Madam Patriot wrote on Jun 25, 2007 11:21 PM:Which way to the Walmart Supercenter?

John wrote on Jun 26, 2007 12:48 AM:Lets see ,Last time they did this it was a loose ,loose situation .Except for us consumers, Employees got friendlier, service got better .Heck, people at the local Ralphs still have their faces hanging. Wondering why this stupidity is happening again.

Jamie wrote on Jun 26, 2007 6:37 AM:I read many of the comments on the blog yesterday and a large portion of them were very distorted. With all sorts of ridiculous claims like the unions support amnesty because they can hire illegal aliens and so forth. The reality in my opinion is this; unions do NOT support illegal aliens or amnesty, many of the grocery workers from the last strike NEVER went back to work. I had gotten used to them and they became part of our community very friendly and always went out of their way to help us. Many of the people that worked during the strike were unsavory it looked like they came right out of prison of rehab. and many stayed on after the strike, well lets say it was not the same. My local Albertson’s at College and Oceanside Boulevard has the highest turn over known to man. I rarely see the same workers there and most are so rude and unfriendly. They don’t know anything you ask them; they have no direct eye contact and talk to other people while they are ringing you up. Hello did your boss ever teach you any social skills? I would say the friendly faces are gone in most stores, I hate Vons and have lost respect for my Albertson’s and Ralphs.

I will support the Strike wrote on Jun 26, 2007 6:40 AM:No need to worry Stater Bro. IS a UNION STORE that respects its employees. I Will be shopping there even though it is out of my way and the traffic is horrendous.

Lock Them Out Now wrote on Jun 26, 2007 6:52 AM:Get rid of the exortionists and hire people who will work rather than threaten.

Tim wrote on Jun 26, 2007 7:03 AM:You guys are forgetting to mention that Stater Bro. is a union store and they signed a good contract with their employees. There are options, besides the deli and meat department are disgusting when the employees are gone on strike and most stores closed them all together. The produce is rotten in many cases. Don't believe me? See for yourselves if there is a strike go in there and then go to the back of the store and most of the fresh stuff is sitting there rotting. You have these big mouths saying they will cross the line but the only thing they will be buying is cheap sodas, frozen pizzas and ice cream. Fatten them up Kroger!

Need Part time job for the summer wrote on Jun 26, 2007 7:47 AM:Where do I apply for a summer/strike job?

Never Learn wrote on Jun 26, 2007 7:50 AM:The grocery union is playing with fire. Last time, their members were unemployed for over 4-5 months. Last time there was sufficient equity in homes to draw from to help their members survive the ordeal. This time, the real estate market is down and the members are still stinging from their last battle, which they lost. Hopefully, the union will be busted this time around.

Concerned-1 wrote on Jun 26, 2007 8:38 AM:A strike is bad all the way around. I do believe in an honest day's pay for an honest day's work, but I do not believe in entitlement. I'd love to be secure in my job, that's why I show up everyday on time and put in my eight to ten. The strike will hurt everyone but the union bosses. In my opinion unions have no place today in American business.

Hire illegal aliens wrote on Jun 26, 2007 9:23 AM:they will do the work the grocery clerks won't! Hope the clerks have $ put away for rent and food not to mention gas to go to the stores to stand in line and strike. Fools! The only winner here is da union mobsters!

I am scabbing if wrote on Jun 26, 2007 9:24 AM:the fools listen to their unions!

Here I come wrote on Jun 26, 2007 9:42 AM:Major Market!! Unions not for Amnesty? Of course they are. That is more Union dues for work "Americans" won't do. Union bosses don't care who does the work or for how much as long as they get the salaries they want. When was the last time you heard of them lowering their pay to support their members, aahh never!

Laughing at John wrote on Jun 26, 2007 9:52 AM:A "loose ,loose situation"?

Too bad wrote on Jun 26, 2007 9:53 AM:Yet another job that will end up with the illegals because you ... are too stupid to understand that these people are our friends and neighbors.

