The union fatcats behind the Whole Foods boycott
Last week, I reprinted a boycott flyer sent to me by a Whole Foods employee who asked readers to support the company, which has been targeted by leftists because CEO John Mackey opposes a government takeover of health care:
The union brass at the UFCW are living high on the hog. Mitchell Blatt shines some bright light:
The UFCW (United Food and Commercial Workers), whose president earns $626,769 a year, has launched a campaign against Whole Foods, whose CEO earns $1 a year in salary.
Whole Foods CEO John Mackey’s total compensation is $33,831, and he has implemented executive pay limits for all of his executives.
Mackey’s sin? He offers his employees good benefits, and UFCW wants them to unionize so that their union bosses can make more money.
Go read the whole thing for the astounding salary breakdown of UFCW brass.
UFCW’s latest activities:
In response to a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed by Whole Foods’ Chief Executive Officer John Mackey, activists, consumers and labor groups around the country have been organizing in opposition to his efforts to undermine meaningful health care reform.
Over the course of the next few weeks, members and staff from the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) will be disseminating educational information to Whole Foods shoppers. The purpose of these efforts will be to set the record straight about health care reform and to raise serious concerns about Whole Foods CEO’s position on this critical issue. These events will be part of a series of regional educational efforts being planned for the coming weeks.
On Monday, August 24, 2009, the UFCW will be in front of the Whole Foods in Columbus, Ohio, at 3670 W. Dublin-Granville Rd., from approximately 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and at the Whole Foods at 1555 W. Lane Ave. in Upper Arlington, Ohio, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
For UFCW members, health care reform is a top legislative priority. UFCW members around the country are organizing and mobilizing their communities in support of comprehensive health care reform.
WHO: Local health care activists and labor advocates, led by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union
WHAT: Launch of consumer campaign to educate shoppers about Whole Foods CEO’s efforts to undermine health care reform and President Obama. The UFCW will be providing educational information to Whole Foods shoppers.
WHEN: Monday, August 24, 2009
WHERE: Whole Foods stores in Columbus and Upper Arlington, Ohio
FYI: I stopped by my local Whole Foods in Colorado Springs and picked up some delicious golden raspberries and other treats. The young lady at the checkout counter said business was good — and that several shoppers specifically mentioned coming in to support the company and counter the boycott.
The parking lot and outside cafe were packed.
Hope it was the same at your local Whole Foods.
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Guess its a twofer for the UFCW; they appear righteous in supporting theboycott and then they see a toehold in unionizing the chain.
BTW is UFCW a morph of the Retail Clerks Union, which I as a college student, HAD to join if I wanted the part-time job that put me through college. That union did very little except made sure my part-time paycheck had the full boat load of union dues taken out once a month!
Uh oh….
Prepare yourself, you of the usual cadre of ignorant prominent conservatives, for another self righteous Semitic smackdown from Schlussel.
Business is PACKED here in Arlington, VA (Clarendon Metro).
A friend and I went shopping at Whole Foods in Richmond yesterday simply to support them. It was packed; more than normal. I even saw a bumper sticker on a car in the parking lot in reference to being against socialism. I’m betting that the people most vocal about boycotting Whole Foods don’t shop there to begin with.
Before this happened I never shopped at Whole Foods, since it was inconvenient and 22 miles from my home. I’m proud to say I was there today and loved their vegetables, fruits and meat sections. I’ll return each week for those staples.
Thanks to all the employees of Whole Foods for making my experience great.
Contrast that with my local Kroger “Union Shop” where the employees are rude, bitter and wish the shoppers were never there since they had to work when we shopped there.
Kroger and Publix union employees are you listening?
Strong arm tactics, by the unions, will grow old over time and I hope card check never sees the light of day. I can wish you know.
Never in my life have I seen a President divide a country. Get ready folks 2010 will be our CIVIL war as we vote these bozos out of the House and regain the majority so we can investigate this bunch . Time to take the gloves off!
My hubby is a UFCW member (not by choice) and just received a letter in the mail asking for a weekly paycheck deducted contribution for their Active Ballot Campaign club. They’re asking for $1 a week but you can put any amount you’d like. After he stopped laughing, my husband said this “H.E.L.L. NO!”.
I used to live two blocks from that Whole Foods. It’s the best one I have ever been to.
I forgot to add that I’ll make a special trip to Wholefoods this week to shop.
Publix is a privately held company and doesn’t have a union.
When is our doofus congresscritters going to ask for letters from UFCW showing what they pay executives of the union, what their bonus system entails, trips and perks for their employees? Oh, silly me, that’s only for those backward capitalists trying to make money for their investors.
chap #2
You just love living dangerously!
