|
Post by lakhota on May 28, 2011 18:19:27 GMT -5
Grocery Store Workers Go On Hunger Strike Over Stagnant Wages All night long, Jose Garcia performs his job while surrounded by food -- a painful bit of irony, he says. The 52-year-old Mexican immigrant works the overnight shift cleaning floors inside a Cub Foods store in Minneapolis, Minn., a job he's mostly appreciated for the nine years he's held it down. But lately, waxing aisle after aisle filled with groceries has simply reminded him of how little he has. Despite his long tenure with the same cleaning company, Garcia says he earns a wage of $9 an hour -- more or less the same rate he was making when he started cleaning floors back in 2002. Taking inflation into account, his salary has effectively gone down since he started working on the cleaning crew. There are times when he can't afford as much food as he'd like. He says it pains him to see workers at the store throw out unsold perishables like roasted chicken at the end of the night. "It's perfectly good food," Garcia says through a translator. In the past, when he's asked if he can take the food home, he says he's been told that under-the-table giveaways are against store rules. Sometimes he resorts to visiting the charitable food pantries around town. The irony there doesn’t escape him, either: Grocery stores like the one where he works often donate the very food that goes to those pantries and, eventually, to the needy like himself. Like a lot of the workers who clean retail and food stores these days, Garcia doesn’t work directly for the store he cleans. He's employed by a company called Carlson Building Maintenance, which has a contract to wax and buff the floors inside Cub Foods stores, a chain concentrated in Minnesota. Cub is owned by Supervalu, a grocery conglomerate that also has Acme, Albertsons and Shoppers among its many holdings. Although they had once been decent-paying union jobs, a lot of the cleaning and other grunt work in grocery and retail stores now gets farmed out to third-party contractors like Carlson. Sometimes there are even sub-contractors beneath the contractors. If these companies can't get the job done at a certain price point, the retailer will simply find another company that will. The system puts downward wage pressures on bottom-rung workers like Garcia. If someone can work at the same job for roughly a decade and not see a raise, Garcia wonders, then what kind of promise does American employment actually hold? "I started out working thinking I would make more money at some point," says Garcia. "As the years have gone by, instead of things getting better, things have gotten worse." Despite the stagnant pay, he says his workload has managed to increase. Whereas three workers used to clean the floors of a store, Garcia says two workers are now expected to complete the same task. He says he often has to work through breaks to get the job done. Although he has no children, Garcia says he has a mother and a wheelchair-bound sister to look after back in Mexico, where he tries to send $300 or $400 each month. He declined to say whether he's documented to work here. Feeling desperate, Garcia and a former coworker are now in the midst of a hunger strike, posting up at an encampment in Minneapolis to bring attention to their plight. The goal of organizers and local clergy is to bring Cub Foods management to the bargaining table to negotiate pay. Veronica Mendez, one of the organizers, said most grocery-store cleaners in the area are earning around $7.50 or $8 an hour and doing more work than they did just a few years ago. More: www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/28/grocery-store-workers-hunger-minneapolis-minnesota-cub-foods_n_868195.html
|
|
|
Post by lakhota on May 28, 2011 18:22:48 GMT -5
I would assume pay is their ONLY compensation.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: May 19, 2024 0:09:39 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 28, 2011 18:35:37 GMT -5
BS-- my ex was in the grocery business for 25 years. Started bagging groceries, worked up to district manager. When we were young and poor we had so many perks. All the day old stuff??? Produce, dairy, breads-- all the employees see it first. Ripped 50 lb. bags of dog food for $3.99-- employees?? Discontinued-- employees. LOTS of perks. Grocery has taken a hit in the last few years. Used to be you could work up to top salary and benies in months, now it takes years-- because UNIONS don't want to pay benies, even though as an employee you are a union worker and pay dues... Grocery is NOT what it used to be-- a great, high paying job with huge advancement potential, but it still has food perks. If you work at a grocery store and are starving--- something weird going on........
