This will eliminate part of the problem.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TEC... 

I will be very disappointed to see any Union Governmental employees crossing the line. Especially the law enforcement and Fire crews.

The Unions have kept these professions salaries somewhat competitive with salaries throughout the state.

Without a doubt they must support their fellow union workers in the grocery industry.

I have different reasons for not shopping at Albertson's and Vons, and they have nothing to do with any past or present strike by my least favorite union, the UFCW.

Vons is the chain that started that "club card" crap, and I will eternally punish them for that.

Albertson's is forever trying to trick their customers -- advertising big discounts and placing higher-cost items where the sale items should be, hoping that you won't notice -- planting cute little "gotchas" in the fine print that result in denying you the sale price that you came in for -- and so forth.

Albertson's -- if you shop there, watch the prices that appear on the cash register like a hawk.

Annoy 12:10

Automated checkout stands pay absolutely no local taxes (other than sales tax). They pay no FICA or Medicare tax. 

They don't spend a nickel in our local economy.

Yet there is no reimbursement in the form of lower fees when you use a auto checkout stand. 

You may as well right a check and mail it straight to Albertsons in Idaho.

I have boycotted the stands at Albertsons. And then come to realize that the auto stands are in most cases much slower than the full service stands. Theres always a snag. A check out problem that needs human intervention. It amazes me that management hasn't insisted on their removal. Pig headed stubborns I assume.

Paying with Cash? Forget about it.

I'm learning espanol I love Albertson but if the prices go up. Espanol Like the liberals say when us whites dont want to work bring on the Mex.

I know I know it isnt the liberals.

H4F  I gotcha on that one.  I bought cereal  that had a sale shelf price that was reasonalbe.  When I got to the car I saw they charged me over 3 bucks for that small box that was supposed to be about 1.50.  It was cold and I was tired so they got away with it..my fault of course, but I haven't been back to Albertsons and that was last winter.

Give Winco a try.  I boycotted them for a long time becaue after loading a basket full of gorceries, they wouldn't take my ATM card unless I used it like cash with a pin.  I don't have a pin for that card.  I lacked about 20 bucks having enough cash and I didn't have my checkbook with me so I left the groceries where they sat.  I didn't go back for about a year but I'm glad I got over my little "snit."  Groceries are REALLY reasonable there and the large slice of pizza with a soda for 1.99 is a bargain.

Let 'em strike..for my part, I don't shop them anyway.

I also boycott the self-checkouts.  I will not use them. 

On one hand, I really dislike this particular union, and am not terribly fond of unions in general.  (The teachers' union is the exception.)  I crossed the picket lines during the first strike.

On the other hand, I despise seeing people's jobs taken, whether by exporting their jobs overseas or simply eliminating their positions via automation.  That's one reason why I crossed the picket lines -- that maybe some of them would have jobs to return to.

Adampayne wrote, "Want to know why you have lousy and costly health care? Cross the line."

Actually, I could almost turn the blame around on the unions for lousy and costly health care.  (But don't jump on me, because that would be an incomplete truth -- explanation follows.)

The reasons for gouging in health care costs is, more than anything else, our adversarial and somewhat unaccountable health insurance industry.  (I'll let liberals chime in with their partial blame of "Big Pharma," too, and they wouldn't be far off base.)

What unions accomplish, by demanding mind-blowing benefits that most of us can only dream of on a cool night, is to mask the cost -- and thus the outrage -- over health care costs by forcing employers to pay them.

In other words, unions actually help keep the racket going by forcing management to pay for the broken, gouging system rather than fix the system itself.

Adam does a fine job pre-empting some of our objections, to wit:  "My guess is that you do not wish to see hard working people who wait on you every week ever get a raise or earn a living wage. Since most of you have crummy benefits everybody should have crummy benefits. It's never about support, and if the grocery workers can get it done why can't we. "

There's validity to that observation, but here's the counterproductive rub.  When a union goes on strike, their effectiveness -- both immediate and long-term -- depends on the degree of public support.  If union employees are perceived as having things far better than most everyone else, then their strike will be met with sneers rather than sympathy.

In the long run, this will turn public sentiment away from the workers and more in favor of management.

To me, it seems like this is exactly what they wouldn't want to see happen.

When you're really being exploited, like back in the days when unions started, you'll see us rally to your side in a heartbeat.  But for now, to depict yourselves as persecuted when you have it better than nearly everyone, will only make people laugh.

Good post H.  Your last paragraph really hit home..or should anyway.  During the last strike I had a hard time feeling a lot of sympathy for grocery workers demands since I was making a lot less and my health care was coming out of MY pocket..in big chunks.  In all fairness, I didn't think their benefits should have been cut, just not increased.

Like you I'm not a fan of unions even though I'm represented by one.  It wasn't a choice, it was mandatory and, although I'm not a member of the union I pay for representation anyway.  Mandatory.  In my time at my present job I haven't seen anything the union has done for me to make me feel like I should pay for it.  Maybe down the road I will but not for now.

