A New Low for Grocery Workers Stalkers
“Attorney” General Bill Lockyer (who, contrary to his title, has never worked a day in his life as an attorney, except the day that he committed a serious ethical breach by revealing confidential statements by then-Gov.-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger), is threatening to bring a frivolous antitrust action against the grocery store chains. The gravamen of Lockyer’s complaint is - get this - that the three chains’ concerted response to the United Food and Commercial Workers’ concerted attack on them “hurts consumers by discouraging competitive pricing.”
Silly me. For all this time, I had thought the illiterate boobs stalking my local grocery store were striking for better health care benefits for themselves. Little did I know that their real motive was to promote competitive pricing, which would make their current health care package unaffordable. They’re actually striking so that they can get paid less, just so I, as a consumer, can pay less for my groceries. How touching.
Meanwhile, at the local Albertson’s today here in Rancho Santa Margarita, a band of these misunderstood consumer rights activists proudly displayed the following slogan:
10/11/03
Never forgive
Never forget
Michael Williams encountered a substantially identical slogan at a store in Hawthorne. Given the geographic distance between RSM and Hawthorne, I think we can safely assume that this reckless slogan was the product of a deliberate strategy by the UFCW, not the result of a few overzealous grocery store “workers” going out on a limb. Think about that for a minute: one of the largest unions in the country actually mulled this idea over, debated it, and ultimately concluded that it was a good idea.
So, they want us to “never forget” the day that they chose to go on a pointless strike to demand that they continue to be grossly overpaid until their employers went bankrupt. Very well, we won’t forget. From now on, every time that I remember the unspeakable terrors of 9-11-01, I will also remember that on 1-31-04, you schlocks had the gall to peg your own petty little labor dispute on it. If Albertsons, Vons and Ralphs have the good sense to fire every one of you, I’ll also make a point to remember how much I’m saving on groceries now that you overplayed your hand, got canned, and left a competitive, nonunion workforce in your place. If they don’t, I’ll remember that, too, and I’ll always remember to shop at nonunion Wal-Mart or Stater Bros. instead, whenever possible.
UPDATE: The San Bernardino County Sun spotted the same phrase being on signs carried by grocery store stalkers in Garden Grove, as well.
January 31st, 2004 at 8:40 pm
Striker Brygade
Michael Williams has a run-in with some California grocery workers who are out on strike. Again? Still? Who knows?
January 31st, 2004 at 10:59 pm
Thanks for the link, and if you get a picture of the shirt please let me know!
January 31st, 2004 at 11:09 pm
The strike was against Vons. Albertsons and Ralphs then pulled a lockout against their workers. This may constitute collusion on the part of the corporations, which could be illegal.
Never call an action stupid until you have all the facts on the case. Then you usually learn just how stupid it really is.
February 1st, 2004 at 6:49 am
Oh, please. Everyone knows the strike was against all three chains over the same exact issue. The union admitted as much when it announced its intent to strike against one of the three chains, while refusing to say which one. So assuming the lockouts were part of the pre-arranged, formalized agreement between the chains, your “collusion” theory is just as silly as Lockyer’s. If it wasn’t, it’s even sillier.
February 1st, 2004 at 7:25 am
Anyways, Lockouts and profit/loss sharing during strikes are recognized as legal tactics against unions. At this point, I’m just hoping the supermarkets finally go the extra mile and fire everybody. I’ve been really impressed by Safeway, Albertsons, and Ralphs their leadership knows the depths of the thuggery of which they are dealing with.
Alan, maybe you shouldn’t post on the law if you don’t know about it. The supposedly illegal part is that Food 4 Less is also owned by Ralph’s but part of the “loss-sharing” agreement. Food 4 Less is not being hit by the strike. I think it’s a frivolous argument, but it is true that that point isn’t settled.
February 1st, 2004 at 9:22 am
Unions
While I agree with Xrlq that what the grocery store strikers did was unbelievably crass and insensitive, and makes me much less likely to support them, I’m not sure that non-union stores really are that much cheaper. Even as he…
February 1st, 2004 at 1:13 pm
Vons, Ralphs, Safeway, or Stater Bros. sure, but the Peoples Republic of Walmart. Sam and his family have enough money already.
February 1st, 2004 at 8:12 pm
What’s your point Mike? Wal-Mart is mostly owned by individuals through either funds or directly. Is it wrong that people should own a well managed company? People who beat up on Wal-Mart should ask themselves why they do it. Wal-Mart is just the best, and everyone wants to knock them down.
February 1st, 2004 at 8:28 pm
“What’s your point Mike?”
Objection, Your Honor! His question assumes a fact not in evidence.
February 2nd, 2004 at 5:11 am
That Mike has a point? Point well taken Xrlq.
February 3rd, 2004 at 6:30 am
I’ve been pooh-poohed for being offended:
http://www.murdoconline.net/archives/000982.html
February 6th, 2004 at 9:46 pm
Submitted for Your Approval
First off…  any spambots reading this should immediately go here, here, here, and here.  Die spambots, die!  And now…  here are all the links submitted by members of the Watcher’s Council for this week’s vote. Council links:Correcti…
February 6th, 2004 at 9:54 pm
The Council Has Spoken!
First off…  any spambots reading this should immediately go here, here, here, and here.  Die spambots, die!  And now…  the winning entries in the Watcher’s Council vote for this week are Are You My Daddy? by Four Right Wing Wackos,…
March 24th, 2004 at 10:53 am
Watchers Council
A belated post linking to the January 15th results will be accepted if it also links to all entries nominated for…