lurid.org

You sir, must be just about the most ignorant, moronic, uninformed person I have ever heard from! First of all, I honestly don't think you could ever handle working at a"grocery store." You have to be intellegent. It's not rocket science but it's a lot harder that everyone thinks. You try stocking shelves, cleaning up after idiots, ringing up about a million items, bagging grocerys, pushing carts, cutting meats, working almost every holiday, every Sunday, etc. and still being polite to people who think that they are God's Gift to mankind. Before you write a column you should really find out the facts for both sides before you start opening your mouth. As far as I am concerned, you are extremly distasteful by calling these hard working people "losers". And for your information it is quite hard to find people who know what the hell they are doing to work in a grocery store. Yes, you can just replace the workers, but in the time it takes for them to be brought up to speed with the workers before them, customers will have started shopping at other more steady paced stores!

Thanks for your comment on the issue, but I'm gonna have to disagree.

I have worked in a grocery store. I worked at a big national chain when I was 15 and stayed there for about 2 years. It does *NOT* take an intelligent person to work at a grocery store. It takes a person who can follow directions. Not to say that there aren't many intelligent people who DO work at grocery stores, but high intelligence is not a pre-requisite for employment.

I've stocked shelves, cleaned up broken glass in the middle of isles, worked holidays, rung up millions of items, rounded up carts, (never cut meats, but I did make some ground beef with the meat grinder on occasion) and worked every holiday and Sunday for nearly 2 years.

I have all the facts I need regarding this issue.

Grocery store workers are easy to replace. You say that it is easy to hire people but difficult to bring them up to speed on how to run the store. Well, hon, think about it like this. If an airline mechanic goes on strike, how long do you think it would take to find someone off the street to replace him, train him and bring him up to speed repairing airplanes? Compare that to the money, time and effort required to hire someone off the street and teach them to stock shelves, run a cash register or round up carts at a grocery store.

Non-skilled unions are at a huge disadvantage in labor negotiations because their members can be easily replaced with non-union workers.

That was my point.

Thanks Chris, like I don't already feel like a loser working at a grocery store being treated like crap from the "customer", but it helped put my 2 kids thru college so they could do something better, ones a nurse and the others in the military defending morons like you.

The first thing I would like to say is to Christopher the language you use would not be acceptable in my position the F word Oh my god can you not get your point across without it??? No I am not an airplane mechanic but an airplane mechanic makes at least twice as much as me or maybe more and when the big guy comes around they probably don't use the same kind of langauge you do...I have in the past 6 months gotten more acculates from customers then you probably got from your girlfriend and in the past 6 months I have probably worked harder than ever before in my 23 years in service.....but that is not my gripe.the work does not bother me it's the big guy trying to keep his bottom line as healthy as it was....I am there making him money and by the way not asking for more just don't mess with my benifits (that have kept me here) and expect me to pay for his wife's divorce settlement let him cut out his whore in FL and let me DO MY JOB!!! BTW the people that they are hiring have been taken out on a daily basis at least one a day for weather it be stealing or useing the langauge U use or outstanding warrents...remember they are hiring anybody off the streets anyway besides all that let me live my meager life and you live yours and Oh also would you like paper or plastic?? Have a great day hope to see you soon My customers make my job and I appreiciate it and let them know it every time they come in. And to all of you that have supported us here in ST. LOUIS and everywhere I would like to THANK YOU from the bottom of my Heart. God Bless

Can any of you morons spell? Christ.....the word is aisle....and accolades is the correct spelling.....I went to Von's last night and the people working there are numbnuts.....the strikers should not bad mouth or harass people who shop at the grocery stores, we have to eat, and if I start going to a new store I won't come back to your store...ever.

