 Political Director Mark Govoni (left), Jim Carvalho (right) with MA congresswoman
Niki Tsongas | |||
Changes in Item Pricing Requirements Threaten Jobs At a time when overall job-growth in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has stagnated, the state legislature is considering legislation that would eliminate more fulltime jobs. As was discussed recently in the newsletter, the state legislature is working on bills that would eliminate item pricing requirements for retailers in Massachusetts. The term “item pricing”, simply put, refers to the individual price marking of all items on a grocery store shelf. It provides men and women in the state with jobs, and it protects consumers by allowing them to know the price of something they wish to purchase because it is displayed directly on that individual item. Currently few, if any, fulltime positions are being created in the retail supermarkets, and the industry is doing everything it can to eliminate those that remain. Removing item pricing requirements could potentially eliminate five fulltime jobs in each store. This would save the company the money it would otherwise have to pay in wages and would force hardworking and loyal employees to accept fewer hours and possible demotion to parttime status. With this reduction in hours, status, and wages comes a reduction in healthcare benefits and pension credits. Also, a dedicated Stop and Shop employee who is currently working parttime but would like to move up to fulltime usually has to wait until a fulltimer vacates a position. But as more and more fulltime positions are eliminated, these parttimers will have fewer and fewer opportunities to improve their quality of life by picking up more hours and the benefits that come with working fulltime. Local 1445 is working hard to protect the fulltime jobs created by item pricing requirements, and will be reaching out to our members for help. And in addition to eliminating jobs, doing away with item pricing means consumers (all of us!) will have to be especially alert and attentive to the price labels affixed directly to the store shelves and to be sure when we check out that our items actually scan for the displayed prices. We had better hope that retailers will make sure items are stocked on the correct shelves and above the price labels that correspond to those items. And that the computer/register is programmed with the correct prices! And that we can remember all the prices for all the items we purchase! (As if it isn’t becoming hard enough to try to keep track of prices and discounts and cents-off coupons, especially when the discounts don’t get calculated until after the entire order has been processed and not as the individual items are scanned!) Massachusetts legislators need to hear your voice. Contact your state representative and senator and let them know our members do not wish to lose the wages and benefits created in part by item pricing requirements! You can find your representatives and senators and their phone numbers at the state house by visiting www.wheredoivotema.com or by clicking on the link "Contact your state and federal legislators" near the bottom of the left-hand column of this webpage. | |||
Sub-minimum Wage? No Way! There was recently a disturbing editorial printed in the Boston Globe, which many of you may have seen. On June 2nd Jon Hurst, president of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, published an editorial entitled Lower the Wages for Teenagers, attacking the wage levels paid to teens and the time-and-a-half compensation paid for work on Sundays. In the opinion piece, Hurst claims that teens are having trouble finding summer jobs because retailers view them as “unreliable” and would be more willing to hire them if the state implemented a sub-minimum wage for teenagers. Essentially, Hurst feels that certain people, regardless of how productive they are, should be paid less for equal work. Unfortunately, he also uses the notion of unreliable teens to make an attempt to legitimize the elimination of time-and-a-half compensation paid to retail employees who work on Sunday. Jon Hurst’s call to further depress and lower wages for hardworking men and women already burdened by the current dismal state of the economy is inexcusable. Local 1445 is actively monitoring the state legislature to evaluate – and to derail – any attempts to lower wages, but your voices must be heard as well. Some Local 1445 members have already submitted letters to the editor countering Hurst’s editorial, and Local 1445 may reach out to you again for your help in protecting your wages. In the meantime, you can contact your state representatives and senators and let them know you will NOT accept any reduction in your wages or time-and-a-half compensation! You can find your representatives and senators and their phone numbers at the state house by visiting www.wheredoivotema.com or by clicking on the link toward the bottom of the left-hand column of this webpage, “Contact state and federal legislators”. | |||
Union Members Go Door-to-Door in New Hampshire On Saturday, May 17, more than 100 union volunteers kicked off the 2008 election season by visiting union households in Manchester and Hooksett, New Hampshire. Union members from New Hampshire and Massachusetts participated in the NH AFL-CIO’s first Labor-to-Labor Walk of the season, visiting fellow union members to discuss the issues that will affect working families in the upcoming presidential elections. Local 1445 staff members Lucy Montan and Jim Carvalho knocked on union brothers’ and sisters’ doors to discuss the changes needed to the country’s healthcare system, and economic and energy policies. With one of the most important elections in history only a few short months away, the NH AFL-CIO plans to reach out to more than 16,000 union members by November. Many more walks and events have been planned, and if you would like to participate in the significantly important 2008 elections, please contact Jim Carvalho by phone at Local 1445’s office (1-800-439-1445, ext 115) or by email. | |||
Tom Allen Takes Another Step Towards the US Senate Local 1445 friend and endorsed candidate Tom Allen recently won the Maine primary election for US Senate on June 10. Tom has fought for Maine's working families while serving in the US House of Representatives, and convincingly defeated his primary opponent by winning 89% of the vote. Allen will now focus on the fight against Republican incumbent Susan Collins and work towards bringing much needed changes to the state of Maine, and the entire country. | |||
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