And I'm in agreement with you: we won't cross a picket line either. So if the strike goes ahead, that means no QFC, Fred Meyer, or Safeway.

That leaves Costco, Trader Joe's, Albertsons, and Top Foods. I know the first two have a reputation for treating their workers well, but they don't carry everything we need. Is Top Foods even unionised at all? Albertsons doesn't strike me as a particularly good place to work either.

Where should we shop if the strike goes ahead?

Damn, I still miss the old Larry's Markets...

One alternative I haven't seen discussed is Winco. They're employee owned and have pretty good prices.

I'm lucky to have one in my neighborhood.

We don't have a Winco around here I don't think, but Red Apple Markets might also be an option, though it's a bit far to go.

We'll just have to do our best and be flexible. Whole Foods and PCC are other options, but pricey.

http://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog/2013/10/know-where-to-shop-for-groceries-in-the-event-that-ufcw-members-go-on-strike.html

As of this morning, we are twelve hours away from a possible strike against Fred Meyer, Safeway, Albertson’s, and QFC by our brothers and sisters in the United Food & Commercial Workers, Local 21. The hardworking members of Local 21 are trying to negotiate a new contract with the big chains, but so far, they have been unable to reach an agreement. UFCW Local 21?s members have authorized a strike in the event an agreement is not reached by 7 PM tonight.

In preparation for the strike, the chains have begun putting out signs announcing that they may soon be hiring temporary workers (or scabs, in union parlance).

If there is a strike, we ask that all of our readers honor it by not shopping at any Fred Meyer, Safeway, QFC, or Albertson’s store until the workers agree on a contract with the management of these companies, which are represented by Allied Employers. Stand in solidarity with UFCW workers – don’t cross a picket line.

And even if there isn’t a picket line, don’t go into a store where workers have walked off the job because they were unable to obtain a fair contract.

Here are the sticking points in the negotiations, according to UFCW:

•No healthcare coverage for everyone working less than 30 hours a week (and that means they will cut hours so no one works more than 30 hours/week).
•No time-and-a-half on holidays
•No cost of living wage increase and massive cuts in many parts of their contracts.
Negotiations have been ongoing for months, but have not resulted in an agreement. Time is running out and it looks like a walkout could be imminent.

UFCW has posted a map and a list of all of the local, unionized grocers in Western Washington where you can take your business during a strike. If you’re into eating healthy and eating organic, you’ll be glad to know PCC Natural Markets is on the list of stores that are safe to patronize. You can also shop at Metropolitan Market, Haggen, Top Food & Drug, or Uwajimaya stores.

UFCW also has a list of pharmacies in King County that will be unaffected by the strike. Hopefully they’ll update that list to make it more comprehensive.

By boycotting the aforementioned big chains in the event of a labor dispute, you’re supporting their workers’ efforts to win a fair contract.

The Stand has more information about the negotiations between UFCW and Allied Employers (Fred Meyer, QFC, Safeway, and Albertson’s).

And I am merely going to kick it, not that the Washington site gets much traffic.

That's my home page--it has all manner of links to local news of interest to progressives in WA, OR and ID.

Don't know how to describe my disgust any better.

Besides, if I ever did, legions of my ancestors would haunt me to an early well deserved grave.

http://seattletimes.com/html/latestnews/2022097509_grocerystrikexml.html

Just two hours before a 7 p.m. strike deadline, two big grocery unions said they reached a tentative agreement in labor talks with four supermarket chains Monday.

Union negotiators said they unanimously recommended the new contract, but workers still must give their approval. Vote meetings have yet to be arranged, and no other details were given.

Talks between the unions and four major grocery chains — Albertson’s, Fred Meyer, Safeway and QFC — affected about 21,000 workers in King, Kitsap, Pierce, Snohomish, Thurston and Mason counties.

Allied Employers, which represented the companies throughout negotiations, said in a statement that the agreement “continues to preserve good wages, secure pensions and access to quality, affordable health care for our employees.”

Union spokesman Tom Geiger, who represents United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), said labor negotiators are “very pleased” with the proposed new terms, and that’s “reflected in their unanimous recommendation.”

He added that they included not only union leaders, but also about two dozen grocery workers. The union locals involved were Teamsters 38 and UFCW 21 and 367

But I didn't know the details. Thank you for filling it in. I am so, so pleased!

The Scab
by Jack London, (1876-1916)

After God had finished the rattlesnake, the toad, and the vampire, he had some awful substance left with which he made a scab.

A scab is a two-legged animal with a corkscrew soul, a water brain, a combination backbone of jelly and glue.

Where others have hearts, he carries a tumor of rotten principles.

When a scab comes down the street, men turn their backs and angels weep in heaven, and the devil shuts the gates of hell to keep him out.

No man (or woman) has a right to scab so long as there is a pool of water to drown his carcass in, or a rope long enough to hang his body with.

Judas was a gentleman compared with a scab. For betraying his master, he had character enough to hang himself. A scab has not.

Esau sold his birthright for a mess of pottage.

Judas sold his Savior for thirty pieces of silver.

Benedict Arnold sold his country for a promise of a commision in the british army.

The scab sells his birthright, country, his wife, his children and his fellowmen for an unfulfilled promise from his employer.

Esau was a traitor to himself; Judas was a traitor to his God; Benedict Arnold was a traitor to his country.

A scab is a traitor to his God, his country, his family and his class.

until I've walked in the shoes of a mother trying to feed her children, I cannot look down upon her if she chooses to be a scab. I just can't. But those who don't need to be scabs are everything you just described, in spades.

I remember when I got that first fax for working a strike in California (California nurses rock!), my eyes almost popped out of my sockets. I couldn't believe how much money they wanted to throw at me. And they used the line that the patients needed nurses (not mentioning that the patients had been moved to other facilities because strikes are never called with no notice - nurses care).

I looked at the piece of paper and spat on it, then I threw it in the recycle.

This was easily 15 years ago. I'm sure they are offering double that now, but I pray I am never in a situation where that is my only option. I couldn't look myself in the eyes.

--at Seattle Central Community College. Funds were getting low, but I thought we could hang on a bit longer. Besides the obvious moral issue, there was the 100% certainty that I would permanently alienate possible future colleagues.

I was unaware that the company I was picking up from was in a strike.
I couldnt turn around, I couldnt back up.
I went in and got shot at.
That was IT, I told my company that I would NEVER cross a line.
Not only because it was the right thing, but dang, bullets sting
They sent me (again, damnit) to a auto plant, the union hall was right across the street.
The gate had 2-300 folks in front. I left.
I threatened to quit, I dropped the trailer in a yard somewhere and never had that problem again.

I wont cross a line, at work or on my own time.