Comments on: The Tesco Invasion

By: Bill

Bill — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 17:27:36 +0000

I have to agree that your report seems to fault Tesco for not utilizing the Unions. What’s interesting about that is that if you look at the wage of unionized supermarket employees and the attitudes they have about their work environment, vs. the attitudes of employees at large chains that are not unionized (such as Costco and Trader Joes), there’s a huge a difference. People don’t like working for Ralphs or Vons, but they LOVE working for Costco and TJ’s. Furthermore, the employees at Trader Joes and Costco not only recieve better benefits, but higher wages. Did you know a Costco checker will make over 40k a year, plus a lucrative retirement plan and full benefits? None of the union houses offer that, plus the members have to pay dues, which serve to line the pockets of the morons that run the UFCW. Can you really fault Tesco for adopting the more sensible approach of TJ’s and Costco? I think not.

By: Michael

Michael — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 16:17:12 +0000

Not to discount your high ideals, but expecting Tesco to support neighborhood purchases of fresh produce and such will be quite a trick in Las Vegas where we grow more rocks than anything else. Being a desert, it’s sort of difficult to grow much lettuce or fresh vegetables. Even sending a flock of free range chickens out in the wild is a bit of a trick, since they don’t do well in 115-degree temperatures. Are you mainly upset that the employees won’t be Union members, like at Wal-Mart? I think that might be the real agenda here.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 17:11:59 +0000

This is such an important issue. Facing Goliath:
Challenging the Impacts of Supermarket Consolidation on
our Local Economies, Communities, and Food Security is another great article. It discusses the consequences of grocery store consolidation on the eniorment, labor rights, price control, food safety, and consolidation of wealth. Keep up the good work!