UFCW SUX-- enables addictions and wife beaters, pays drunks, druggies, and abusers while in jail, destroys families.
|
|
cme1201
Junior Associate
Tennis Elbow, Jock Itch, and Athletes Foot, every man has a sports life!
Joined: Apr 6, 2011 13:55:07 GMT -5
Posts: 5,503
|
Post by cme1201 on May 28, 2011 18:42:58 GMT -5
He could always quit and find a higher paying job if he feels he isn't being compensated enough.
ETA: "It's perfectly good food," Garcia says through a translator. This could be part of the problem. He claims to have worked for the cleaning company at this store for 9 years and still requires a translator, perhaps if he had tried to better his speaking skills he could have moved up into a crew lead or perhaps a manager position. Of course that doesn't feel as warm and fuzzy as saying the big bad grocery store is the monster because it throws away food.
|
|
deziloooooo
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 16:22:04 GMT -5
Posts: 10,723
|
Post by deziloooooo on May 28, 2011 18:44:01 GMT -5
The man I just saw living next to our river would probably be glad to have Mr. Garcia's job.
|
|
deziloooooo
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 16:22:04 GMT -5
Posts: 10,723
|
Post by deziloooooo on May 28, 2011 18:45:38 GMT -5
He could always quit and find a higher paying job if he feels he isn't being compensated enough. Missing the point
|
|
cme1201
Junior Associate
Tennis Elbow, Jock Itch, and Athletes Foot, every man has a sports life!
Joined: Apr 6, 2011 13:55:07 GMT -5
Posts: 5,503
|
Post by cme1201 on May 28, 2011 18:47:54 GMT -5
He could always quit and find a higher paying job if he feels he isn't being compensated enough. Missing the point No I am not missing the point.
|
|
vonnie6200
Senior Member
Adopt a Shelter Pet
Joined: Jan 8, 2011 14:07:17 GMT -5
Posts: 2,199
|
Post by vonnie6200 on May 28, 2011 18:48:15 GMT -5
and the point to this thread is??
Is Jose providing more or better labor than he was when he was hired? Has Jose done anything to improve his lot in life since acquiring this job? Has Jose picked up any new job skills?
Is the store making a larger profit or are they hurting like the rest of the country? If the store raises Jose's wage because he's been around for a time - will they need to lay off another employee, not hire another employee, raise the cost of all groceries?
Are we supposed to feel really bad for Jose because his life is getting harder?
I know I sound heartless - and I am not - Jose either needs to find more work hours, improve his job skills, or find another job
|
|
|
Post by lakhota on May 28, 2011 18:51:51 GMT -5
This seems to be a chronic problem with you. Maybe you need a translator...
|
|
cme1201
Junior Associate
Tennis Elbow, Jock Itch, and Athletes Foot, every man has a sports life!
Joined: Apr 6, 2011 13:55:07 GMT -5
Posts: 5,503
|
Post by cme1201 on May 28, 2011 18:53:42 GMT -5
Point of thread
Big grocery store bad for not paying higher wages to non-english speaking immigrant who worked for them for 9 years while never bothering to learn english
Am I close there Lakhota and Dezilooooo
|
|
henryclay
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 5, 2011 19:03:37 GMT -5
Posts: 3,685
|
Post by henryclay on May 28, 2011 18:56:51 GMT -5
Market forces have nothing to do with Jose's plight. There has to be a psychological explanation that can only be learned by laying on a couch and answering questions. Questions like, "Did you like you mother when you were little?"
|
|
|
Post by lakhota on May 28, 2011 18:59:42 GMT -5
Point of thread Big grocery store bad for not paying higher wages to non-english speaking immigrant who worked for them for 9 years while never bothering to learn englishAm I close there Lakhota and Dezilooooo How much "English" does he need to clean floors and do grunt work on night shift? The point is that he's doing more for less than when he started.
|
|
|
Post by lakhota on May 28, 2011 19:03:29 GMT -5
Market forces have nothing to do with Jose's plight. There has to be a psychological explanation that can only be learned by laying on a couch and answering questions. Questions like, "Did you like you mother when you were little?" You mean the same Mother he sends money back to Mexico for each month?
