My Dad and Mom ran a grocery store in a small Iowa town for many years. In fact the town of Bode, Iowa had a Monson's grocery for nearly 100 years before it got to me. Anyway, they made enough to live comfortably, but not enough to be rich and famous. But the old Mom and Pop grocery stores, unfortunately, are quickly becoming a thing of the past.
It varies greatly, but around here I know that Safeways, Albertsons and City Market\King Soopers workers all either went on strike or came damn close in order to get better pay, and more importantly-health insurance. I haven't checked myself, but I've been told that as the companies were whining about how they can barely make a profit and that the changes would destroy them, the reality was that their profits had been going nowhere but up up up.
Typical scumbag corporate BS. The other trick that they love is limit people to 32 hours a week so they can't be considered full time. Another primo way to screw your employees.
Typical scumbag corporate BS. The other trick that they love is limit people to 32 hours a week so they can't be considered full time. Another primo way to screw your employees.
TTinCO said:
Those aren't true statements TT. Workers get full benefits at 32 hours. The reason they limit it to 32 hours is because of the union. The union wants more workers and in France-like logic figure they get more dues payers if they don't let anyone get more than 32 hours. Of course the pay is quite good, cashiers making $15 or so an hour, so the workers don't complain too much. As for your assertion about profits, a number of grocers have entered bankruptcy in recent years and more would if they didn't get bought out. The grocers making money are the ones he unions hate.
Bill, I was wondering exactly what the 32 hr thing was---it very well may hae been that they don't let them hit 32 due to the full time thing.
All the "big" grocers out here are union-but that's creating problems now that Sams Club(non union) is becoming a bigger force in the grocery industry.
Safeway ----> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/cbuilder?ticker1=SWY:US
All the "big" grocers out here are union-but that's creating problems now that Sams Club(non union) is becoming a bigger force in the grocery industry.
Safeway ----> http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/cbuilder?ticker1=SWY:US
The operating numbers are not getting better for two of the titans of the industry, despite mergers that theoretically should be growing the EBIT and bottom lines. Here in Vegas Walmart supercenters are eating the supermarkets lunch. These non-union stores are beating the supermarkets because they pay somewhat less in salaries, but even more they don't face the restrictive rules and requirements union contracts require.
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/is?s=KR&annual
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/is?s=ABS&annual
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/is?s=KR&annual
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/is?s=ABS&annual
Walmart supercenters are taking over the world. There is a grocery store a few miles from me and it is the only grocery store in a small town - and it has changed owners I would say 5 times in the last 10 years. Nobody goes there because you can drive 10 miles and buy the same stuff for cheaper at wal mart.
BTW I've never seen a cashier making $15/hour. $8/hour around here if you're lucky.
BTW I've never seen a cashier making $15/hour. $8/hour around here if you're lucky.
I have a friend in the biz and he told me their mark up is less than 1% on most "off the shelf" goods.
Where they make their money is in the prepared foods, pharmacy, and various other "convenience" departments.
And PKJ is right...WalMart is giving them a run for their money due to them being non-union and the Walmart buying capabilities.
Where they make their money is in the prepared foods, pharmacy, and various other "convenience" departments.
And PKJ is right...WalMart is giving them a run for their money due to them being non-union and the Walmart buying capabilities.
sherman said:
Union cashiers with 2 years experience make over $15/hour in Vegas and a little more in CA, at least that is what they said during the contract battles they went through. Then again $15/hour isn't much in this town, especially when you can only work 32 hours. Walmart cashiers with similar experience are said to make around $10/hour with lesser benefits.
