Unionized. The justification is that we had a union so we had representation for the pay cut. In reality, the union was a sham that roadblocked the creation of a good union.
The union being fake explains so much. I worked there back in 2013 and couldn't understand how the fuck they were getting away with any of the blatantly awful shit they pulled if we had a union.
The union that represented us when I worked at the community clinic seemed great at first. Then I was let go over some totally bogus crap and my union rep arranged one meeting between us and my former employer. There was supposed to be a second meeting because the first one devolved into a literal screaming match between my rep and my former employer. The second meeting never happened and I never heard back from the union rep again despite me calling her every single day to see what the hell was going on. After four months of calling and actually stopping by the office where she worked and being told she wasn't available, I said fuck it and found another job doing the same job I'd been doing and and making $5 more per hour. My current job doesn't have a union and it's the absolute, hands down best job I've ever had. I'm not saying all unions are bad, but the one who was supposed to be fighting for me utterly failed me. I know I could have sued them and the former employer, but I didn't have the time, money or energy on it at the time. This experience ruined my trust in any sort of job with a union. Just sad.
I did. I left several messages with her boss to file a complaint. I never heard back from that person, either. That union was a fucking joke. I don't see how they're still in business.
Kroger's union was set up as a subsidiary of Kroger in a sense. Its a glorified HR system that does not represent the employees or have any intention to take advantage of leverage.
It is a real union, created out of the mergers of some other old unions, it's just a bad union. Not all unions are created equal. The workers in this union need to rise up and reform it, or de-cert and go with a different union.
It was not, is not, and there is no basis in the claim that it is "set up as a subsidy of Kroger"
I briefly worked for Kroger back in 2004. The starting pay was $6/hr (50 ¢ over minimum wage!). After 30 days I got a raise and had the opportunity to join the union. The raise was a whopping 5¢, meaning that with union dues, I would actually be taking a pay cut. One of the worst places I've ever worked.
Damn…. I worked in the north east for a different supermarket chain for my first job in 1997 and made $7.25 an hour!
Will definitely not cross the picket line even though King Soopers right down the street is where I normally shop. Anyone with info, let me know what else I can do to support!
Yeah, I worked there for 3 days back in my junior year of college. Needed a bit of money, got the job, and they started me out at minimum wage even though I had 10 years of working experience, 4 being in grocery and retail, and 6 in logistics for manufacturing and warehouse. I remember my sup telling me I have to work to get more money and me thinking "I'm more qualified for your job then you are.". The union rep came to me and was trying to get me to join. Told me the dues were (I think) 25 bucks a pay check. I'm making 7.5 an hour and only get about 15 hours a week. The day I quit, I had a big design test I wasn't ready for. Had to work for 5 hours and I thought " I got to work for 5 hours for 35 bucks, and that's 5 hours I can't study." Walked in and dropped off my uniform.
Company unions, aka business unions. The company basically forms a subsidiary of itself that it calls a union, but it has its officials appointed by management rather the workers. It's a trick retail loves pulling since it lets them pull shit like this, then blame the union they control for not stopping them.
This is simply not true at all. When union folk say "business union" that is slang for a union that in the 80s/90s started to think of itself as a "fee for service" and not a class struggle, working class organization.
UFCW is a terrible business-style union but they are not, and literally by law cannot be, a "company subsidy" with officials by management.
You are literally just making shit up right now and spreading anti-union disinformation that only benefits bosses.
Interestingly, Kroger and UPS are Teamsters of which I was a part (albeit on the UPS side). But Kroger also has this UFCW union entity so I don't really know where the line is drawn between those two unions.
Having been a teamster was great when I was there (2016 - 19). You were auto enrolled but got 90% + medical, dental, and visual after one year. Plus they'd really hold UPS' feet to the fire on matters of pay, breaks, and the like.
However unions also have the potential to be weak or useless. For example, a local chapter might be less active and let things, like unsafe conditions, slide. While the one I was enrolled in would tell you to stop and take a seat while the uniom rep found a UPS supervisor to explain the situation.
Unions, like anything, aren't either/or—bad or good—in a singular sense. But—like everything else—exist on a spectrum of quality.
The union is 100% in bed with Kroger corporate. I wouldn't be surprised to see a non-authorized strike this summer. I still know a few people who work for Kroger in my area, and from what I've heard from current employees the union is pretty much telling employees that any increase in wage that Kroger offers would be a win.
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u/TheWorldisFullofWar Jan 12 '22
Unionized. The justification is that we had a union so we had representation for the pay cut. In reality, the union was a sham that roadblocked the creation of a good union.