinion, anyone who can’t appreciate it should try farming, and see how far they get.

• the riddler November 20, 2010 (6:52 am)

  safeway is a ruthless company coming from someone that works for dominicks. our contract at dominicks pretty much is the same as the last one. the only change i saw was u take your vacations or lose them. people should be given a living wage no matter what company they work for. the price of products are going up so should workers salaries. but i see safeway wants to cut wages and benefits forcing workers to shop at places like walmart which is bad for all union workers.

• Greg November 20, 2010 (8:02 am)

  Workers have the right to organize. If you want what union workers want/have at your workplace get to organizing yourself. Why people in the united states find the notion of a democratic workplace so abhorrent I will never understand.

• Groceryemployee November 20, 2010 (8:59 am)

  As someone that this is directly affecting, I can tell you this FACT. Under the new contract they want to give us, In a full work year, I’ll make 6-7 THOUSAND dollars less than under the old contract. Unacceptable. I’ve busted my butt for 16 years at one of these stores, dont make a lot of money the way it is, and I deserve the right to stand up and demand a fair wage for me and my family. If we strike, don’t shop these stores. If you are interested in crossing the line to work, shame on you for not trying to get a job on your own. They are out there.

• redblack November 20, 2010 (9:02 am)

  hepcat: “life is hard; wear a cup?” bravo.
  .
  i’ll just go quit my union job right now because it costs my small-business owner boss too much money to employ me, and i care more about his business and its role in the economy than my own. after all, i’m just a lowly wage earner. i can’t possibly need a better way of life, or aspire to live above the poverty line. and i’m certainly not audacious enough to believe that i’m better qualified than the average temporary worker, or could possibly be anything but a huge drag on my boss’s bottom line.
  .
  thanks for the tough love.
  .
  seriously, though, i don’t think that telling others to suck up pay and benefit cuts is very american, and none of us “entitlement junkies” expects to sit on our asses for our pay.
  .
  workers and consumers will eventually turn on corporate america if they continue their “investor confidence” hostage-taking of the economy. you tax-break junkies had better think about conceding to what amounts to small potatoes for the top 2% but means a lot for the average person.
  .
  and if you are or were UFCW, hepcat, why are you carrying water for management?
  .
  btw, we don’t chain 13-year-olds to sewing machines anymore precisely because of unionization. people fought and died for the right not to be exploited, and if those laws are taken away and the minimum wage dropped, you watch how fast corporate america opens up new sweat shops in the land of the free and home of the brave.

• redblack November 20, 2010 (9:16 am)

  oh, and “says who?” says the right and decent thing to do.
  .
  seriously, hepcat, didn’t you ever read a christmas carol, by charles dickens? and if you did, did you secretly root for ebenezer scrooge?

• WSB fan November 20, 2010 (9:47 pm)

  If you are supporting union workers, is the smart choice to shop at stores with non-union employees? That’s punishing companies for employing union workers. Should they all completely defect to Wal-Mart ways? The grocery chains are already feeling the pinch from the Wal-Marts and Wincos of the region (mostly outside Seattle, but keep in mind this strike is in many counties). A grocery store used to be a place that offered a “good career” b/c of the wages and benefits offered, but then Wal-Mart entered the market with the low wages and benefits that allowed them to severely undercut grocery prices. In this economy, with Wal-Mart and Winco flourishing, grocery chains are trying to find a way to compete. Their choices certainly should be a subject for negotiation with the union, but shoppers shouldn’t be punishing them for continuing to allow their employees to be part of a union.

• redblack November 21, 2010 (6:31 am)

  correct, wsb fan. customers shouldn’t be punishing QFC; customers should be punishing wal-mart and winnco. kroger is turning a profit; the discount low-wage big-box stores are turning huge profits.
  .
  but i guess for most people, cost savings trump sympathy.
  .
  hopefully we’ll find out this morning that UFCW members didn’t have to make any painful concessions just to keep their jobs.

Sorry, comment time is over.