Tammy wrote on Jun 26, 2007 10:18 AM:I can't stand the "old-timers" at my local Vons (Aviara/Carlsbad) ... they all have bad attitudes and don't give a flying fig about the customers. As I stand in the checkout lane, I hear their whiny conversations about how they only make so much and how sorry we should feel for them, not in this lifetime! The younger guys (non-union) who work there seem to be a lot more friendly and helpful. I WILL cross the picket line and if you catch me on a bad day - I'll spit on the ground those uneducated... picketers are walking on. I hope these grocers realize that unions will only defeat the purpose of what good service should be and they will get rid of them!

Reardon wrote on Jun 26, 2007 10:22 AM:One would never guess that grocery workers actually investigated the pay schedule, applied for the job, went through at least one and possibly two or three interviews, served a several month probationary period, and could leave in one second if they want. They are ungrateful, unskilled people filling a low skill job with high skill wages -- and increasingly unhappy about it. The workers lost the last fight while being led by the same union leadership that collects its pay while the strike continues, and the union remains whether they win concessions or lose. Someone should tell grocery workers that their "power" can only be used if consumers have no alternatives, and management has no possibility to replace them with other willing workers or automation. The grocery workers are on the wrong side of each possibility, and that spells nothing good for an outcome in their favor. They win a Financial Darwin Award.

For the shortsighted wrote on Jun 26, 2007 10:48 AM:Every person that has a full-time job deserves a minimum wage (got that), a minimum retirement (ss) and a health care plan (duh). Only a moron, which there are plenty of here, would think that our government will allow anybody not to have access to health care, emergency room. Better the employer provides healthcare than the taxpayer don't you think. But wait, thinking might be a little hard for some. I will support the workers 100% this time around.

Reardon wrote on Jun 26, 2007 10:50 AM:The Immigration Reform bill just passed the "cloture vote.". If it continues on its path, ALL current illegal aliens will get a social security card within a few weeks of the signing of the bill. THEN they will willingly and LEGALLY replace every one of the striking grocery workers, permanently, at LOWER pay, within a MONTH! And the former illegal workers will be HAPPY to get the jobs. So long, Suckers!

To "Laughing at John" wrote on Jun 26, 2007 11:01 AM:Ah yes... The self-declared Einstein has returned.

Alf wrote on Jun 26, 2007 11:07 AM:"Too bad", "our friends and neighbors" are doing something "what ain't got no brains". Another strike? They act as if they are entitled not only to have their jobs but also to keep demanding more. Make no mistake, a strike is simply a demand. If I hire someone and that person demands more pay, they quickly become an EX-employee, it really is that simple. Still an unabashed Libertarian, Alf.

To Too Bad wrote on Jun 26, 2007 11:23 AM:What does friends & neighbors have to do with anything? This is business.

What wrote on Jun 26, 2007 12:18 PM:A good question. What is the contract that Stater Brothers signed? That is where I shop and it seems like they have more on the ball than the other chains. During the last strike they agreed that they would go with what ever contract the other Unions signed. No lock out or strike. Now they have signed a new contract. From what I have heard it eliminates the two tier system. I know there was a drop in the quality of employees during the last couple of years and quite a bit of turn over. Anyone familiar with the details of this contract? Might make a good story NCT.

curly joe wrote on Jun 26, 2007 1:04 PM:Support workers right to strike!!!!Its the American way!!!Where will Jesus shop????

Jdig wrote on Jun 26, 2007 1:35 PM:Not only are the union workers going to lose their only means of providing for themselves and their families, they are putting the consumers at risk. The last walkout of 2003 meant skeleton crews working the stores, meat counters closed or expired products on the shelves. In 2003,I was shopping at VONS and I ended up with food poisoning twice. I will be taking my business to Sam's Club. And to the Big Three: I cannot believe you make your employess wait over a year for health insurance. It's an investment all businesses should make. If you don't feel it's necessary, you are hiring the wrong people.

tired of hearing you complain wrote on Jun 26, 2007 1:39 PM:We all want better benefits and better pay. If you dont like your job, look for a better one. You signed the contract going in to it, Knowing what you where going to get so dont complain.

