Sherman A1
Sherman A1's JournalAnti-worker bills already clouding Missouri legislative session
Jefferson City – Several anti-worker bills were pre-filed for this legislative session, promising more of the same from Missouri’s Republican controlled legislature, Missouri AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Mike Louis said.
“We wish the legislators would be serious about creating jobs and doing what’s best for the working families in Missouri in creating good paying jobs and quit playing games with catch phrases like ‘right-to- work’ and paycheck protection and prevailing wage, but unfortunately that doesn’t seem to be the trend in pre-filed bills,” said Louis, the state federation’s lead lobbyist in Jefferson City.
Louis, a former business representative for Machinists District 9, took over the secretary-treasurer’s post this year following the retirement of longtime Secretary-Treasurer Herb Johnson. (See related story at the end of this post.)
Louis said the pre-filed bills include measures addressing “right-to-work” (for less), paycheck deception, a measure repealing all prevailing wage laws, a measure modifying prevailing wage determinations, a measure on workers’ compensation that includes provisions hurtful to workers and a measure barring employers from negotiating closed shop clauses with their unions.
http://labortribune.com/anti-worker-bills-already-clouding-legislative-session/
Federal complaint filed against UPS for forcing pregnant worker off the job
The American Civil Liberties Union and the New York Civil Liberties Union have filed a federal complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission today against the United Parcel Service (UPS) for unfairly forcing a pregnant driver, Julie Mayer, to take unpaid leave, refusing to accommodate her with light-duty work and forcing her to lose her health insurance just before the birth of her child.
The company has a policy of granting accommodations to other workers who are temporarily unable to perform all aspects of their job. This includes workers who are injured on the job, those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, and those whose driver’s licenses are revoked due to drunk driving infractions.
Mayer routinely lifts packages up to 70 pounds without assistance, working up to 14-hour days. She is the only female driver at the Farmingville UPS facility in Long Island. In April, when she was eight weeks pregnant, Mayer’s doctor recommended that she lift no more than 25 pounds for the duration of her pregnancy. Mayer offered to do light duty at a desk job or delivering air packages, which were lighter than those on her usual route. She had been accommodated like this before when she pulled a muscle on the job. Instead, she was told this was different and was forced to take unpaid leave.
http://www.aclu.org/womens-rights/ups-and-pregnancy-discrimination
Chair of the Missouri Public Service Commission will step down
The head of the Missouri Public Service Commission will depart from his post later this spring, a move that will cause another vacancy for the powerful agency that regulates the state’s utilities.
Kevin Gunn, a Webster Groves native, told the Beacon on Wednesday he will leave the PSC on or around March 1. Among other things, the commission is responsible for deciding utility cases as well as crafting and enforcing various administrative rules.
Gunn's decision gives Gov. Jay Nixon another opportunity to appoint somebody to the five-person PSC. Earlier this month, he appointed former state Sen. Bill Kenney, R-Jackson County, to fill a vacancy.
In an interview, Gunn said that he had spoken with Nixon about leaving the PSC before the most recent election. But he decided to stay on to finish up some pressing matters before the commission.
http://www.head%20of%20the%20Missouri%20Public%20Service%20Commission%20wi
School administrators searching for creator of 'Ladue's Ugliest' Instagram account
Administrators with the Ladue Shool District are trying to determine who set up an Instagram account called "Ladue's Ugliest."
The account reportedly featured mean comments accompanied by pictures of Ladue Middle School students.
According to school officials, the account was set up earlier this week, but has since been removed. The district says taking disciplinary action isn't possible yet, because no one has admitted to being behind the account.
“If we knew who the student was, we obviously have disciplinary measures we could take for bullying," said Ladue School District Spokeswoman Susan Dielmann. "But absent knowing who the student is, no one has come forward, and admitted it. There's nt a lot we can do."
http://www.kmov.com/news/local/A-cyber-bullying-case-in-the-Ladue-School-District-187230671.html?ref=prev
Foodland Tests Infrared People Counter
HONOLULU – Foodland Super Market here, which operates 32 stores, has recently installed thermal-powered people-counting and checkout-management systems from U.K.-based Irisys in a pilot program at four stores.
Based on infrared technology, Irisys’ thermal sensors counts people by detecting body heat at key points in retail stores such as the front door and over checkout lanes. The integrated data is used to predict how many staffed registers are needed in 15‐ and 30‐minute intervals.
“Irisys’ technology will help us run our stores more efficiently and ensure that our customers won’t have to wait in long checkout lines,” said Robert Murphy, chief information officer for Foodland, in a statement. “The pilot program with Irisys is the first step in testing the technology to determine how it may be deployed in nearly all our stores.”
