Grocery stores going on strike

[HBAR]

Just a heads up everyone my wife works for Ralphs and she got a txt earlier tonight giving a 72 hour heads up that they will be going on strike.
I hope this doesn't happen, we will be in a very bad way!:Sad:

[DockRat]

Just heard on the news they gave a 72 hour notice.
No deal this weekend then they walk on monday.
DR

[smokehound]

Sweeeeet. Time to go apply at ralphs. >=)

[ZipperWurm]

Sweeeeet. Time to go apply at ralphs. >=)

LOL i remember i used to work for wal-mart back in 03 and right across the street was an albertsons that went on strike. some of my buddies went and got jobs there while people were outside picketing...they couldnt walk through the parking lot without someone trying to fight or spit on them, lol

[vanillagurilla]

people are pretty stupid these days to go on strike with the already limited amount of jobs and the % of unemployed that are out there. the markets can just higher new people for 1/2 the money and the people on strike would be assed out.

[kaneo]

people are pretty stupid these days to go on strike with the already limited amount of jobs and the % of unemployed that are out there. the markets can just higher new people for 1/2 the money and the people on strike would be assed out.
v.g. how can you say people are stupid for going on strike ? people are trying to provide for there familys. this includes decent wages, and health care. and when management keeps getting bonuse's and the companys keep getting richer, why should they not pass on some of there profits with employees. but instead they keep raising members health care costs, union dues go up, inflation, i dont think you realize some people are paying around $500 a month just for there health benefits.. its not about the money all the time. its about moral issues as well. people need to stand up to what is right. thats why unions were formed.. to keep management and big companys from abusing there workers.... if you want to cross a picket line and get a minimum wage job, and have others not respect you for supporting there cause, risk a chance at gettting into a physical confrontation with one of the striking workers, got for it.... i worked union jobs for 34 years. luckily i never had to go on strike.. maybe you have never had to fight for a union contract, but maybe you should have some respect for the people and the familys of the strikers. and after the strike is over ALL of the employees have a right to come back to work under the new contract, once its rattified. and you will be assed out as you put it.... just something to think about before you crossing a picket line... just my 2 cents

[1HR2BBL]

I have a Winco near me, employee owned (no union) and they provide better benefits then Von's, from what Im told.
much cheaper too which is a benefit for me.

[HawgZWylde]

v.g. how can you say people are stupid for going on strike ? people are trying to provide for there familys. this includes decent wages, and health care. and when management keeps getting bonuse's and the companys keep getting richer, why should they not pass on some of there profits with employees. but instead they keep raising members health care costs, union dues go up, inflation, i dont think you realize some people are paying around $500 a month just for there health benefits.. its not about the money all the time. its about moral issues as well. people need to stand up to what is right. thats why unions were formed.. to keep management and big companys from abusing there workers.... if you want to cross a picket line and get a minimum wage job, and have others not respect you for supporting there cause, risk a chance at gettting into a physical confrontation with one of the striking workers, got for it.... i worked union jobs for 34 years. luckily i never had to go on strike.. maybe you have never had to fight for a union contract, but maybe you should have some respect for the people and the familys of the strikers. and after the strike is over ALL of the employees have a right to come back to work under the new contract, once its rattified. and you will be assed out as you put it.... just something to think about before you crossing a picket line... just my 2 cents

" union dues go up"

With that being said, union bosses are making six figure incomes, some far more, all while the "workers" go on strike while earning nothing. Unions contribute millions to a single political party. In today's economy, why aren't the union bosses taking less pay, and stop funding a particular political party and contribute it to the health care premiums of the workers that they supposedly care so much about?

Millions of people are out of work, and their unemployment bennies are gone. They will have no sympathy for union causes...

[HBAR]

v.g. how can you say people are stupid for going on strike ? people are trying to provide for there family's. this includes decent wages, and health care. and when management keeps getting bonus's and the company's keep getting richer, why should they not pass on some of there profits with employees. but instead they keep raising members health care costs, union dues go up, inflation, i don't think you realize some people are paying around $500 a month just for there health benefits.. its not about the money all the time. its about moral issues as well. people need to stand up to what is right. thats why unions were formed.. to keep management and big company's from abusing there workers.... if you want to cross a picket line and get a minimum wage job, and have others not respect you for supporting there cause, risk a chance at getting into a physical confrontation with one of the striking workers, got for it.... i worked union jobs for 34 years. luckily i never had to go on strike.. maybe you have never had to fight for a union contract, but maybe you should have some respect for the people and the family's of the strikers. and after the strike is over ALL of the employees have a right to come back to work under the new contract, once its rattified. and you will be assed out as you put it.... just something to think about before you crossing a picket line... just my 2 cents