Curly Moe wrote on Jun 26, 2007 1:44 PM:NO MORE UNIONS!!!!! I feel sorry for the grocery workers but I will cross the picket lines. When I want a raise I have to go to my boss and show him why I deserve one. If I want health care I have to go out and get it myself. If I don't like my job benefits, I can quit and get another job I like better. I suggest they do the same.

to Alf wrote on Jun 26, 2007 1:54 PM:Strong words for someone living on a government pension. I bet if you weren't sucking on the government teat you'd be more in favor of a union. A union is just an extension of the Founding Fathers "Right to Assemble". Can anyone be a government pensioner and a libertatian? I don't think so!

Reardon wrote on Jun 26, 2007 2:08 PM:To "To Alf": Libertarians defend this country also, and since there are no private armies to defend the country, libertarians join with others (Freedom of Assembly)to defend the country. Like all political and philosophical movements, libertarians come in many stripes. One stripe, the Ayn Rand breed, believes that government is fine in the military, police, and courts.

life long resident wrote on Jun 26, 2007 2:12 PM:My understanding as to Staters is that they basically agree to comply with whatever the end result of the negotiations will be, and that is how they always get done with this so soon. They know that whatever is decided in the end, will be what the members agree too. And that they basically say, "just stay and work for us, whatever the end result is, we agree with it,"

Laughing at Alf wrote on Jun 26, 2007 2:39 PM:Of course they have the right to demand more, just as the employer has the right to say no. Do you think the rights go only one way? The employer also has the responsibility to treat their employees right. Acting like they're expendable isn't doing that.

Laughing at John wrote on Jun 26, 2007 2:40 PM:You are just too funny, son.

Wal-Mart Superstores... wrote on Jun 26, 2007 3:38 PM:What are You Waiting For?! We need Grocery Stores that STAY OPEN and are a Bargain on Our Wallets and Purses! Wal-Mart, YOU have the Opportunity to CRUSH this Market. We are Anxiously Waiting!

gomikego wrote on Jun 26, 2007 4:46 PM:Another strike? Cool. The lines were getting too long at my local store and the picketers will surely chase some poor souls away from shopping there. Not me. I respect their right to picket. They can respect my right to choose where I want to shop. I have no problem crossing the line.

To Reardon wrote on Jun 26, 2007 5:37 PM:You want illegals to take care of you at the checkstands? I am sure they wouldn't even want to help someone like you. It is so easy to sit and pass judgement you don't have a clue! Your good old higher education if it would make me like you keep it! These are the working class and once again they don't make $19 an hour the second tier only makes around $8.25 an hour. You probably bash people on welfare is that what you want the grocery workers to do so you can pay for them? If they get a better contract good for them. These are hard working people not mindless fools.

Had It wrote on Jun 26, 2007 5:58 PM:Please re-read your history books. When "robber barons" take control of the businesses(where you work) there will be no one to stand up to them. That was why the unions started. Who do you think got our labor laws enacted? The union(working people) asking for a fair part of the profits made by the companies they helped to prosper. Before you bash the unions and workers-remember it could be YOU!

I think, wrote on Jun 26, 2007 6:33 PM:That many of the bloggers here need to read a little more history. Our fathers and grandfathers sacrificed a lot to form unions and make a better life for themselves and their children. The big corporations brought in thugs to beat up the strikers. The unions made it possible for you to have better wages, benefits, vacation time and sick leave. Workers used to work six days a week for ten to twelve hours a day. If you were hurt on the job you were thrown out and your children went hungry. Sound good! Then don't stand up for our workers. Between outsourcing and George Bush's open border policy we are falling out of the middle class fast. We can live in a Country like Mexico where there is only the very rich and the poor.

we, wrote on Jun 26, 2007 6:37 PM:Reardon it appears that is what you want, the unions busted, the illegals taking the jobs that Americans will do for a decent wage. Hope you enjoy living in EscoJuana.

To Had It wrote on Jun 26, 2007 7:13 PM:"The union(working people) asking for a fair part of the profits made by the companies" ... Guess what buddy ... they're not entitled to profits. If they want a piece of profits then they need to buy stock.

