Trader Joe’s argues National Labor Relations Board is unconstitutional — and other labor news - Minnesota Reformer
Trader Joe’s argues National Labor Relations Board is unconstitutional — and other labor news - Minnesota Reformer
Take a seat in the Break Room, our weekly round-up of labor news from Minnesota and beyond. This week: Trader Joe’s launches raid on New Deal; Minnesota lawmakers receive public option estimates; Minneapolis and Rochester teachers protest on ‘Walkout Wednesdays’; Twin Cities janitors to take strike ...
cross-posted from: https://midwest.social/post/8284923
Key Takeaway:
"In defending itself against union busting allegations, Trader Joe’s fired a cannon ball that could sink the ship of modern American labor law.
The grocery store chain is arguing that the federal agency prosecuting it for unfair labor practices — including giving union workers worse retirement benefits and barring workers from wearing union pins at work — is unconstitutional."
My friend always joked that Trader Joe's was the 'bougie' option for groceries.
Guess it's less of a joke when they're openly waging class warfare.
74The funny thing is they are Aldi.
The Aldi brothers had a disagreement about selling cigarettes in their stores in Germany, so they split the company into two; Aldi and Aldi Süd. When they started moving into America they couldn't have those two names, so there is Aldi and Trader Joes. Obviously they market themselves differently and operate differently, same company wearing different hats.
27Most definitely!
At least where I am, they're in the most uptown bougie strip mall they can get into; same situation with Whole Foods. Starting to shop exclusively at the two state-wide/local stores that don't have these issues, but wish more folks had access to quality local grocers who pay well and support unions.
13For groceries, I like to use my local food co-op. They can be more expensive though, so I can't always afford to shop there.
11
Maybe this is an ignorant question, but is there a list of companies that are pro-union? I know there's no ethical consumption under capitalism, but God damn at least I want to buy my shit from companies run by actual humans instead of this vermin
58The union's website lists the companies they operate in and most union stores have a sticker on the front doors, near the front doors, or by customer service that says the local.
You can of course ask an employee, and if they say no you can tell them that it is disappointing for them and go elsewhere.
36Not ignorant. Ethical consumerism is difficult.
Sadly, not for groceries per se, but take a look at "B Corps" and B Corp certification.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/B_Corporation_(certification)
You might also be interested in how various country's labor protection and fairness practices stack up. Spoiler alert, the US doesn't look great.
27While it may not guarantee how ethical a company is, getting B Corporation status seems as good of an indicator as anything I’ve come across. I figure if Patagonia is willing to certify with them, maybe its legit? Here’s a link to their search page.
11Oh, nice! I see Ben & Jerry's on there, I guess that's no surprise. And we do use Seventh Generation products, so that makes me feel good.
Unfortunately, I'm guessing there are no major retailers like Walmart or Target, so we're still kind of trapped into supporting union-busting retail behemoths in some way, unless you're fortunate enough to live somewhere with more options.
4
Most Giant grocery stores around the DC area are unionized. It’s not much but it’s a start.
6That's not being pro-union. That's just being unionized.
There is no such as a pro-union corporation, even from a purely capitalist perspective, the desire to maximize profit will always be at odds with the worker's desire to maximize compensation.
6
The issue companies have with unions isn’t necessarily that it gives workers more benefits it’s that the union comes between management and getting anything changed. It’s simply about the loss of control of their workers. You won’t find many that are pro-union due to that. And frankly, I don’t blame them. The current union setup in the US sucks for both businesses and workers.
-28I'm sorry, but I do blame the companies, fully and completely. If they are so self-absorbed and greed-addled that they see giving workers some level of control over their labor, then fuck them. Barring violent revolution, unions are our only hope to seize any manner of control over the corporate theft of our labor and exploitation of our working class.
19Unions create equity in bargaining power between the bosses and the wage slaves, setting them free.
Union busting practices are illegal because in a free society, no one should be controlling anyone.
Men, women, and children died in this country to protect our right to organize into unions for collective bargaining power and boss accountability. They gave their lives because the bosses abused their power.
I feel like your comment shits on their graves.
1
It’s time to get honest with ourselves about our motivations and lack thereof and get on with doing the dirty work of manifesting a happier timeline for all of us.
24Okay but hear me out: their spinach dip is really good.
-3
Everyone just needs to sit down for two days to remind everyone else what the phrase ESSENTIAL WORKER means.
20I wonder if this will backfire with a massive general strike and a resurgence of unions? I heard there was a general strike planned in a few years. But probably nothing is going to happen the right-wing propaganda is very strong and ingrained now in the US.
12I’m gonna boycott them harder, which since I don’t go into TJ’s, is gonna more or less the same from the outside.
9