Grocers, union reach tentative deal (Saint Louis)

[SaintLouisBlues]

Negotiators for the United Food and Commercial
Workers Local 655 and the area's three largest
supermarket chains have reached a tentative
agreement to end St. Louis' first major grocery strike and
lockout, now in its 24th day.

-snip-

The fact that customers have honored the picket line for so
long probably surprised the companies, Phares said.
Local 655 has passed out to shoppers a list of 30 alternative
union groceries. Most of these stores had seen business
double or triple in recent weeks.

Based on reports from Teamsters drivers, who deliver most
products to the three grocery chains, the companies have
taken a major financial hit, said Dan McKay, president of
Teamsters Local 600 in St. Louis. "The companies can sit there and candy coat it all they want,"
he said. "Their business was down dramatically."

http://tinyurl.com/t1ef

I could not believe how many St. Louisans refused to cross the picket lines. The parking lots
have looked 25 percent of normal all month.

Good old rust-belt, pro-union Saint Louis...way to go!

[realFedUp]

1. I'm hoping it's working that way in LA

but read this morning that shoppers offered lower priced products have crossed the lines...

[hang a left]

2. You know that really pisses me off. I have paid way more for

groceries in the last few weeks. My closest market is Vons, which is where I normally go for runs. I do my major marketing at Alberton's which is about 3 miles away. For my runs I have been forced to go to Major Market which is a very expensive market. I paid 6 something for a quart of cream, ridiculous. Then for the weekly trips I have driven four miles to a shitty Stater Brothers. I have refused to cross the lines, and we are paying to support the "cause". It makes me mad that people don't stick to their guns. I hope the boycott is working though.

[Fitzovich]

3. A Locked Out Grocecy Worker

From one of the locked out Workers in St. Louis want you to know that I appreciate your efforts to support those on the picket line in California. Yes, the smaller markets often have higher prices and that's really lousy but, if the chains break the unions it is very likely the begining of a spiral to the bottom for all of us union and non-union alike. Thanks for your support!

[realFedUp]

4. Welcome fitz and good luck on working out a contract

Hope something happens here soon.

[Dragonfly]

5. Fitzovich speaks profoundly,

especially on what could very well occur like an "awake daymare" if "chains break the unions." As if we're not spiraling enough already, eh?!

Good luck with the voting in the a.m.

Welcome to this multi-thousand-soul debate/discussion!

[SaintLouisBlues]

6. Friday 10/31 update

Strike/lock-out is over. The Union voted in favor of the new
contract by an 82 percent majority this morning.