I would like to thank Don Shilling and the Vindicator for publishing an article Sunday regarding the United Food and Commercial Worker union's picketing of Henry Nemenz's grocery stores. UFCW Local 880 has made a habit of placing informational pickets outside grocery stores owned by Mr. Nemenz and ignoring other non-union stores. These pickets inform shoppers the stores are not union shops. They have done so at his Hubbard IGA location (now closed), Sharon Sav-a-Lot, Poland Sav-a-Lot and his Struthers location.
As a resident of Hubbard I was embarassed to see paid picketers ruin a business in the community. Mr. Nemenz took over a closed store, the former Patton's IGA, and became the anchor for McConnells' plaza. He invested money in upgrading the store, hired Hubbard residents and gave people on the west side of town a place to shop. UFCW Local 880 members helped put those people out of work by driving away customers. Now those Hubbard residents have to work elsewhere, the city lost tax revenue and McConnell's plaza has a large, unoccupied store where a thriving business once stood. They did this even as the recession was beginning to grip the area.
We know UFCW Local 880 is picking on Mr. Nemenz because they ignore other non-union stores like Hubbard's Shop & Save and Brookfield's Mr. D's. I believe the union is infuriated that Mr. Nemenz has carved out a profitable niche in the local grocery economy and has done so without their assistance. These informational pickets have gone on for years. We all understand that the stores are not union shops. And you know what? We don't care.
One of the greatest things I have seen was the friends and families of Hubbard IGA workers stage counter pickets against the UFCW Local 880 in Hubbard. They kicked them off their sidewalk by showing up early in support of the workers and showed the union that they wouldn't be bullied. Perhaps it's time to do so again. The comments section of the Vindicator story has a thread where people are considering counter picktes at the Poland and Struthers locations. A way of telling UFCW Local 880 that their paid picketers are not the only ones who can voice an opinion. We did it in Hubbard so it can be done elsewhere. After all, this Local does not own the sidewalk and they certainly do not have any more right to it than those who want to oppose their bullying tactics.
As a resident of Hubbard I was embarassed to see paid picketers ruin a business in the community. Mr. Nemenz took over a closed store, the former Patton's IGA, and became the anchor for McConnells' plaza. He invested money in upgrading the store, hired Hubbard residents and gave people on the west side of town a place to shop. UFCW Local 880 members helped put those people out of work by driving away customers. Now those Hubbard residents have to work elsewhere, the city lost tax revenue and McConnell's plaza has a large, unoccupied store where a thriving business once stood. They did this even as the recession was beginning to grip the area.
We know UFCW Local 880 is picking on Mr. Nemenz because they ignore other non-union stores like Hubbard's Shop & Save and Brookfield's Mr. D's. I believe the union is infuriated that Mr. Nemenz has carved out a profitable niche in the local grocery economy and has done so without their assistance. These informational pickets have gone on for years. We all understand that the stores are not union shops. And you know what? We don't care.
One of the greatest things I have seen was the friends and families of Hubbard IGA workers stage counter pickets against the UFCW Local 880 in Hubbard. They kicked them off their sidewalk by showing up early in support of the workers and showed the union that they wouldn't be bullied. Perhaps it's time to do so again. The comments section of the Vindicator story has a thread where people are considering counter picktes at the Poland and Struthers locations. A way of telling UFCW Local 880 that their paid picketers are not the only ones who can voice an opinion. We did it in Hubbard so it can be done elsewhere. After all, this Local does not own the sidewalk and they certainly do not have any more right to it than those who want to oppose their bullying tactics.
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3 comments:
The pension fund of the UFCW is in shambles and underfunded . Well, not for the hierarchy of the UFCW . Theirs is funded at 100% . Why is it that the rank and file have lesser value ?
The picketing is all about creating a greater market share for Giant Eagle and supporting atrocious pricing . They cant compete with good food and low prices . I save enough in one month by shopping IGA and Save A Lot to drive ny car for two months .
My union friend mondo50200 can be found in total confusion on the internet trying to find support for UFCW Local 880 . The main support that he has gotten so far has been from spandex . I am worried that the UFCW will soon find him of no use and he will go off the deep end .
To the poster above, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks for his part in removing prounion posts from our local paper's website. Here is a video just for him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWmCPDzPSg4
enjoy Stan
My good friend mondo50200:
Your link is old news as we have already heard about the birth of your brother . I trust he wasn't hurt when he hit the grass .
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