Thanks kaneo, my wife had a odd medical problem that I wished and prayed my kids wouldn't get, when my daughter turned 11 she started womanhood and thats when we started noticing she was starting to have the same problem my wife has. A year ago we started with the doctor appointments at 25 bucks a pop, when we went to see a specialist it was 100 bucks, so do the math 10 different office visits most of them 25 bucks a few of them 100, all this while I'm on temp disability due to a workers comp case and wife being the only one working.
She had surgery June 29th that took 10 1/2 hours, we haven't seen the bill for that one but we know from when my wife had the same surgery 8 years ago the cost came out to $287,000, if we didn't have insurance there would be no way we'd be able to pay it. A few months later they go on strike for 5 months I think it was, and like now it was about insurance not wages!
Now as for the comments of being spit on and getting into fights? they were warned about that and not to do anything like it, I know one guy from my wifes store jumped up on a truck and blocked the mirror grabbed the steering wheel and almost caused an accident, but he was dealt with and never saw him after that time, unless one actually see the picketers do this I wouldn't say stuff was happening, I know I was there with my wife and kids a bunch of times when I got off work.

[kaneo]

Thanks kaneo, my wife had a odd medical problem that I wished and prayed my kids wouldn't get, when my daughter turned 11 she started womanhood and thats when we started noticing she was starting to have the same problem my wife has. A year ago we started with the doctor appointments at 25 bucks a pop, when we went to see a specialist it was 100 bucks, so do the math 10 different office visits most of them 25 bucks a few of them 100, all this while I'm on temp disability due to a workers comp case and wife being the only one working.
She had surgery June 29th that took 10 1/2 hours, we haven't seen the bill for that one but we know from when my wife had the same surgery 8 years ago the cost came out to $287,000, if we didn't have insurance there would be no way we'd be able to pay it. A few months later they go on strike for 5 months I think it was, and like now it was about insurance not wages!
Now as for the comments of being spit on and getting into fights? they were warned about that and not to do anything like it, I know one guy from my wifes store jumped up on a truck and blocked the mirror grabbed the steering wheel and almost caused an accident, but he was dealt with and never saw him after that time, unless one actually see the picketers do this I wouldn't say stuff was happening, I know I was there with my wife and kids a bunch of times when I got off work.
sorry to hear that hbar, we also had medical issues. i had cancer and lost my left kidney, my bill was over $900,000 and we we did not pay much out of pocket, and my wife almost passed away 2 times in a 5 year period. he total bills were over $ 1.5 mil. thus being a good reason to have UNION insurance... im sure the WINCO employees have SOME medical benefits as well, but i would bet there limited in the amount they cover... and believe me WINCO senior management is making more then any union local offical is. im not getting inot a pissing match about unions. they have good points and bad points. its all about respecting peoples jobs and familys. and not letting the rich keep getting richer, and the people who do the work pay more.

[Cangler]

Do people actually pay medical bills ?

Strikes are more in the way of political statements or union officials
power grabbing , rather than the workforce feeling pissed over a measly
3% pay offer.

Strike all you want . There's plenty of people needing jobs

[HBAR]

Do people actually pay medical bills ?

Strikes are more in the way of political statements or union officials
power grabbing , rather than the workforce feeling pissed over a measly
3% pay offer.


Strike all you want . There's plenty of people needing jobs

Not trying to get into some sort of fight here but you want to come pay all the copays and prescriptions I've had to buy this passed year here more recently since June! You know I just have all sorts of cash laying around considering I got injured on the job over a year and half ago and well being a disabled Veteran I'm getting all sorts of cash coming in NOT!
Believe me my wife would rather be working then striking, but being part of this union she has no choice.

[Cangler]

Believe me my wife would rather be working then striking, but being part of this union she has no choice.


She does have a choice . She can walk past the pickets and fulfill her
employment contract . In doing so,she will get compensation for her labor.

But , If she wants to act out a unions 19th century practices in the 21st
century , good luck to you both

[Bluesman]

Yikes! rough thread. I used to be a Union Superintendant in St. Louis. Very tough market, since every job position that could be unionized, was. Was difficult enjoying life when there was always someone from Construction to door to door salesmen on strike.
All the groceries in this area are unionized, so i guess is the corner Market for tacos, or the Farmers market. Guess if I want meat I gotta hit the surf more.... hmmmm, good excuse :^)
Good luck to all that family through this difficult time.
Anybody got a cow for sale?