The point is that if an employer doesn't help with health care than all those unskilled workers will drive up health care for everyone else.even you should be able to figure this out.

here's my comments. My job sucks I have been a meat wrapper for 32 years. I am 49 years old and still going strong. I hate my union and would work for a non-union shop anytime. The union protects the bums. I put two children through college after my divorced. (24 years of marriage). My son is a airline pilot, my daughter is in the marines with her college degree. I work 6 days a week on the average 10 hr days. I am not a stupid person, but I got caught in the same routine and take one week at a time. I will make it to retirement and then enjoy life.

Here's my question to anyone who can answer: What are the issues that the Union for the workers want?

They want hire wages and they don't want to pay anything for medical/dental coverage? Perhaps those of us who don't know what's are the core of the strike, need to be educated. Please share.

I believe higher health care costs are at the core of the debate. The union workers don't want to pick up their increased share for insurance premimums, so they're going on strike. The funny thing is the wages the workers have lost in the 6 weeks since the strike started would probably MORE than pay for the increased health care costs. But hey, no one ever accused unions of being very smart.

I personally disagree with the Grocery strikers stance. I think as the years go by everyone will be paying for some of their health coverage. It is inevitable given the rising health care costs. And also, if the grocery stores want to move to pre-cut meat, so be it. It is there right as a business to run it legally however they want. But also the workers have a right to strike and the store has a right to fire them. What I think it way out of line is harassing customers that cross the picket line. These is no justification for verbal abuse towards people who disagree with you and are just trying to buy groceries. I think it is extremely cowardly and I'll bet that the ones who say something to women and children wouldn't say something to some guy who is 6.5 and muscular; or to a group of customers that outnumbered them. They are building up some bad charma for themselves. I hope they get theirs.

Dear Mike:

"Grocery strikers" is not capitalized (not a proper noun)
"there right" is spelled "their right" (possessive)
"however they want" is "how ever they want" (2 words)
"charma" is "karma" (you tried to spell a big word which you aren't familar with)

-Jim

Thanks Jim for correcting my grammar and spelling. Uh, what did you think about what I am saying?

Jim,

If you are going to correct other people's grammar mistakes in an attempt to make yourself look smart, then you really should try to avoid making mistakes yourself.

"However" (single word) is the appropriate usage here, not "how ever".

"familar" is spelled "familiar".

"you tried to use a big word which you aren't familar with" has a tense disagreement, with "tried" being past tense, and "aren't" being present tense.

I also noted the lack of punctuation, capitalization, and multiple sentence fragments in your comment. Perhaps the most glaring of the offenses of your comment was the lack of response to the content of Mike's post. Look, this is a message board. People are going to misspell. I'm sure I'll have a bunch of mistakes in here too, so it's a little unrealistic to try to correct everybody. Let's focus on the issues:

Grocery store strikers are foolishly idealistic, and mask their own greed by insulting CEO's and managers (who provide them with a job) in an attempt to gather public support. Most people in this country pay for at least a portion of their medical care. Then union people strike over having to do the same thing, and they want my sympathy and support???? They have more than most people in this country, and they still want more. That is greed, folks, plain and simple. But they would never, never admit to that. Instead, they focus their efforts on making the management appear greedy. Are CEO's greedy?? Maybe, probably - I don't know. And as long as they obey laws, I don't really care. I would prefer they have a little bit of greed. Why?? Because greedy people are usually good businessmen, because they don't spend money foolishly. And when they make money, we all make money, and when they fail, we fail because then we're out of jobs, aren't we??? I might even go so far as to claim that SOME amount to greed is necessary to run a successful business. What I don't like is when corporate greed extends so far that the management is living off of the workers' hard work. But I don't worry too much about this. Why not?? For two reasons. One, if the CEO is performing illegal acts, then he should be arrested and jailed, and there are currently laws already in place to deal with this. Number 2, if a CEO is acting legally, but is still running his company with extreme greed, then he will go out of business because employees/clients will not want to do business with him.

