At a loss for words....

[seaboy4hire]

I am trying to follow the contract happenings in SoCals grocery ind. right now and am really at a loss of words and am feeling frustrated. Not meaning to turn this into a political debate but maybe it is the Socialist pansy liberal in me but what happend to treating employees fairly and equally? Things aren't looking good in SoCal right now and am afraid another strike might be around the bend. Seattle's contract is up with the grocery stores on May 2nd and what happens in SoCal does have a ripple effect up here. We got the two tier system up here but I don't think as bad but still not good. I am on the commitee to hash out a new contract and am trying hard to be optomistic as much as I can but seeing the companies fillings with the SEC and seeing how much they have bounced back compared to three years ago it angers me to no end. I am sick of companies demanding that workers do more and get less all in the name of pleasing their share holders! I hope that IF there is a strike in SoCal the hard workers not only picket the stores but also the companies head offices too! For those who might be interested in something besides the BN scandle (btw thanks Doug for bring it to light) here is a link to an article about the grocer contracts in SoCal http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7673307

 

Hugs,

Greg

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Manners and class are two things money can not buy!

CHI

[Guest novabear22031]

Welcome to my hell being a retail manager/worker. For the past few years we have only seen raises that matched the national inflation rate. Here is the DC area that puts us behind.

 

I applaud your feelings in this matter. Yet, to take this to a level that some of us can understand. It goes to the rates of the escort/comapions. But at $200 an hour on average for an escort, it is hard for the working class to afford.

 

At $200+ an hour it is hard for some of us. At half that rate it would open up a different market IMHO.

[raife]

I know you were analogizing, but to address your example...

 

You need to spend some time on Craigslist (in the erotic services m4m section). Here in LA (& SD, OC, IE, SF), I've been delightedly happy with the quality of guys that are charging $60-$150 per (my regular charges me $100). Yea, sure you have to spend some time weeding through some fakes & flakes, but I'm a convert, it's totally worth it! There are plenty of gems in the mud & more arriving daily!

 

PS Hey Greg... didn't mean to hijack your thread... come back to LA & you can check out the grocery situation for yourself (& hook up with me in your spare time ;-))

[seaboy4hire]

>I know you were analogizing, but to address your example...

>

>You need to spend some time on Craigslist (in the erotic

>services m4m section). Here in LA (& SD, OC, IE, SF), I've

>been delightedly happy with the quality of guys that are

>charging $60-$150 per (my regular charges me $100). Yea, sure

>you have to spend some time weeding through some fakes &

>flakes, but I'm a convert, it's totally worth it! There are

>plenty of gems in the mud & more arriving daily!

>

>PS Hey Greg... didn't mean to hijack your thread... come back

>to LA & you can check out the grocery situation for yourself

>(& hook up with me in your spare time ;-))

 

I actually would like to go down there and check it out but I am not sure that is possible but that said it probably wouldn't hurt to let my Union rep know.

 

Hugs,

Greg

 

[email protected]

http://seaboy4hire.tripod.com New page for reveiws http://www.daddysreviews.com/newest.php?who=greg_seattle

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Manners and class are two things money can not buy!

CHI

[seaboy4hire]

http://www.respectworkers.com/

 

Hugs,

Greg

[email protected]

http://seaboy4hire.tripod.com New page for reveiws http://www.daddysreviews.com/newest.php?who=greg_seattle

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/3307/dsc05257be3.jpg[/img][/url]

Manners and class are two things money can not buy!

CHI

[+ deej]

Interesting. I hadn't seen anything in local news, but then again I'm actively avoiding news as much as I can until after the next election. ;-)

 

But I just did a little quick research.

 

I applaud labor's cause. I support them!

 

I'm still a card-carrying AFL-CIO union member myself. I refused to cross picket lines last time and shopped instead at non-union stores (Gellson's, Trader Joe's, Costco, etc.).

 

In the end, my shopping habits changed. I discoverd I actually *liked* our local Gellson's and Trader Joe's better than Ralphs, Vons, or Albertson's. So I still go there.