[Marley]

I plan on crossing as many picket lines as I possibly can, especially at the local Albertson's where we shop. This isn't about employees working conditions, for crying out loud, it's about big money for unions and the politics they control. The days of unions being necessary for the protection of workers are long gone.
We can all point to people who have medical issues and bills. My parents just lost their business of 60 years at the same time my aunt was diagnosed with renal cancer. While on LOA for cancer, she was laid off and has no insurance.
Businesses are in business to make money for their shareholders. If you want to profit from the grocery stores' income, buy shares on their parent company because shareholders is who they are beholden to, NOT the employees or their union.

[qaze0]

They should be happy they have jobs !!

[cutbait]

So who exactly is forcing these grocery store employees to work for well bonused management?

How in 2011 can slave labor still be tolerated?

Premiums and copays still exist for grocery store employees? I thought we all had free health care by now?

On a serious point, Kaneo seems to thinks threating scabs with physical violence if not outright condoning it is just the typical union thuggery mentality

I've not seen on malnurished, or impoverished cashier. You think there is a reason why Vons and Albertsons prices are far higher than WalMart or Winco?

With all due respect to grocery store employees, its stocking shelves and cashier work for petes sake

[tracker16]

When you got the job the company gave you wages of x amount at that time you had a choice to accept or reject that offer, if you reject go some where else. The company probably did not tell you O YES IF WE MAKE MORE MONEY WE WILL GICE YOU MORE, so if you dont like what you are getting now its time to make a move thats everyones desision to make Do you work for the union or the company JUST MY THOUGHTS

[kaneo]

So who exactly is forcing these grocery store employees to work for well bonused management?

How in 2011 can slave labor still be tolerated?

Premiums and copays still exist for grocery store employees? I thought we all had free health care by now?

On a serious point, Kaneo seems to thinks threating scabs with physical violence if not outright condoning it is just the typical union thuggery mentality

I've not seen on malnurished, or impoverished cashier. You think there is a reason why Vons and Albertsons prices are far higher than WalMart or Winco?

With all due respect to grocery store employees, its stocking shelves and cashier work for petes sake

first off i NEVER THEATENED anyone ? and i think the reason wal mart and winco prices are cheaper is there employees make MINIMUM WAGE... if you want to work for $8.50 an hour and try and pay bills and raise a family maybe you should work for winco or wal mart.

[smokehound]

v.g. how can you say people are stupid for going on strike ? people are trying to provide for there familys. this includes decent wages, and health care. and when management keeps getting bonuse's and the companys keep getting richer, why should they not pass on some of there profits with employees. but instead they keep raising members health care costs, union dues go up, inflation, i dont think you realize some people are paying around $500 a month just for there health benefits.. its not about the money all the time. its about moral issues as well. people need to stand up to what is right. thats why unions were formed.. to keep management and big companys from abusing there workers.... if you want to cross a picket line and get a minimum wage job, and have others not respect you for supporting there cause, risk a chance at gettting into a physical confrontation with one of the striking workers, got for it.... i worked union jobs for 34 years. luckily i never had to go on strike.. maybe you have never had to fight for a union contract, but maybe you should have some respect for the people and the familys of the strikers. and after the strike is over ALL of the employees have a right to come back to work under the new contract, once its rattified. and you will be assed out as you put it.... just something to think about before you crossing a picket line... just my 2 cents There's the proof right there, in bold. This is a shining example of what greed and stupidity does to you. These people think they're being raped? If they work for RGIS for ONE week, they'll be glad to go back to ralphs. Bunch of crybabies. They don't know what poverty is.

[Fysher]

Didn't this strike happen before at Ralphs as well within probably 8 yrs ago? I remember one of my buddies telling me that when he walked passed the workers on strike that they were cussing at him and threaten to beat him up.

Those who get in fights while on strike in my opinion doesn't give a sh*t anymore. Think about it, you're on strike and you get into a fight (you threw the first punch) you're in hotter water than before. Not only would you get arrested (if other press charges) but you will probably be out of a job as well. On strike to fight for your right for fair pay and so forth, good. But to go on strike and and can't control your anger towards a shopper because they decide they still wanted to shop there while you're on strike, stupid.