And what's this about assaulting people who are trying to cross picket lines??? What thuggery!!! I think union people need to pick their battles more carefully - every time they strike, they inconvenience the public and remind them exactly how irrelevant they are. They claim to be all for the "little guy", but when Mr. Joe Average, who doesn't make much as it is, has to take a bus across town to shop at a higher priced store(assuming the bus drivers aren't striking) because people are striking at Von's, then I don't see that as fair. In fact, it's quite disgusting. Union people love to claim that they are for worker's rights and "fairness" in the workplace, and "making an honest day's wage" - all they really want is more for themselves, and to hell with anyone who disagrees. I'm all for making more money, but the proper route for doing so is by bettering yourself: learning new skills, working harder, working longer hours . . . not by simply demanding it, and then hiding behind the American flag or the union rep. Nobody likes to work harder, or longer hours, but that's the whole point of our economy - you get out of it what you put into it. The people who invest in themselves and their futures by going to college or trade school get more money in the end. That's how it SHOULD be, at least . . .

As much as we all like to pretent it isn't, money is the primary motivating factor in this life. We all want to get more and pay less. So do I. But I think I have a good sense of what's fair and what's not. Unskilled workers making $15 an hour and then bitching about having to pay for some health care costs, and then strangling the company which has provided them with jobs and income is decidedly NOT FAIR. It's not fair to the company, not fair to the public which bears the costs of these financial burdens, and not fair ultimately to the workers themselves, who will find themselves without a job in a few years because union companies simply cannot compete with union companies. When I shop for an item, I go the store that has the lowest price - that's it - end of story. I would happily shop at a union store, if they had the lowest prices, but 999 times out of a thousand, they don't. Walmart and other non-union stores usually do. Therefore, I shop at Walmart. I'm not evil for doing this, I am simply exercising my right as a consumer to spend my money where I wish, and I don't feel like subsidizing unions with their inflated salaries other outrageous benefits, which most of us don't have.

Every extra inflated dollar that union employees make comes from somewhere. Where does it come from?? Thin air?? from the greedy CEO's wallet??? NO, it comes from you and me, John Q. Public. If you don't mind paying those excessive fees, that's your choice, but don't force me to do it, and don't bitch when your company files for bankruptcy.

Have any of you ever looked at a financial statement. Ponder this. One of the grocery store chains had 51.7 billion dollars in sales. Sound great, right. They must be stuffing their pocket full of money. But wait, have we looked at the bottom line yet. They only have 1.2 billion dollars in sales. Now that's pathetic. That is only 2% of sales. Which is a horrible profit margin. Let me break it down for you moron grocery store workers. For every dollar they take in they only get to keep 2 cents. Furthermore, their operating cost which is your salaries takes up 20% of that profit. For having absolutely no degree your not doing to bad. Now put down your signs, get off you lazy asses, and get back to work.

I hope all the hard working grocery store clerks get out of the grocery store business and find better jobs. I hope that the grocery store chains keep the people they deserve, the ones that don't stick around for long or show up for work. And I hope that the customer gets the fine service they have always come to expect, at a fraction of the cost. At least they won't have to feel bad when they come through the line with food stamps, because the clerk probably will be on them too! That's just my opinion.

I recently started working as a "scab" for one of the grocery stores. I can assure you it is by far the easiest job I have ever had. Making coffee at the local cafe when I was a teenager was harder. I don't feel sorry for the workers striking, whose main isuue is $15 a month for health insurance. That's right folks, $15!! I would LOVE to pay $15 a month for insurance. One of my co-workers, who crossed the picket line by the way, said to me," I had three c-sections, and shoulder surgery and never paid a dime. They want me to pay $15? Done." I chose to work there because I am a stay home mom and thought it would be fun to earn a little extra money to buy toys for me and my child. It turns out I really enjoy it, it beats managing an insurance agency, which I did before I quit to be a full-time mom. ( Isn't that ironic? ) These strikers yell and harrass women and children, and are too cowardly to say a thing to the muscular men shopping after they get done working out at the gym next door. They have yelled things at us such as "Stop masterbating" ( why on earth they would choose that I don't know ) and call us every name you can think of-while we are WORKING. Not when we walk in, but while there are people standing in line listening to them make fools of themselves. They blew a whistle in a grandmother's face while holding a toddler and their behavior is unexcusable. I have had more than one customer request the manager and tell them that if they hire one of the strikers back they will never set foot in the store again. If they want the public on their side, they have a funny way of showing it. Bottom line, the job is ridiculously easy and their actions are ridiculously inappropriate.
P.S. My training consisted of less than an hour. And I don't even have to count the change, the machine does it for you. You be the judge.

