r3port3r66
10-25-03, 12:44 PM
Albertson's, Vons and Ralphs--BIG grocery store chains here in Southern California--are on strike. Employees of these chains are striking for what they feel are unfair labor practices. The CEO's of said chains are proposing to cut back wages (mind you the average loyal employee gets $17 an hour) and medical benefits (mind you, the loyal employee has full medical insurance, which pretty much covers everything).
With the recent slump in our stock market, the company says that they can no longer afford to pay such high wages and pay for medical insurance too. Of course, when news of a proposal to cut hours/wages and benefits hit the Union Leaders their first reaction was to start up a good ole American picket line. Which they did and it continues on today.
I've heard and read mixed reactions to this situation. Some people say they cross the picket line anyway because they feel that the employees are getting alot and they should be lucky to have a job. Here's a quote from an average American that supports this reasoning:
" Well as I walked into my local Vons store today I was greeted by many people on strike. They were NOT being abnoxious in any way but wanted to know why I was crossing thier picket line. I told them they should be thankful they had a job and if they didn't like working for Vons, find a new job. They were shocked at my bluntness!
These employees are expecting customers to shop at other private, non-union markets until they get their matters resolved, them come back? Please. If I have to change markets, it will be because I want to and I won't be coming back. The more customers they chase away, the less money the company will make and the less employees they will need. Hummmmm, these union workers are really smart! They will strike themselves right out of a job, hopefully!"--Frank
I got that quote from a website that features people who own RV's and travel around the country.
Here are some stats from the CEO's that run the country's biggest supermarkets:
Albertson's
Lawrence Johnston, CEO of Albertson's, makes 12.22 million a year. That works out to $6100 an hour (12.2 / 2000 hours) vs. the $17 an hour he's whining about paying employees.
"CEO makes $6100 an hour, and wants to freeze wages for those making $17 an hour"
Safeway
Steven Burd CEO took a "pay cut" then exercised millions in stock options. Insider transactions for 2003 show multiple option exercises of 50,000 shares of Safeway at $6 a share then immediately selling at market price of about $23-24, netting about $900,000 each time.
Kroger
Joseph Pichler CEO, 3.93 million salary owns 1.2 million shares has disposed of about 270,000 shares this year in "non open market" transactions, and exercised options of 80,000 shares at 4.60 (the stock is 19 today)
Would you ever cross a picket line? Why/Why not?
With the recent slump in our stock market, the company says that they can no longer afford to pay such high wages and pay for medical insurance too. Of course, when news of a proposal to cut hours/wages and benefits hit the Union Leaders their first reaction was to start up a good ole American picket line. Which they did and it continues on today.
I've heard and read mixed reactions to this situation. Some people say they cross the picket line anyway because they feel that the employees are getting alot and they should be lucky to have a job. Here's a quote from an average American that supports this reasoning:
" Well as I walked into my local Vons store today I was greeted by many people on strike. They were NOT being abnoxious in any way but wanted to know why I was crossing thier picket line. I told them they should be thankful they had a job and if they didn't like working for Vons, find a new job. They were shocked at my bluntness!
These employees are expecting customers to shop at other private, non-union markets until they get their matters resolved, them come back? Please. If I have to change markets, it will be because I want to and I won't be coming back. The more customers they chase away, the less money the company will make and the less employees they will need. Hummmmm, these union workers are really smart! They will strike themselves right out of a job, hopefully!"--Frank
I got that quote from a website that features people who own RV's and travel around the country.
Here are some stats from the CEO's that run the country's biggest supermarkets:
Albertson's
Lawrence Johnston, CEO of Albertson's, makes 12.22 million a year. That works out to $6100 an hour (12.2 / 2000 hours) vs. the $17 an hour he's whining about paying employees.
"CEO makes $6100 an hour, and wants to freeze wages for those making $17 an hour"
Safeway
Steven Burd CEO took a "pay cut" then exercised millions in stock options. Insider transactions for 2003 show multiple option exercises of 50,000 shares of Safeway at $6 a share then immediately selling at market price of about $23-24, netting about $900,000 each time.
Kroger
Joseph Pichler CEO, 3.93 million salary owns 1.2 million shares has disposed of about 270,000 shares this year in "non open market" transactions, and exercised options of 80,000 shares at 4.60 (the stock is 19 today)
Would you ever cross a picket line? Why/Why not?