Re: To Reardon wrote on Jun 26, 2007 7:15 PM:Boy are you full of it. 2nd tier makes $8.25 when minimum wage is $8? What a crock. I know checkers who work union and make more than $15 ... and for what!? Scanning groceries. Absolutely ridiculous! But let's just say, for the sake of argument, that you're right. SO WHAT?! They knew the job when they signed up. They weren't forced into it. They chose it and the terms that went with it. Now they want my sympathy because they made a bad choice? Not a chance!

To I Think wrote on Jun 26, 2007 7:17 PM:"Workers used to work six days a week for ten to twelve hours a day" ... take a number and welcome to my life. i'm self employed and that sounds like a slow schedule for my average week. No sympathy here!

ROY wrote on Jun 26, 2007 7:43 PM:The unions are real good at inflating the salaries of jobs that require an extremely low skill set. Another racket is the Longshoremen. Talk about high pay for brainless work! As of today on 13 percent of American jobs are union and if you take away government jobs only 7 percent of private sector jobs are union. The union ranks have been dwindling for years because they overinflate the pay rate to the point that the jobs becomes uncompetitive and obsolete. If the union was relevant and productive their ranks would be growing and not shrinking. It was a bad deal for the taxpayer when the unions were allowed to represent government workers. Now they get inflate government pay and shaft the taxpayer. In twenty years there will probably be almost no private union workers left and all of government will be union and the taxpayer will more than likely be paying higher rates to pay government stiffs.

I think, wrote on Jun 26, 2007 9:43 PM:We can care about all American workers. There is no job that is not important, and hard work. We are self employed, and yes, we work hard and sometimes extra hours, but we have the satisfaction of not working for someone else. Not everyone can be self employed, or there would be no one to work all the needed jobs in this Country. All work is valuable and should be respected. People have a right to belong to a union who can negotiate for better conditions rather than bringing our workers to a lower level.

99% of these coments wrote on Jun 26, 2007 9:58 PM:... are insane! I work for Albertsons, I just had a child, I have been with them for seven years, and YES I cannot wait to quit, however I am attending CSUSM FULL TIME and working FULL TIME to make ends meet. California's overinflated apartment/condo rental prices, escalated real estate prices really make it impossible to support a family on anything less than 15/hr. I stretch my budget thin, skip lunches for myself and try to still retain some dignity. This is a dog eat dog world, yet the Company and the Union need to stop being selfish and support the people they work for. People say its an unskilled job? Lets throw in someone off the street who makes minimum wage as manager... they either a.) won't want to stick around long enough to get good at their job or b.) won't care enough to do a good job for said wage. Healthcare is rediculous in cost, cost of living is out of this world... I think for putting in my time with a company for 7 years/40 hours a week I deserve to support my family while I seek a more diverse and professional career. (btw, I voted NO for the strike vote, it sucked last time and we are still paying for it, The union is scared of being killed off/dying... yet I still wish I could feel confident my child will have access to healthcare at relative costs...)

The, wrote on Jun 26, 2007 10:12 PM:Profits are made by the company along with the workers. The Company would not be in business without good workers. Or the employer could do all the work and keep all the profits.

STRIKE SUPPORTER wrote on Jun 26, 2007 10:20 PM:Jamie makes sense. This shouldn't be about people against people. It's about corporations and big money against workers and consumers. It's about how can they squeeze every last dime out of consumers while paying the very least they possibly can to their workers. This is why consumers are getting less and less for more and more money, and the workers are getting next to nothing now. Corporations dont care. Not enough competition with all the mergers and sleeping around they do with the competition. Then, not only do the workers pay, but so do the consumers with less service (can you say "where's the milk?" in spanish -- better be able to soon). Who's getting all that money? CEOs and rich shareholders. GO AHEAD and wave your college degrees (I have mine too)....you can wave them in the next wave when your job is outsourced and cut as well.