I wouldn't know what it's like to cross picket lines; I don't cross them. And I wouldn't work as a SCAB, because I'm not a SCAB...not a poor SCAB, needy SCAB or even a righteous SCAB. Sorry to get so personal, but I don't like the comments I hear about grocery store workers; I have one of those unfortunate soles in my family.

Plain and simple, forwhatever reason, these chains conspired to break the Union and the workers are the victims. I hope the companies get in a lot of trouble for hiring people under false names and false social security numbers. If they don't, then the whole thing is P O L I T I C A L!!!

I wouldn't know what it's like to cross picket lines; I don't cross them. And I wouldn't work as a SCAB, because I'm not a SCAB...not a poor SCAB, needy SCAB or even a righteous SCAB. Sorry to get so personal, but I don't like the comments I hear about grocery store workers; I have one of those unfortunate soles in my family.

Plain and simple, forwhatever reason, these chains conspired to break the Union and the workers are the victims. I hope the companies get in a lot of trouble for hiring people under false names and false social security numbers. If they don't, then the whole thing is P O L I T I C A L!!!

Sorry, I meant unfortunate S O U L. Didn't mean for this to be funny...It's not at all.

I personally don't feel sympathetic toward the strikers. As many of you expressed, their jobs are not that difficult, and do not require special skills. As to the cost of health care, it is a general trend that workers have to pay part of the premium, due to the rising medical cost. An acquaintance of mine, whose boyfriend works for one of the grocery chains, was ticked off when I disagreed with her about grocery chains being greedy and the workers being mistreated. I felt that she did not have the facts correctly and was talking purely from emotions. I don't believe that the grocery workers at independent non-union stores get paid anywhere near what the union workers get paid, yet they work just as hard. I think the union workers need to take a look at themselves and count the blessings they have ( or used to have) instead of constantly looking for more (which, in my opinion, stems from the workers philosophy of "getting something for nothing.") I used to shop at one of those big grocery chains, but I have more or less switched to an independent store, which by the way has lower prices. I think a lof of shoppers will end up leaving the stores they use to patronize and going elsewhere. Stores and workers both lose in this case. Strikers should go back to school to gain new skills to make themselves more marketable, and forget about easy street.

All you strikers need to go back to school and get some skills. Retail work is not skilled labor. As far as I'm concerned you should all be arrested for loitering, harassment, destruction of private and public property, grafitti and littering. What I saw over the course of 2 months of working as a scab was sick, you slashed tires, harrassed women and their children, drew anarchey symbols on the pavement, made death threats to employees even crossed the line to take photos of me. Most of you were way out of controll. The customers you drove away from the company who pays for your kids education, has no respect for you. Every single one thinks you all should have lost your jobs. Paybacks are sweet though guys huh? I'm going to have so much fun f'in you guys up. I know how everything works at grocery stores. Anyone who is reading and want some tips on how to make a happy employee, a very angry employee, fill a cart full of small items, have the cashier ring it up and total sale then say you've left your money in your car and take off. Enjoy your cake.

I'm with you "former scab".

Tonight will be my last night working as a "SCAB". I don't have to do it, I did it as a favor for the store manager, who is a personal friend. And let me tell you, it's not rocket science. It took me sitting through a 3 hour "training" (training? riiiight), to learn something most of you have been doing most of your lives!! GOOD LORD, pay the $15 and get back to work. Lord knows you won't find a easier job with this kind of pay.