 

The Ralphs I went to before the strike, only because it was closest, is now closed. It closed shortly after the last strike. Now THAT's a benefit for the employees! :-(

 

Keep your passion, kiddo. It's one of the many things that make you adorable. But be aware that any strike will only send more people to the non-union stores and weaken the union.

[seaboy4hire]

>Interesting. I hadn't seen anything in local news, but then

>again I'm actively avoiding news as much as I can until after

>the next election. ;-)

>

>But I just did a little quick research.

>

>I applaud labor's cause. I support them!

>

>I'm still a card-carrying AFL-CIO union member myself. I

>refused to cross picket lines last time and shopped instead at

>non-union stores (Gellson's, Trader Joe's, Costco, etc.).

>

>In the end, my shopping habits changed. I discoverd I actually

>*liked* our local Gellson's and Trader Joe's better than

>Ralphs, Vons, or Albertson's. So I still go there.

>

>The Ralphs I went to before the strike, only because it was

>closest, is now closed. It closed shortly after the last

>strike. Now THAT's a benefit for the employees! :-(

>

>Keep your passion, kiddo. It's one of the many things that

>make you adorable. But be aware that any strike will only send

>more people to the non-union stores and weaken the union.

 

Funny you mentioned that the last strike changed your shopping habits. I just now got done reading an article on how its done the same for others. On my moms side my grandpa was union and I remember when he had to strike once or twice and yeah it was hard for him and my grandma even at the age of 3 or 4 I knew but I also knew that he was doing it because if not they wouldn't be living a comfortable lifestyle that they now live in. Granted I do not want to retire working for the grocery store but while I am there and for those that do and for future employees up here in Seattle and else where I don't want to get screwed while working there and don't want others to get the same treatment now or in the future. I am lucky I have a Trader Joe's across the street and a sweat heart store below me so I wouldn't have to go far if things blow up here. What amazes me is that I am assuming one of the larger regional stores in SoCal Stater Bros. signed a contract very much in favor of the employees. I wish the big guys could pull their heads out of their asses and do the same!!!!

 

Hugs,

Greg

 

 

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Manners and class are two things money can not buy!

CHI

[rvwnsd]

The funny thing about all of this is that Alb-krog-way always blames the unions for their "plight." You know, the high salaries render them unable to compete with Wal-Mart. That's just nonsense. In Chicago, there is a chain called Jewel-Osco. Albertsons acquired it when it bought American Stores in 1999. They knew a good thing when they saw it and, for the most part, left it alone. Jewel has never competed on price, they compete on quality, service, and value and have garnered more than 40% market share in the process. Where my parents live, the Super Target and Wal-Mart Supercenter are both usually pretty empty, while all three Jewel stores are generally packed day and night. Over the years, they put Kroger, A&P, and National out of business and prevented Safeway from entering the market, until Safeway bought Dominicks, Jewel's closest competitor. Unlike Albertsons, Safeway proceeded to screw up Dominicks and lost many of its customers in the process. In the end, Albertsons has begun rolling out Jewel-Osco-like stores across the country (including my local downtown San Diego Alberstons) and Safeway pulled Dominicks off the sale block because nobody wanted to buy damaged goods. The moral of the story? Give your customers a reason to patronize your store and they will, regardless of the prices you charge (within reason) or what you pay your employees.

[seaboy4hire]

*Sigh* Ok well tomorrow is the first big day. Tomorrow Seattle starts our talks with the grocery companies. I was reading more news on talks across the country and it is looking pretty bleak. This is something I feel passionately about. Like I said before I'm sick of companies demanding more and more from us employees and giving us workers less and less. It is going to be very hard to bite my tounge tomorrow or worse yet not strangle these suits X( For those who support the unions wish us luck and the others who are fighting for affordable wages and health care!

 

Hugs,

Greg

[email protected]

http://seaboy4hire.tripod.com New page for reveiws http://www.daddysreviews.com/newest.php?who=greg_seattle

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/3307/dsc05257be3.jpg[/img][/url]

Manners and class are two things money can not buy!

CHI

[+ deej]

Good luck!