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:: Wednesday, December 10, 2003 ::

California Supermarket Chains Are Trying To Force Their 70,000 Workers to Surrender LaborTalk By Harry Kelber
Although AFL-CIO President John Sweeney declared on Oct. 10 that "these workers [UFCW members] are not alone, and have the full support of the entire labor movement and our allies," only a few unions have appeared on the picket lines in support of the striking and locked out workers. In fact, since two months ago, there has been nothing on the AFL-CIO's Web site about the health care struggle of the 70,000 embattled supermarket workers.

The UFCW has been much too timid in battling the chains, partly because it doesn't want to hurt them to the point where they will feel justified in making mass layoffs after an eventual agreement is reached. It's still "business as usual" for both managers and employees in most Safeway stores around the country.

Union leaders worry that if the three supermarket chains are seriously weakened, they will be easy prey for Wal-Mart, which is planning to open some 40 Supercenters in California in the next five years.

Wal-Mart: Always Low Wages, Always! Mike Konopacki cartoon

posted 3:38 PM :: reference link :: 0 comments ::

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