[evosamurai]

ha ha minimum wage humor

[Cangler]

first off i NEVER THEATENED anyone ? and i think the reason wal mart and winco prices are cheaper is there employees make MINIMUM WAGE... if you want to work for $8.50 an hour and try and pay bills and raise a family maybe you should work for winco or wal mart.



You're just too scared to cross a picket line aren't you ?.

It's easier for you to be a union bully . Paying that portion of your wages to support
the union cause of supporting lame politicians .

We're living in a recession . Get real . 12% unemployment in California .
Your union is never going to act in your best interests .

[cutbait]

first off i NEVER THEATENED anyone ? and i think the reason wal mart and winco prices are cheaper is there employees make MINIMUM WAGE... if you want to work for $8.50 an hour and try and pay bills and raise a family maybe you should work for winco or wal mart.

smoke took care of the threating aspect for me.

as far as the walmart and winco price difference, you do understand how capitalism works!

The consumer has choice "A" {cheaper, i.e. walmart]

Choice "B" vastly more expensive and how should I say it? cleaner stores, higher class atmosphere?


The fact that Walmart/ Winco doesn't have a demanding work force with ever increasing strikes, along with bulk purchasing enables them to have THE LOWEST PRICES!

[vanillagurilla]

v.g. how can you say people are stupid for going on strike ?

I said "people are pretty stupid these days to go on strike with the already limited amount of jobs and the % of unemployed that are out there." you should finish reading the sentence before you start to reply. I just recently found a job starting on august first, been out of work for 2 years, no unemployment no welfare. I would be an idiot if i went on strike, hell i didnt even tell my company what $$ per hour i wanted when the asked because theres always another guy standing in line willing to take less money.

[fish-o-haulic]

I say theres always options. you feel you need to strike go ahead, but remember theres always someone worse off than you. Choice #1 strike and complain, choice #2 go try and find another job, choice #3 quit and go get welfare, choice #4 leave town and go to a place where getting a job isnt as hard, choice #5 use any available means at your disposal to go back to school and try and make a better life for yourself from there, choice #6 move in with freinds and family. and the list of choices could go on. I dont mean to say this to sound like im better than but, so what. Cry in a strike but remember you could be in a worse spot. After a while you learn to be content with whatever position your in, once you learn to do that, then things get better for you.

[DockRat]

If they work for RGIS for ONE week,

Yo SH, What is RGIS ?
DR

[evosamurai]

never take a pay cut!!!! im in the carpenters union local 1506 they take care of me pretty much with awesome benefits and awesome pay, its hard work but the moneys worth it. So i personally wouldnt cross a picket line, but as for someone who wants to get a quick job i know times are tough, just found out about ralphs in this forum if it happens im taking my little brother to get a temp job, he just like to smoke pot all day lol

[DockRat]

never take a pay cut!!!! im in the carpenters union local 1506 they take care of me pretty much with awesome benefits and awesome pay, its hard work but the moneys worth it.

:Applause: They do protect workers, wages, safety, benefits, training program,
apprenticeship, then journeyman. It takes years of night school, starting at the bottom,
hard work to prove themselves.

Worked 20 years as a Non Union industrial/commercial electrician. We would need guys
and hire guys that never used a screwdriver. Constant babysitting, guys messing up,
getting hurt, blowing up stuff, not willing to take trade classes, little ambition.
Maybe 25% of them would work out or even last a week.

A union contractor needs guys he calls the hall, gets X number of skilled apprentices or
journeymen needed. Gets the job done correctly and moves on to the next project.
DR

[evosamurai]

electrician nice what company, i do Tbar you guys are always messing up our grid lol

[yolo]

Trader Joe's! Excellent quality stuff and believe it or not cheaper prices than the chain supermarkets and often times cheaper than Wallymart too. Bulk, I just go to Sam's Club. If you are not fortunate enough to have a Trader Joe's near you then you are missing out.

[fish-o-haulic]

I like costco havent been in sams club much though but they look similar to each other costco and sams club.

[stevethefish]

When you got the job the company gave you wages of x amount at that time you had a choice to accept or reject that offer, if you reject go some where else. The company probably did not tell you O YES IF WE MAKE MORE MONEY WE WILL GICE YOU MORE, so if you dont like what you are getting now its time to make a move thats everyones desision to make Do you work for the union or the company JUST MY THOUGHTS

You work for the company but the company will fire you if you don't join the union within 90 days. Then whatever the union decides you must go along. If the union strikes Ralph's then the next day Vons and Albertsons will lock thier employee's out. they can't work even if they want to.