grocery worker wrote on Jun 26, 2007 10:24 PM:to all who have "NO SYMPATHY HERE" I have been in the grocery business for 20 yrs. We are not asking for the extream which you all seem to think we are, we want to be able to keep the benifets which we alredy have, but the grocery stores Vons,Ralphs,& Albertsons seem to think that they can take these away from us and without a wage increase by the way we have NOT had in 6 yrs. just how do you suggest that we pay for our health care? welfare/medi-cal like the Wal-Mart employees, out of YOUR TAX DOLLARS! As far as Stater Bros. goes they gave their employees a wage increase took away the two tier system, and gave them a better benifit pkg. They seem to know how to treat their employees, "Happy Employees makes better business,better customer service" so don't be so quick to judge the grocery worker's, us "old timers" just want to keep the job that we signed up for many years ago

STRIKE SUPPORTER wrote on Jun 26, 2007 10:27 PM:Some people have no clue. "Why should they get money for scanning groceries?"....."not brain surgery"....I guess this must be coming from some people with protected jobs who sit on their ... all day long. Get a clue. These people are standing on their feet all day long and putting up with rude people like you all day. They deserve a decent wage, they deserve decent benefits. At the very least, they deserve a decent health package. Sheez.

Roy wrote on Jun 26, 2007 10:45 PM:Deserve; deserve; entitlement! The pay you deserve should only reflect the difficulty of the job. If your skill set has value then the pay will reflect that, but if you can train a replacement in a few weeks or a month then the job does not have enough value, or skill,to justify high pay.

Reardon wrote on Jun 26, 2007 11:25 PM:It was terrible the way these grocery workers were force to take those awful jobs at slave labor wages; chained to their cash registers so they could not leave for alternative work; and forced to work in dark, hot places. If they had actually chosen to take the job at slave wages....what? They DID choose to take those jobs, at those wages? Are you telling me that they can LEAVE and get another job that better suits their skills(sic), educational level, and drive for success? Something here does not compute!

to grocery work wrote on Jun 27, 2007 7:14 AM:Then quit your job and go apply at Stater Bros., becuase you get no sympathy here.

To 'grocery worker' wrote on Jun 27, 2007 7:50 AM:Judging by your grammar and spelling, you are probably a good fit for a grocery checker job.

to "to 'grocery worker' wrote on Jun 27, 2007 12:38 PM:And judging by your disrespect for the individuals doing the work for you in grocery stores perhaps you would fail at a grocery job... I previously stated I worked in the industry yet I am a full time student/full time father... I have my BA in English, and am working towards my MBA with a focus in Financial Accounting... Yet I work at a Grocery store... Don't be so vain and naive'! A Majority of the "old timers" at the stores who were there 20-35 years ago were given a job with the idea in mind it would carry them through life... and now with a new structure of wages and benefits the riff raff have come in and yes there are people employed who represent the idea that which you enforce... Be informed before you speak...

Where is the Milk?? wrote on Jun 27, 2007 2:09 PM:Wow!! I just finished reading all these comments and I am disappointed and disgusted to hear all these hateful comments about grocery workers. I can’t remember a time when any other occupation has to defend what they do for a living (except for politicians). Why do people care what grocery workers get paid? Just as long as they have a job and they are not on welfare. Regardless of the difficulty of the job, these people are going to work, getting a pay check, and are being productive citizens in their communities. Anyone who doesn’t support the strike is cutting their own throats in the long run. We need to start thinking about each other and stop being so selfish. I don’t understand this “it doesn’t effect me, so I don’t care” mentality!! Because sooner than later it will! Why would you give the support to the corporations and not the people who make the corporations successful?

Strike supporter 2 wrote on Jun 27, 2007 2:14 PM:Wow!! I just finished reading all these comments and I am disappointed and disgusted to hear all these hateful comments about grocery workers. I can’t remember a time when any other occupation has to defend what they do for a living (except for politicians). Why do people care what grocery workers get paid? Just as long as they have a job and they are not on welfare. Regardless of the difficulty of the job, these people are going to work, getting a pay check, and are being productive citizens in their communities. Anyone who doesn’t support the strike is cutting their own throats in the long run. We need to start thinking about each other and stop being so selfish. I don’t understand this “it doesn’t effect me, so I don’t care” mentality!! Because sooner than later it will! Why would you give the support to the corporations and not the people who make the corporations successful?

