Honoring a picket line, but missed the strike, LOL!

[freshwest]

A short time ago, I was picking some items at several local grocery stores only to be greeted inside by workers all saying they would be going on strike at 7 PM. They all had their local union buttons and a button that referenced a WA state labor website, THE STAND. One of the best places to get labor news, read it to see how labor organizes to protect all of us, and why we have to keep going:



http://www.thestand.org/2012/01/labor-business-urge-frontload-jobs/

Okay, long story that should be shorter, but this is how it was looking that day. Customers in the stores were stocking up, already emptying some of the shelves, saying they'd honor the strike in all the conversations I had, with employees and customers.

There was a sense of urgency in the air and we made plans to shop elsewhere to honor the strike. The workers were planning for a long time off if need be and they explained their attempts to get a deal that didn't take them backwards. The senior citizens were particularly outraged hearing what the Kroger demands were.

This was all said publicly. I'm sure managers heard it as well. If that was part of the reason the way things turned out as they did, I'll never know. But I stayed away a few days, busy with other things, until I had time to google the results. Some others must have too, driving by I didn't see as many people parked.

Here is what happened, for my union brethren:

LABOR: Seattle grocers, unions settle

October 22, 2013 by Jack Katzanek


(Unionized grocery workers in Seattle celebrate the news that a contract with the area’s largest markets had been reached.)

With a little less than two hours to spare, union leaders and four of the largest supermarket chains in the greater Seattle area reached a labor deal Monday, averting what would have been a strike affecting 21,000 workers.

The two sides announced a tentative agreement shortly after 5 p.m. Both sides seem pleased by the results, according to media accounts, and the Seattle Times reported that the workers’ negotiating team — two United Food & Commercial Workers locals and one Teamsters local — was unanimous in their endorsement of the agreement.

The talks had been going on for more than seven months. As recently as Friday night the talks appeared to be falling apart, and the union reps gave the stores a 72-hour strike notice...

It remains to be seen whether some of the terms of Monday’s last-minute deal, which were not disclosed and still must be ratified by the members, could be used as some sort of boiler plate in other locales.

http://blog.pe.com/business/2013/10/22/labor-seattle-grocers-unions-settle/

Meanwhile, union leaders I know are going about the nation signing various workforces into unions. Many battles loom ahead against the Koch, ALEC, teabaggers, libertarians and their media who want all unions and all public workers gone forever. They are destroying the Commons at a fast pace.

At least I have this good news to report. More details from THE STAND See what Kroger tried to do:

http://www.thestand.org/2013/11/workers-overwhelmingly-ratify-grocery-deal/

[Omaha Steve]

1. The Kroger stores here are not unionized, in fact NO grocery stores here are union :-(

K&R!

[freshwest]

6. Bummer. Years ago one of the big chains in Houston was union, in fact case law was made there.

NLRB v. J. Weingarten, Inc.



LRB v. J. Weingarten, Inc., 420 U.S. 251 (1975), was a case decided by the Supreme Court of the United States that ruled that employees in unionized workplaces have the right under the National Labor Relations Act to the presence of a union steward during any management inquiry that the employee reasonably believes may result in discipline...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NLRB_v_Weingarten

The Chief Justice was Warren Burger. It was decided by the majority. Life was better then. So much has been lost.

[niyad]

2. that is good news. when the union was negotiating a new contract several years ago here, I

called the kroger corporate offices every single day, and told them that I stood with the workers, that I would NOT be crossing a picket line if it went up, and I had other places to shop (and would, however inconvenient) the union members all knew that I would be on the lines with them (had promised my special hot chocolate!!). when management was interviewing "temp workers" in anticipation of a strike (right as one entered the store), I would make comments about hiring scabs. management did not like me for quite some time. corporate didn't like me, either, when the contract went in, because I called to find out WHY they could afford all new, very expensive display cases for all the stores, but whined about a decent wage to their employees.

[freshwest]

3. Very good work, niyad.

[niyad]

5. I will ALWAYS support my union sisters and brothers (even though not union, but come from a history

of union activism)

[sheshe2]

8. Their whine grows rancid over time, does it not?

So, niyad, kroger does not like you much? So sad.

No matter, I like what you have to say immensely, their loss my gain!

[niyad]

10. thank you, she. somehow, I have taught myself to bear up under their disapprobation.

[gopiscrap]

4. I was gonna walk with them

[sheshe2]

7. Seattle, you are amazing!

Thanks to the unions, the workers and the area residents! Damn you did this!

HEALTH CARE
– We defeated their proposal to flat out eliminate health care coverage for all part time workers in an industry that is increasingly part time.
– We defeated their proposal to dramatically increase what workers would have to pay for health care and also defeated cuts to the health care benefits

PAY
– We defeated their proposal to cut holiday pay that would have forced workers on holidays to be away from their families and get paid less than last year.
– We defeated their proposal to essentially freeze the pay for grocery store workers for three years

http://www.thestand.org/2013/11/workers-overwhelmingly-ratify-grocery-deal/

You all did this and so much more!

So happy for you in Seattle, freshwest. That was one hell of an amazing accomplishment!

[freshwest]

9. Good people here!

[freshwest]

11. Another victory in the making, Sheshe:

"SeaTac $15 minimum wage winning in early vote count"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023987229

And this one, too, came with a cost but will be a great boon to the state's job picture:

Boeing and union have tentative deal that would site 777X in Everett

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10822571