She’ll be after your hide…
Know that store too. Classic case of location, location, location.
I still call that one Fresh Fields. It used to carry this brand of pesto that was made locally, I think in Virginia, that was the best I’d ever had. Even better than homemade. I have considered making a special trip there to see if they still carry it.
Sorry, I’m also with Schlussel on this one. You have a company, Whole Foods, that supports Islamic terror, and we’re supposed to suddenly start supporting it because they are against ObamaCare?
If CAIR suddenly came out against ObamaCare, would Michelle want us to give donations?
Normally like Michelle Malkin, but she is way off base here.
Hey FLMOM, Just got off the phone with an employee of Publix, I’ve been shopping there for years. She said there are some employees at Publix that have organized. I know Publix is privately held company but was just passing along what was told to me.
if you’re right, I’m sure these unions would love to organize at Publix, watch over them FLMOM and keep them unorganized. It will only mean higher prices for the consumer.
UFCW wants whole foods bad…they want Walmart too (really bad), but since Walmart’s playing footsie with BO on healthcare, wanna bet that the union dogs have been called off for a while? Walmart’s notoriously anti-union, and their current partnership can’t just be about healthcare. Nope…BO promised them labor peace if they’ll just go along.
Atlanta Media Guy, did you go to the WF in Duluth? It’s my favorite. A bit of a drive from Lilburn, but worth it!. We’ll be going on Wednesday – would love to encounter union thugs passing out “educational information”!
Tip: Try the peanut butter/chocolate chip cookies. Delicious!
You, and Schlussel, need a little perspective on the term “supports Islamic terror.”
Stocking a certain type of olive oil over another is not “supporting Islamic terror.”
Schlussel is a loon.
The unions have tried for years to get into Whole Foods, but they don’t have anything to offer the staffers.
This is a golden opportunity for them to derail a profitable company that proves American workers don’t need them.
I wonder if the progressive socialists will go buy their organics at WalMart now?
chap, didn’t Rusty used to work at a Whole Foods?
Schlussel is NOT a loon. In fact, Michelle Malkin blogrolls her. Why would she blogroll a “loon?” I notice a lot of anti-semitism here of late.
Sorry, Michelle Malkin is not being consistent here: She wants us to support a company–Whole Foods–that supports Islamic terrorism.
Debbie Schlussel has pointed that out. Schlussel is the one being consistent in her opposition to Islam; Michelle Malkin is not.
Again, if CAIR suddenly came out against ObamaCare, would Michelle want us to give donations?
http://www.debbieschlussel.com/7484/why-i-cheer-the-whole-foods-boycott-poetic-justice-for-pan-terrorist-israel-hating-retailer/
Wonder how the Whole Foods in nutroot central, San Francisco is weathering the boycott?
At the bottom of every leftist boycott/noise machine lies the union thugs and their desire to control all means of production.
Good memory, yes.
Al Sharpton sees racism in every shadow and around every corner too. He and Debbie are cut from the same cloth.
This is the Debbie Schlussel version of anti-Semitism:
Whole Foods buys a certain brand of olive oil from a certain cooperative in the West Bank. It happens to be owned by Palestinians.
If you think all Palestinians are by nature terrorists, you can stop here. If not, read on.
This cooperative funds a scholarship for children of their farmers to go to West Bank universities, so maybe, just maybe, they can drag themselves out of subsistence living.
If you think Palestinian children should not be able to be educated, you can stop here. if not, read on.
Debbie apparently considers all universities in the West Bank to be little terrorist training camps.
ERGO: WHOLE FOODS HATES JEWS!!!
Oh and the fact that they “refuse” to carry Israeli olive oil. Note she has no proof of any sort of policy. She just assumes that since it isn’t on the shelves, that the reason must be that WHOLE FOODS HATES JEWS!!! Couldn’t possibly be quality, price or demand considerations. Oh, except for the fact that her own readers pointed out that their local Whole Foods had Israeli brands.
She is indeed a loon. You should read her movie review of “Inglorious Basterds”, which she apparently considers one of the bestest movies ever. It gives you a bit of perspective on her pathology.
ugh, you ever eat Wally’s produce? yuk, spit, spit.
Had a produce manager at Albertsons tell me why the produce is so bad in so many stores anymore(i have to go to 2 or 3 stores to get decent produce, if I’m lucky and find so that is), they said it is the Walmart way…buy the cheapest to sell at the lowest price. If I may add, the worst also, I never buy produce from Wally’s, actually I try and not shop there period anymore.
Are people seriously comparing Whole Foods to CAIR? Like, seriously seriously? Or just mock-outage-willfully-not-acknowledging-the-difference-between-Whole-Foods-and-CAIR seriously?