|
|
vonnie6200
Senior Member
Adopt a Shelter Pet
Joined: Jan 8, 2011 14:07:17 GMT -5
Posts: 2,199
|
Post by vonnie6200 on May 28, 2011 19:06:14 GMT -5
Market forces have nothing to do with Jose's plight. There has to be a psychological explanation that can only be learned by laying on a couch and answering questions. Questions like, "Did you like you mother when you were little?" You mean the same Mother he sends money back to Mexico for each month? Jose could go home to Mexico and work.
|
|
cme1201
Junior Associate
Tennis Elbow, Jock Itch, and Athletes Foot, every man has a sports life!
Joined: Apr 6, 2011 13:55:07 GMT -5
Posts: 5,503
|
Post by cme1201 on May 28, 2011 19:06:16 GMT -5
Point of thread Big grocery store bad for not paying higher wages to non-english speaking immigrant who worked for them for 9 years while never bothering to learn englishAm I close there Lakhota and Dezilooooo How much "English" does he need to clean floors and do grunt work on night shift? The point is that he's doing more for less than when he started. He needs as much english as is needed to advance, if all he wants to do is clean floors then he is receiving a comparable income for the effort he is placing into the job. He is not making less he is making the same amount, it may not go as far yet 9 to start and 9 now equals same pay not less.
|
|
deziloooooo
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 16:22:04 GMT -5
Posts: 10,723
|
Post by deziloooooo on May 28, 2011 19:06:23 GMT -5
|
|
cme1201
Junior Associate
Tennis Elbow, Jock Itch, and Athletes Foot, every man has a sports life!
Joined: Apr 6, 2011 13:55:07 GMT -5
Posts: 5,503
|
Post by cme1201 on May 28, 2011 19:09:12 GMT -5
So Deziloooooo the only intelligent conversation you can have is using emotes, you claim that I don't get it yet you bring zero in to the conversation.
Perhaps instead of silly icons you can be a big boy and use your grown up words to explain to me what I do not get.
|
|
cme1201
Junior Associate
Tennis Elbow, Jock Itch, and Athletes Foot, every man has a sports life!
Joined: Apr 6, 2011 13:55:07 GMT -5
Posts: 5,503
|
Post by cme1201 on May 28, 2011 19:10:51 GMT -5
The sad thing is that the damn lawyers worry he might get sick from stale food, but keeling over from hunger is just fine. You should have seen the controversy about the author of the Tightwad Gazette feeding her kids stale marshmallows. To those of us who follow the Judeo-Christian tradition, the poor have certain rights, and one will be judged by a higher authority when the poor and suffering are ignored. Yes, but doesn't your Bible and Jesus say to give to the needy in secert and not in the open for those who give openly get the reward they want, the admiration of there equals?
|
|
b2r
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 21, 2010 10:35:25 GMT -5
Posts: 7,257
|
Post by b2r on May 28, 2011 19:17:51 GMT -5
Current Openings: Carlson Building Maintenance operates in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, South Dakota and North Dakota. We are always seeking people who want to learn our industry and advance in a career. We are currently taking applications for: Floor Care Technician - Unskilled entry level - Night work, Full-time and Part-time. Paid-time-off benefits to full-time employees. Floor care is physically demanding work. Previous experience preferred but not required. Will train. Lead Floor Technician - Night work with more advanced skills and responsibility and more pay than a Floor Care Technician. Physically demanding work. Knowledge of floor cleaning equipment and experience required. Paid-time off benefits. Project Specialist - Night work performing stripping of floors and other special projects. Requires more knowledge/skills and pays more than a Lead Floor Care Technician. Must have the ability to travel to site locations within a specified region. Paid-Time Off benefits. www.carlsonbuilding.com/employment.html
|
|
|
Post by lakhota on May 28, 2011 19:24:22 GMT -5
Same wages for 9 years and now 2 employees doing the job that 3 used to do? It equates to financial rape.