Read More: http://supermarketnews.com/technology/foodland-tests-infrared-people-counter#ixzz2IE5r0ivO
Teamsters Reject UNFI Offer
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — United Natural Foods Inc. here said Tuesday it is disappointed that members of Teamsters Local 117 in Auburn, Wash., rejected its latest offer.
"After a bargaining session with the union last week, and after several discussions with the union's leadership leading up to the vote on Friday, UNFI extended a reasonable, good-faith offer to the union (yeah, right, see text in bold citing the teamster response) and was optimistic a contract would be ratified," the company said.
Talks last week were conducted under the aegis of a federal mediator. The Teamsters launched a strike in early December at a UNFI distribution center in Auburn, citing unfair labor practices during contract negotiations. The Teamsters called off the strike at one point but resumed it after it said some striking workers had been terminated.
Read More: http://supermarketnews.com/washington/teamsters-reject-unfi-offer#ixzz2IE3BEEhP
Supervalu Inc. is selling off five of its grocery chains
Supervalu Inc. is selling off five of its grocery chains, including Albertson's and Jewel-Osco, after years of being squeezed by intensifying competition.
The nation's No. 3 traditional supermarket operator said Thursday that the sale of 877 stores to an investor group led by Cerberus Capital Management will also include Acme, Shaw's and Star Market. The group already owns about 200 Albertson's in the South and Southwest.
Following the sale, Supervalu will focus on its Save-A-Lot discount stores, as well as its smaller regional chains Cub, Farm Fresh, Shoppers, Shop 'n Save and Hornbacher's. It will also keep its wholesale business that distributes groceries to stores.
The investor group will pay $100 million in cash for the stores, and the new company will assume $3.2 billion in existing debt. Cerberus will also offer to buy up to 30 percent of the remaining Supervalu for $4 per share after the deal closes.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/supervalu_sells_five_grocery_chains_aZAQUsZmGyQvxdeNGxBp1J
Magruder’s in Negotiations to Sell
ROCKVILLE, Md. — The owners of Magruder’s Supermarkets on Wednesday said they were negotiations to sell four of its food stores and that its liquor store in Washington DC has already sold to a new owner but would continue to operate under the Magruder’s banner.
The potential buyer for the four stores, located in Vienna, Va., Alexandria, Va., Gaithersburg, Md., and Rockville, Md., was not identified, but the group “wishes to purchase the stores and reopen them as quickly as possible,” Gary Bortnick, a vice president for Magruder’s, said in a written statement.
Bortnick and members of his family have owned Magruder’s — founded in Washington in 1875 — for 46 years.
Read More: http://supermarketnews.com/retail-amp-financial/magruder-s-negotiations-sell#ixzz2IE0ZwamL
Loblaw Sponsors ‘National Sweater Day’
TORONTO — Loblaw Cos. has teamed up with World Wildlife Fund Canada to sponsor “National Sweater Day,” an initiative from the non-profit to encourage Canadians to turn down the heat and put on a sweater instead on Feb. 7.
Part of the proceeds from Loblaw’s program of charging for plastic bags is being used to support National Sweater Day.
To get the word out, WWF-Canada has assembled a team of grandmothers to remind younger generations about the importance of saving energy. The grannies appear on the National Sweater Day website and in a promotional YouTube video.
“Members of the Greatest Generation are natural energy conservers — grannies don’t turn up the heat when it gets chilly, they put on a sweater and a pair of slippers!” Gladys, the National Sweater Day “Spokesgranny,” said in a statement. “I’m looking for Canada’s greenest grannies to join me in helping our kids and our grandkids to re-learn the lost skill of energy conservation that used to be second nature.”
Read More: http://supermarketnews.com/sustainability/loblaw-sponsors-national-sweater-day#ixzz2IDzhUenk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=UUd-uORgbwTS7tgVi7bvfyTg&feature=player_embedded&v=gUvkwJ8q82Y
Winn-Dixie to Close 3 Ga. Stores
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Winn-Dixie will be closing three of its five stores in the Albany, Ga., area on or before March 5, a spokeswoman for the chain told SN Wednesday.
“Business conditions occasionally force companies like ours to make tough strategic decisions,” Rondel Cuyler, director of public relations for Winn-Dixie, said.
The closures would leave Winn-Dixie with two stores in the area: One on Old Dawson Rd. in Albany and another in nearby Leesburg, Cuyler said.
Winn-Dixie is a division of Bi-Lo Holdings, based here.
Read More: http://supermarketnews.com/retail-amp-financial/winn-dixie-close-3-ga-stores#ixzz2IDywof4Z
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