February 17, 2010
Dear Friends,
In the Feb. 17 edition of the "Pawtucket Times", a large advertisment says Stop & Shop is now hiring temporary replacement workers for cashier and clerk positions. The ad says, "The temporary employment would occur in the event of a strike or a lockout because of a labor dispute." Temp. full time workers are offered $15 per hour and part time $12 per hour. This quest for replacement workers occurs in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut stores.
In the meantime, on Feb. 16, workers were wearing informational buttons, telling the public what is going on.
Three bothersome issues: First of all, how did Stop & Shop's parent Dutch company Royal Ahold get themselves into this bind? Do not blame union greed, as Local 328 does not get the health benefits they received in the 1970's and 1980's. On the other hand, Royal Ahold will use an incomprehensible claim of lack of profit as a cause of their lack of bargaining in good faith. Corporate greed entered into the corporate mindset as Stop & Shop buildings and gas stations over expanded. New Stop & Shops stores in Seekonk, Lincoln, East Providence, and Attleboro were built in the last three years. Robotic cash registers proliferate the stores and remove the jobs away from young workers. Please, Royal Ahold, you have done your best to remove the quality of humanity from your customer assistance by cutting workers and 24 hour service. Union greed would force Royal Ahold into a weak argument.
Issue two: If there should be a lockout or strike, this situation will get nasty as the Teamsters Union would enter with a possible sympathy action with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. When will the truckloads of food stop coming in? How will people on food stamps get their food? Where will people shop? Royal Ahold has created a virtual monopoly in the Northeast with the poor who rely on monthly food stamp and WIC checks.
Issue three: What is the local, state, and national political response to exercise in negotiating in bad faith? Can the mayor of a city order a store opened, based on concern of the public health, safety, and welfare of its citizens? On the statewide level, I am petrified with thoughts of the possibility that Governor Carcieri would sent in the National Guard to Stop & Shop stores to restore order. Cannot President Obama issue parts of the Taft-Hartley Act to enter federal and state arbitration between Royal Ahold and Local 328 for 90 days?
Final point: I hope stores such as Pawtucket Farmers Market, Armando's Meat Market, Dave's Marketplace, and BJ's Warehouse and Wal-Mart have enough stock to overcome a lockout or strike.
A point in Local 328 history: A summer of 1970 general supermarket strike created havoc with shoppers. However, 40 years ago, one could easily go to an independent market or A & P. Nevertheless, options today are slimmer. People will go hungry.
What do neighbors think?