|
|
vonnie6200
Senior Member
Adopt a Shelter Pet
Joined: Jan 8, 2011 14:07:17 GMT -5
Posts: 2,199
|
Post by vonnie6200 on May 28, 2011 19:25:11 GMT -5
I am confused about why one cannot give in secret or rather, simply pay decent wages to the poor. Remember, one is admonished to work or starve, but it also says that the workman is worthy of his wages. Not only is it not charity to pay a living wage, it is required. Anything less is theft. It might be a living wage if he wasn't sending money out of the country every month. I understand and applaud Jose for helping his family - but it is not his employer's obligation to compensate him for that. Jose might need to get a part time job to afford to subsidize his family
|
|
vonnie6200
Senior Member
Adopt a Shelter Pet
Joined: Jan 8, 2011 14:07:17 GMT -5
Posts: 2,199
|
Post by vonnie6200 on May 28, 2011 19:26:53 GMT -5
Same wages for 9 years and now 2 employees doing the job that 3 used to do? It equates to financial rape. He needs to go find a different job - or to demonstrate to his employer why he should be paid more
|
|
deziloooooo
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 16:22:04 GMT -5
Posts: 10,723
|
Post by deziloooooo on May 28, 2011 19:28:40 GMT -5
So Deziloooooo the only intelligent conversation you can have is using emotes, you claim that I don't get it yet you bring zero in to the conversation. Perhaps instead of silly icons you can be a big boy and use your grown up words to explain to me what I do not get. There is such a thing as the C of C and the chief honcho of the site, bless her, how she puts up with us here is beyond me , is not in the greatest mood so I will stay with the , on this one if you don't mind. In hind site, me think it says it best, right to the point as to you all's comments actually.
|
|
|
Post by lakhota on May 28, 2011 19:30:01 GMT -5
That is beyond hilarious! His employer already knows why he should be paid more. It's the same principle employed in the old mining days: When one mule drops dead just pull up another one.
|
|
deziloooooo
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 16:22:04 GMT -5
Posts: 10,723
|
Post by deziloooooo on May 28, 2011 19:30:21 GMT -5
Same wages for 9 years and now 2 employees doing the job that 3 used to do? It equates to financial rape. Lakhota, give it up, not worth it, IMHO , your just and after a while it smarts if you continue.
|
|
|
Post by lakhota on May 28, 2011 19:33:26 GMT -5
dezi, I know full well what we're dealing with. They are obviously part of the top 1% - or they wouldn't be making such comments.
|
|
|
Post by lakhota on May 28, 2011 19:34:49 GMT -5
Go the fuck out of business!
|
|
vonnie6200
Senior Member
Adopt a Shelter Pet
Joined: Jan 8, 2011 14:07:17 GMT -5
Posts: 2,199
|
Post by vonnie6200 on May 28, 2011 19:36:44 GMT -5
Well - I have spent the last ten or so years educating my younger siblings that raises, promotions, bonuses and preferred job assignments don't drop out of the sky or happen to you just because you want them.
As an employee you are in a market place and you need to "sell" yourself - do more, do a better job, become the employee that they really can't/don't want to do with out, learn new job skills, be reliable etc. etc. - it works, especially now when the job market is very tight.
|
|
vonnie6200
Senior Member
Adopt a Shelter Pet
Joined: Jan 8, 2011 14:07:17 GMT -5
Posts: 2,199
|
Post by vonnie6200 on May 28, 2011 19:38:26 GMT -5
Go the fuck out of business! Brilliant - just effing brilliant!
|
|
vonnie6200
Senior Member
Adopt a Shelter Pet
Joined: Jan 8, 2011 14:07:17 GMT -5
Posts: 2,199
|
Post by vonnie6200 on May 28, 2011 19:39:57 GMT -5
Go the fuck out of business! This is America - if Jose doesn't find his job satisfactory - he always has the option of quitting and getting another job.
|
|