Also, before you go yelling obscenities to women (young & old) with children, ask yourself this, "What if it were me with my young child getting screamed at"? It's you, as a parent, to decide whether or not you want you child to hear this type of language. NOT THE STRIKER. Show a little respect, if not for yourself, at least for the innocence of a child.

In closing,

To the strikers: Ever heard the expression "pay back is a bitch" or "what goes around, comes around"?

To my fellow "scab": Thank you for your hard work, and new friendships I've made. I too, as a "picket line crosser" shopper, APPRECIATE you.

i HAVE NEVER READ SUCH IGNORANCE BEFORE. WHAT AMAZES ME ARE WORKING CLASS PEOPLE WHO HOLD UP GREEDY CEO'S AS GOOD BUSINESSMEN AND CIVIC LEADERS! THESE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE WHO EXPORTING OR OUTSOURCING AMERICAN JOBS OVERSEAS TO MAKE A BIGGER PROFIT FOR THEMSELVES. MOST OF THEM MAKE 98.1 MILLION A YEAR. NOT GREEDY??

AMERICA IS BECOMING A SECOND RATE NATION
BECAUSE OF THESE EXPLOITIVE, MERCENARY,
BUSINESS "LEADERS" WHO CARE NOTHING ABOUT US. IN FACT, THEY MUST LAUGH WHEN
THEY READ HOW SOME SHRIMP SLINGER OR HAY BAILER IS SUPPORTING THEIR POLITICS.

I DONT BLAME THEM BECAUSE AS THEY RUIN AMERICA AND DESTROY AMERICAN JOBS AND
TAKE BACK WHAT THE UNIONS TOOK YEARS TO
ACHIEVE THEY ARE BEING SUPPORTED BY MANY
LITTLE PEOPLE WHO LICK THE HAND OF THE DEVIL.

No offense or anything, but if you can't find the shift-lock key, why would anyone take your opinions about national economic policy seriously?

Woo woo.. That's the clue train...and it left without you.

To Dumb---,

I don't give a crap if you take my advice or not.
This forum is for expressing one's opinions. I suggest you don't take my advice and continue
your job as a typist until someone overseas takes
it from you.

If you want to talk politics go ahead but those who can't think will resort to attacking spelling, punctuation, etc. That means you have nothing
important to say. So why don't you just shut your
trap ?

I'm not worried about someone overseas taking my job. If you are afraid of that happening to you, perhaps you need to go back to college and get a different degree.

American businesses have the right to seek their profits however they can. If that includes shipping off manual labor tasks to Malaysia, so be it. If it includes shipping off call centers to India, so be it.

The moral of the story is: get trained.

If your job is so precarious that you rely on the charity and goodwill of your employer, then I can understand why you're so bitter and cynical.

To advocate a business sacrificing productivity and profit just to keep jobs in the US is asinine. Businesses hold a duty only to maximize shareholder wealth, nothing more.

Businesses are not the social welfare programs you'd like them to be.

Btw, typing in all caps is still stupid, no matter if I pontificate on my personal philosophy about business or not.

I distinctly hear the voice of management in your
weak excuse of why we should allow Americans to be left without work in favor of bigger profits.
This exhibits what a patriotic American you truly are. I hope everyone who reads this gets that people like you care nothing about this country and only about lining their pockets. Every business in this country has some social responsibility towards
it's citizenship. After all, if no one here has a job then there is no money to buy any goods and services, which will create even more failure in our
economy. Of course, when things get tough certain
types of people want to cut and run. These people
are bought and sold by the highest bidder and have
no values or humanity.
People, please take note of this type of individual.
They have no honor, sense of responsibility or values. If this is what you want for your future,
then don't complain when this is what you get.

btw, talk about stupid, maximize is spelled with all
i's not maxamize and assinine has 2 s's in your case.

You are all really twisted people and seriously believe you all need phsycological help IMMEDIATELY. In fact, let me fetch you their number. I have it right here...