Why go through with a grocery strike in this economy?

[nadinbrzezinski]

Mike Knapp wasn’t sympathetic when he heard the news that grocery workers in Southern California might walk off the job in coming days.

“Go ahead and strike, lots of people need a job,” he wrote Friday in comments on SignOnSanDiego.com. “I will see all of you as I cross the picket line.”

He’s among many people who are criticizing the United Food and Commercial Workers for considering a strike on Albertsons, Vons and Ralphs at a time when county unemployment is at 10.2 percent, a record number of people are on food stamps and just about everyone is paying more for health care.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/sep/17/would-strike-make-sense-grocery-workers/

Yes it is biased... workers have gotten quite a bit of support.

Oh and there is a reason why RALPHS don't have 'nough scabs... and why they are planning to close.

[Blue Meany]

1. The Union Movement grew rapidly in the 1930s, and did

so through some major strikes, so there is precedent for strikes during economic downturns, especially when employers try to take advantage of workers' desparation.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. and the fact that scabs did not show

mostly... is a good sign

[Arctic Dave]

15. You are absolutely correct.

This has nothing to do with the companies bottom line. The corporation are only using the recession as an excuse to destroy the worker.

[demosincebirth]

16. Exactly!

[Booster]

3. I was just at Von's and told the cashier that I really only came in

to buy enough to redeem a $10 coupon from the store. I said "after today, I'm not coming back here until you do". She smiled and "thank you for your support". Before I retired, I remember our CEO laying off 4,000 employees and then giving himself a 500 MILLION DOLLAR bonus for doing so. 4,000 employees means about 10,000 people were affected, since their family member lost their job. Corporations need to become just as patriotic to this country as the average guy. It's in their best interest that people make enough money so they can buy the shit they are peddling. UNIONS FOREVER!

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. All I am missing is cascade

and quite frankly I can get it at Costco.

Told them the same thing at Ralphs.. they were happy to hear it.

Local bodega, Henry's... farmers market... ugg even target.

[Shagbark Hickory]

8. You can't shop at target. That's still under boycott for something else.

[dkf]

5. Sounds like they are going to be closing some stores after this.

I wonder if it will be worth it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. No Ralphs and Albertsons did not get enough scabs

to keep them open, why they are closing for duration or until they get scabs. Vons beat them to the punch, and they posted scab wanted posters over a month ago. Overheard a conversation with my local manager. he was surprised the three day we are hiring scabs did not net enough to keep the place open... I mean the economy and shit they expected to get them.

They are actually worried that they did not.

As to worth it... having you health care costs doubled and salaries frozen for two years...

[dkf]

9. Here...some might be permanently closed after the strike.

Ralphs said it plans to reopen all the stores eventually, but Albertsons said decisions about reopening stores will be based on “business conditions that exist at the time.”

Burt P. Flickinger III, managing director of Strategic Resource Group in New York, wasn’t surprised that the chains would shut down stores temporarily or permanently. He believes a strike would damage the grocery chains and increase competitors’ market share to the point where the union stores may not be viable. “If there’s a strike everybody at the bargaining table loses and every nonunion competitor wins,” Flickinger said, “because the competitors will have record sales, record profitability and record opportunities for expansion.”

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. Last time that was the worry

and all came back...

This is part of the threat to the Union...

And truth be told Albertsons has not been doing well for a while.

[dkf]

11. There you go.

Well whoever survives should be better off.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. Strike was supposed to go off at 19:00 hours,

about half an hour from now... it's been delayed...

So perhaps they will come back to senses... them scabs did not fall from the woodwork

Oh local nooz now says half an hour

[dkf]

13. People are entitled to strike, but I hope they know what they are getting in to.

My uncle was with the FAA when they went on strike. That didn't end up very well.

I saw another local strike where they broke the union. Not good.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. The last rodeo was 2002

and from local nooz coverage, people support the strike...

[sabrina 1]

7. Because Corporations take advantage of times like these

to screw their workers. 'Shock and Awe', he should read the book.

So good for the workers for not making it easy for them to take advantage of them right now.

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. Strike has not gone off yet

not according to any of my local newsies

[Rochester]

18. Crossing a picket line should be a capital offense