[old pudd fisher]

Trader Joe's! Excellent quality stuff and believe it or not cheaper prices than the chain supermarkets and often times cheaper than Wallymart too. Bulk, I just go to Sam's Club. If you are not fortunate enough to have a Trader Joe's near you then you are missing out.

I must agree with you about Trader Joe's yolo they have some quality stuff for cheap if you shop right, that can't be found in a supermarket. Great place for a single person but a bit limited for large family shopping. I love the place.

[yolo]

I must agree with you about Trader Joe's yolo they have some quality stuff for cheap if you shop right, that can't be found in a supermarket. Great place for a single person but a bit limited for large family shopping. I love the place.

Well we have 5 in our family and would not shop anywhere else. Definitely don't agree that it's a single person's place to shop. Their cereals, bread, milk, eggs, sour cream, butter, yogurt, PB&J, drinks, club soda, dried fruits, nuts, snacks, nitrate free hot dogs, frozen foods, some fruits n vegetables. I didn't even get into the alcohol cause we don't drink but they got some good stuff as far as that goes too. Their "Original" cheesecake is the s h i t.

Meats we usually get at Sam's and fruits and vegetables we do a weekly pick up of a fresh delivery from California organic farmers. It's a pretty cool service and they have different sized packed crates. We get the large crate and it is perfect for the five of us. It is called Abundant Harvest Organics for anyone interested. There are many other services like it too. You get a list of who the farm was for the particular items in the crate. It's kind of neat because we eat new and different things. It's about as fresh as it gets without going and picking it all yourself. I think we pay $32 for the large crate a week. Delivery for us is every Saturday. You can't beat the price for a farmer's market coming to you with quality produce.

[smokehound]

Yo SH, What is RGIS ?
DRIt's an inventory job. Easily the worst job in america. These guys tried to pull a fast one on us, stealing money from us. Then all the Pissed off employees filed a class-action lawsuit. And I got the money they owed me. :LOL:

California law demands that a job not giving you lunch breaks pay you an extra hour's pay. ;)

When they started doing this to me, I got super pissed. My supervisor would sneak off the store grounds for like ten hours. *******!!

http://www.gotovertime.com/overtime_regular_rate_of_pay.html#meal_premiums


Ralphs is gonna lock all the strikers out. that's awesome.

[kaneo]

There's the proof right there, in bold. This is a shining example of what greed and stupidity does to you. These people think they're being raped? If they work for RGIS for ONE week, they'll be glad to go back to ralphs. Bunch of crybabies. They don't know what poverty is.
maybe you guys should read this a little better, " RISK " of getting into a physical confrontation. is a lot different than saying im condoning a confrontation.. and if you think companys like wal mart are not politically involved your just kidding yourself.. MOST major corporations support some sort of political party one way or another.. o.k. union officials may make some good money on the international level's. but dont you think all the people on the wal mart's board of c.f.o's, c.e.o.'s, c.o.o.'s president, vice president, etc, etc, are receiving BIG money, as well as ther stock holders ? and the whole time the workers are stuck in an min. wage job, with not much chance for any advancement in their payroll, poor medical benefits.. at least the union affords the employee to have a decent wage, decent benefits, overtime pay for anything over 40 hrs a week, perdiem for working out of town, represention against management trying to unfairly fire someone, granted unions have their downfalls, but they also provide the workers a great service.. sorry you have to work for " RGIS " maybe you should have went to work for a union company, went through the 4 year apprenticeship, and become a journeyman in your trade, make $25. to $30 an hour [ at least in the construction trades ] have a good pension to retire on, and make over $50,000 a year not including overtime.. but if you would rather work for $15,000 a year, with crappy medical that has limits on how much your benefits will provide, no chance for any advancement. and let you bosses run you like a mule... then have at it... and once again I DID NOT SAY I WAS CONDONING ANY PHYSICAL FIGHTING, JUST SAYING THAT WHEN YOU MESS WITH PEOPLES LIVES, THERE IS A " RISK " SOMEONE MIGHT GET ANGRY... unions are not always the answer, but the do provide protection for the working people in most cases. and please STOP saying im condoning any physical confrontations... " risk " does not mean every person striking is going to be violent...

[Karyn]

My dad was a store manager for Lucky's-Albertsons (he's now retired) and I remember when I was growing up, the grocery store employees went on strike and it was always a stressful time for our family, as I am sure it will be for all the families going through this now. Hopefully things will settle down and work itself out and not get ugly.

[HBAR]

Well wife got a message earlier that they have reached an agreement now the employees just have to vote on it