I will admit that I lack the motivation to check myself, but would anybody be so kind as to look into what brands of olive oil are carried at Kroger/King Soopers or Fred Meyer?
I spent $150 at Fred Meyer yesterday, so I need to know if I’m willingly supporting terrorism. I didn’t actually buy any olive oil, but apparently that’s not particularly relevant.
Hmm, I hope they are planning on being there into the evening. I just may have to stop by for some fresh veggies. It is a bit of a drive, but I just LOVE discussing the issues of the day with union thugs, and it will be so nice to let them know that I bypassed my local union store to shop at Wholefoods. I will be sure and let them know the little education program they planned is the reason why
Sry chap. U left out the radio shows they sponsor.
Even u are smart enough to know “if it Quacks like a duck”
I could probably get a job at one of the local groceries-I’ve worked for them before-but they’re both union-and Illinois isn’t a right to work state.
Incidentally-my favorite job as of late-was non-union.
And I hope U are smart enuf to know the diff between a local branch of Whole Foods (not the franchise as a whole) donating some food to a radio station during a fundraising drive and directly supporting one particular show, of many, that station carries.
I am proudly anti-union. Any union. They are nothing more than legalized mobsters.
i shop for nearly everything at wally world except meat (sam’s club) and produce (schnucks or dierbergs) Wally world does have mediocre veggies and meat, but you can’t beat their prices on staples. and the sam’s choice brand is usually excellent.
i shop for nearly everything at wally world except meat (sam’s club) and produce (schnucks or dierbergs) Wally world does have mediocre veggies and meat, but you can’t beat their prices on staples. and the sam’s choice brand is usually excellent.
I worked at Dierbergs in Lemay plaza during our year in St.L.-I even became good friends with our union steward-despite her disagreeing with me on almost everything.
I miss South County.
The quote was from CheapSeat.
did my quote thingy wrong.
Sorry.
United Fat Cats Whine.
I really hope all this crap coming out about the unions finally brings them their downfall. They have totally outlived their usefullness.
As for my pidly pension from UFCW local 1245, it’ll be bonus money if I ever see it — just like Social Security.
Nice work on this issue, chapoutier.
Did you notice on another thread that someone claimed to have found two products which seemingly come from Israel on the shelves at Whole Foods. One was Dead Sea bathing salts.
What does it matter if Whole Foods sells bath salts from Israel or olive oil from Palestine?
This boycott is because the CEO of Whole Foods – a company that treats its employees so well I’ve considered working for it – expressed a negative opinion about Obama’s destined-to-fail health care plan. Not only that, but he expressed sensible alternatives to socialized medicine.
Liberals claim to want “good corporate citizens” and companies that aren’t greedy. Given the generous benefits Whole Foods has for its employees – including salary caps for executives – they would, ideally, be a model of that good corporate citizenship.
If only the CEO weren’t a free-thinking man.
Ask Debbie Schlussel and those that support her about this issue.
Jenkintown, Pa Whole Foods Market was packed this past Saturday when I stocked up my pantry.
Pizza Naan is something all should try!
It looks like a case of WFDS.
On August 24th, 2009 at 5:06 pm, Gabe said:
Schlussel is a loon.
Schlussel is NOT a loon. In fact, Michelle Malkin blogrolls her. Why would she blogroll a “loon?” I notice a lot of anti-semitism here of late.
Funny, I’ve not noticed any anti semitic comments. For the most part I’ve read intelligent conversation compared to the left wing sites.
Trying to beat Walmart at the low-price game is retail suicide. Most Whole Foods customers don’t exclusively shop at Whole Foods. They buy items that they’re especially choosy about there, but pick up most of the staples at the lower-priced retailers.
WalMart is boycotting Glenn Beck, so I’m done with them for a while. I can certainly understand a company that panders to its customers, but the progressives don’t shop Walmart. They hate it with a passion. It would be absolutely surreal to see Walmart bow to them if I weren’t convinced that Obama either cut a deal with them or threatened to audit them in perpetuity.
Sheesh, I hope Meijer’s isn’t on the list. I better go check.
Gabe
Will you also boycott and campaign against the POTUS for his gift to HAMAS?
Gabe
Please read chapter 7, pages 143-151, of Catastrophe by Dick Morris.
I am done with WalMart too, Marco. The Unions were successful at keeping Super Walmarts out of California because it would have been too much competition for the union stronghold of grocery stores we have here. The politicians who are supposed to be for the poor people proved to be for their own payday as they got kickbacks from the union here to vote super walmarts out. What I find interesting is that WalMart is opening Super Mercados de WalMart soon. I would bet that they will operate here in Cali, unions be damned as they cater to their favorite customers…the illegal aliens. The illegals will be able to do one stop shopping while we have to continue to food shop with rude union employees.