My ex, who was a union steward, always said "unions are a necessary evil."  He wasn't for them but knew that as long as they were there, he would at least do his part to try to work for better working conditions and benefits.

When any of us complain or talk negatively about unions the first thing people say is..don't work there.  It isn't always that simple (nothing in life is).  To do what I do and work in the field I'm in, I don't have a real choice.  I appreciate the bennies that I do have, but I had almost the same bennies at the last two jobs I had.  Neither of which were union.  The difference is I make more money now but then, I didn't have the certification I have now either.

I dunno...   Life is full of good things and bad things.  As I tell people all the time, life is what it is and it's really our attitude about it and how we deal with it that counts.  Just my thoughts on the matter.

Okay, where can I learn the details and get the truth?

We can't be fair and understanding about something that they're not allowed to tell us:

http://www.latimes.com/busi...

"As in 2003, healthcare coverage is the most contentious issue — and resolving it is considered the key to a new pact. Both sides say they cannot publicly discuss details, however, because of a news blackout requested by a federal mediator."

And then there's this:

"The Stater Bros. deal with the UFCW created one pay tier for clerks with 20 steps, ranging from $9.20 an hour to $18.40. The lower-paid tier in the previous contract started at $8.90 and topped out at $15.10."

I'm sorry, but all I can say is "poor babies."  I know many white-collar professionals that earn less than checkers -- which in any other market would be basically a minimum-wage job.

"Under the existing pact, new workers must wait either one year or 18 months, depending on the job. Children of employees also would be covered in six months under the new accord instead of 30 months, and the waiting period for spouses would fall to 24 months from 30 months. "

Once again, awww, poor babies.  Guess what?  Health care costs are screaming.  Let's demand fixes to the current broken system rather than simply demanding that the company keep feeding the broken, gouging system.  And guess what?  My company doesn't extend coverage to spouses or children -- ever.

"When you're really being exploited, like back in the days when unions started, you'll see us rally to your side in a heartbeat"

That isn't much different than to say you want to leave your children a work environment that Upton Sinclair would write about.

I will be very disappointed to see any Union Governmental employees crossing the line. Especially the law enforcement and Fire crews.

This is hog wash!  First of all, the fire crews have set up accounts at these grocery stores for the food they eat in the station, the firemen then go shopping with no worries about having to carry money and it does not come out of their pocket unless they choose to.  So they should not be penalized by a strike, and I say cross the line for these groups. 

Unions are way outta line here.  I know because I spent 15 yrs in the union who did absolutely nothing for me and when my company, who will remain nameless here, tried to force me out as I was one of the original employees when the store first came to Bakersfield and was at the top pay scale and full time, the union didn't do a damn thing!!!!  I always hated the union and their lying efforts to get people to join and how they harassed us while we worked.  More than once I told a certain union rep to get the hell outta my face while I was working and when the chips were down for me, and I was forced to go crawling on my belly to him for help, he did the usual union thing, nothing.  It had nothing to do with the fact I didn't support him and the union, as I paid my dues every month liked it or not, it was his JOB to back me.  He turned and ran like a coward and I was forced to move on.  I am now a state employee in yet another worthless union who "steals" money from me every month, to the tune of $67 a month, for absolutely nothing!  Unions are not supported anymore and they are on their way out but not without a fight.  The only union worth anything, if at all, is the teamsters as they have muscle behind the words, not smoke.  

I shop at a local Albertsons and I love the employee's there and would support them as much as possible but not the union, so guess I'm mixed there.

I would like to add one thing, and agree with Nancy on something.  When I first started my grocery job back in 1987, the company I worked for was non union.  They took really good care of us, paid us well, had great benefits and were very personal.  Then the union started picketing us, for 2 yrs straight they picketed us. Guess that might give it a way now if you've lived here for any more than 20 yrs.  They did every manuever possible to get us to join.  They pulled under age employees over to the store next door and bought them beer and convienced them to sign a contract or letter of intent or bully them into joining, kids who didn't know sqat.  I went head to head, literally, with them and was harassed every day.  My vehicle was damaged because I protested their every being.  In the end, those tactic worked and they were in.  My pay did not increase, my benefits decreased some, and guess what, I was now paying for something I had for free!!!!!  The union did nothing for me and most of my co-workers.  We were infact paying to keep our jobs. 

I will admit, for a while the grocery industry was really paying a lot in medical benefits, and grocery workers were really getting paid well, but I don't think the unions were the reason.  When they went on strike a couple years ago, I too said, geez you've had it good all these years and now that the company is going broke paying for it all, your complaining.  But, the union and their bull headed ways, made it difficult for the companies to do anything but dig their heels in and fight, we see the outcome now.  Workers lost more than they gained and now they want to even it out and get back some of what they lost.  I think if you ask them they will say they don't mind paying a little more for the medical benefits, just take away the 2 tier pay scale, and make it inviting for new employees with pay that increases with time. Only fair.