American way wrote on Jun 27, 2007 3:02 PM:Its the American way to only think about Me, Myself, I, and nobody else

Hate Grocery Workers? wrote on Jun 27, 2007 3:50 PM:There's no hatred of their vocation. Rather, it's a hatred of the way they are attempting to exort the businesses they voluntarily work for. Just like everyone else who works, they were hired to perform a specific task for a specific rate. If they didn't like the rate they shouldn't have taken the job. Instead they take the job and then try to strong arm in the business into giving them something else. If anyone other than a union tried that they would be charged with exortion.

gina wrote on Jun 27, 2007 6:06 PM:tammy, just to let you know, there are NO non union workers in your carlsbad vons, if you work at vons you must belong to the union.and I hope your parents are proud of the child they raised who would spit on someone they don't know because they are fighting to keep what they have, maybe all you better than us college educated people should be required to take a human compassion class to get your fancy degree!! This Me,Me,Me attitude is destroying our country.

To Gina wrote on Jun 28, 2007 6:55 AM:This isn't about Me, Me, Me. It's about the exortionist behavior of unions ... it would be considered criminal to do what they attempt at the end of every contract if they weren't a union. Unions = Legal Exortion. That's what's wrong.

Go Ahead wrote on Jun 28, 2007 12:54 PM:I havent shopped at those stores since the last strike!!!!!!!!!

to "to gina" wrote on Jun 28, 2007 5:48 PM:If its extortion its not ILLEGAL... legal extortion is an oxymoron... you cannot LEGALLY have extortion... so therefor what the Union is doing is LEGAL... a strike is written into their agreement and the companies honor the strike themselves it being in THEIR agreement, the companies have the option to LOCK OUT their employee's if another company is struck upon... so is a Lockout extortion by the companies against the union/employees? Each has their own tools to use against the other...

Re: To wrote on Jun 29, 2007 8:25 AM:You're right, legal exortion is a type of oxymoron since it mentions the word legal in conjunction with an illegal act. However, let's clarify exactly what exortion is: "Extortion is a criminal offense, which occurs when a person either obtains money, property or services from another through coercion or intimidation or threatens one with physical or reputational harm unless they are paid money or property. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime groups. The actual obtainment of money or property is not required to commit the offense. Making a threat of violence or a lawsuit which refers to a requirement of a payment of money or property to halt future violence or lawsuit is sufficient to commit the offense. The four simple words "pay up or else" are sufficient to constitute the crime of extortion." Please note the criminal offense part. Further accented by the keywords coercion, intimidation & threatens. Add that together and you have a union (or the mafia ... other wise known as the organized crime groups also mentioned). The stores action of a lockout is more of a protectionist stand to preserve that which is being extorted. Personally, I can't figure out why they haven't locked them out already.

RobertM wrote on Jun 29, 2007 12:20 PM:A workers worth is determined by how easily he can be replaced. If you can easily be replaced Z visa, don't be surprised when it happens. To earn more, make yourself more valuable by learning a new skill or becoming better at something that is hard to do so you can't easily be replaced. With the influx of immigrants we have, it is easy to find someone willing to work for less. I predict that someday soon grocery stores will be saying "Americans aren't willing to do this work" when they really mean "at this rate of pay."

The General wrote on Jul 2, 2007 7:43 AM:" The tactics of the "American Union Worker Haters" are redundant and predictable. They are always the same. Here is some of their best stuff...1.) hurl insults & attempt to argue their superiority and the workers sub-standard human role as a servant, 2.) Advise workers to cut & run for everything (This has been put in too many posts to count! We have already pointed out the dangers in thinking this way as it leads to divorce, parentless children, bad credit, tax evasion, etc) 3.) State they are going to cross the picket line as a threat. This is anyones right to do so and we will welcome you all to the picket line and declare your shame to the world! More of the same...nothing new has really come up as there isn't much depth to their thoughts or arguments so I imagine that more of the same will continue. God Bless union workers....America needs them! "

Mary wrote on Jul 5, 2007 5:57 PM:Just wondering if all the union haters think the fire fighters or police force deserve their union benefits?