WalMart does not seem to carry conservative books here either. I can always find lies (oops mean satire) written by Al Franken (then again, probably conservative authors are sold out). The boycott of Glenn Beck is also enough to make me shop elsewhere. I contacted Sprint and let them know I will not be remaining as a customer after my contract is up because of their boycott. I asked them how they can be critical of Beck referring to the pres as a racist when he sat in Wright’s church for so long. I am so tired of the double standard lifestyle of liberals.
As a UFCW member by force, I can relate. Eight of the 17 employees are compensated 6 figures. The President got a total of $250,000 in 2006 or a 5% raise over 2005.
Most part time employees got anywhere from a 25 cent to 75 cent raise. At the same time Union dues were increased a dollar or so with several $3-5 “fees.”
They have also sent me several letters asking me to support the “active ballot initiative” by taking a additional dollar each week, or more if you want. I send the original letter, card and envelope back in their pre-paid return envelope. At least I know how some of my dues are spent.
About the only time they are seen and pretend to care is when a new contract is begin negotiated.
The worst part is that the worthless and lazy employees are pretty much safe from getting fired and the other employees must do their jobs as well to keep the store running and you work you ass of and don’t get a extra penny for it.
Sorry, I’m not going to shop there – too far and too expensive.
Safeway – too expensive since their upgrades to compete with Whole Foods
King Soopers – nasty, rude, nasty employees, haven’t shopped there in almost 10 years, unless I absolutely have no choice – need to get single ingredient for Thanksgiving dinner, etc.
We mostly shop at Albertson’s. They have great prices and fantastic sales every week. The employees are helpful and friendly too. For bulk shopping, we go to Sam’s Club about once a month. And in between those two is SuperTarget – great quality and upscale food at affordable prices.
Though I rarely shop there, if these goofballs show up at our local Whole Foods store, I’m going to go in specifically IN SPITE OF THEM and buy some things WHILE they protest.
Our WF is busy busy busy. I asked a manager if they’ve had any blowback from the op-ed and he said that I was the first person to bring it up. He did say that they received a memo from corporate that instructed them to inform any complainers that the views on healthcare reform were Mackey’s personal views and not those of WF.
I once belonged to an union (not by choice) until the supermarket chain closed all its stores here in Oklahoma. I attended an union meeting addressing the closure and boy was my eyes opened. I watched these union leaders with their fancy hairstyles and big rings telling us there wasn’t a thing they could do for us. I realized then the unions were leeches, taking our money and giving us nothing in return. I swore I would never join another union again. It made my day when Oklahoma passed the “Right to work” law and became an “open shop” state.
I know this thread is done, but I wanted to post what I got e-mailed from Sprint. Bye-bye Sprint….
Thank you for contacting Sprint regarding the Glen Beck Show. I apologize for the inconvenience you have experienced. It is our policy at Sprint to make advertising decisions based on the demographics of the audience and not on the nature of the content being broadcasted, provided the broadcast does not promote racist, sexist or other offensive views. Our goal is to reach our current and prospectivecustomers through this venue; our advertising is not an endorsement for or against any particular candidate or political viewpoint. While we understand your disappointment in the selection criteria organizers have established for this event, we would like to suggest youcontact them directly to express your concerns. Your feedback is important and we appreciate you taking the time to contact us.
Unions are extortionists, plain and simple. If you support unions, you support extortionists. The ends DO NOT justify the means. The means are what separate the good guys from the bad guys. Funny how libs seem to forget this with unions but are quick to limit what our intelligence agencies can do against terrorism. You, ya’ll are the elite alright.
The employees at Whole Foods are fantastic. Check out their cheese counter and talk to their fromager. Ask about raw cheeses, or for a recommendation. Talk to the butcher about grass-fed beef or free-range chickens. Ask their grocer what the weird wrinkly dry brown vegetable is used for. Everyone I talk to there, and I’m a bit chatty if not outright loquacious, is so engaging! They walk with me to the opposite side of the store to show me their tahini selection, then over to the refrigerator case to point out the fresh version. They must all receive training in customer service or something. I get the impression they all love what they’re doing, that they love their product, and that they enjoy doing their work. There are two WFs near my house and it’s always a pleasure going there. I’ve not once encountered anyone who wasn’t willing to engage me, and that goes for the customers there as well, and that’s without knowing or caring about their political affiliations, which for some odd reason I would assume to be chiefly liberal.