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Whole Foods workers seek to unionize

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Re: Whole Foods workers seek to unionize

#21

Post by rossdavidh »

s3r3nity wrote: post #15

My concern with this is that this will only accelerate the probability that Amazon Go merges with Whole Foods to have a cashier-free experience. >Shoppers, however, have saved millions as a result of the shake-up. This is why you're going to have a tough time getting sympathy from the public, and why I think (for better or worse) Amazon will win the PR battle. The average person now has access to healthier grocery /…

In Texas, anyway (where WF started), other grocery chains have been passing them by. A big part of why WF sold to Amazon is that they are getting squeezed between co-ops and chains like HEB's "Central Market" stores, which have lots of organic produce at better prices and with better public image. Trader Joe's is another chain that has been encroaching on their space. I think WF was pushing the envelope on healthier and/or more socially responsible produce and other foodstuffs 20 years ago, but that ship has long since sailed. Amazon got them past their "best by" date.

Re: Whole Foods workers seek to unionize

#22

Post by [deleted] »

s3r3nity wrote: post #15

My concern with this is that this will only accelerate the probability that Amazon Go merges with Whole Foods to have a cashier-free experience. >Shoppers, however, have saved millions as a result of the shake-up. This is why you're going to have a tough time getting sympathy from the public, and why I think (for better or worse) Amazon will win the PR battle. The average person now has access to healthier grocery /…

[deleted]

Re: Whole Foods workers seek to unionize

#23

Post by throw2016 »

There are trade bodies, industry bodies, industry associations, chambers of commerce, special interest groups, lobbying groups and it goes on. Every business and corporate is a member of multiple bodies to further their interests and nobody questions these groupings.

Yet employee and worker bodies causes discussion and debate as if somehow only this aspect of economic life should not seek to promote and protect their interests. Even billion dollar companies feel the need to form groups but individuals apparently do not benefit from association. This is a completely unrealistic position in the current economic context.

This is dissonance at work, to accept the logic of the former and see it work so effectively, and question the latter.

Re: Whole Foods workers seek to unionize

#24

Post by trophycase »

codeddesign wrote: post #6

I fail to see “dedication”. Anyone getting paid minimum wage and working sub hours for a non career job is not going to be highly dedicated to a position. While I’m not against unionizing, I am against the rise of unskilled labor assuming that an employer owes them something. Unionizing isn’t inherently bad, but unions do tend to exploit both the laborer and the employer for the union’s gain. Failed labor unions comb…

What a joke. Maybe if they were in a union they would get paid more than minimum and be more "dedicated" as you say.

Re: Whole Foods workers seek to unionize

#25

Post by bonestamp2 »

codeddesign wrote: post #6

I fail to see “dedication”. Anyone getting paid minimum wage and working sub hours for a non career job is not going to be highly dedicated to a position. While I’m not against unionizing, I am against the rise of unskilled labor assuming that an employer owes them something. Unionizing isn’t inherently bad, but unions do tend to exploit both the laborer and the employer for the union’s gain. Failed labor unions comb…

I have trouble getting on board with your opinion about their dedication because Whole Foods stores across the country have some of the best and most consistent customer service experiences I've had. I'd say there's no doubt they are more dedicated than most retail workers. The real question for me is if they are worth $15/hr? I don't know the business, so I can't say with any certainty there.

Re: Whole Foods workers seek to unionize

#26

Post by s73v3r_ »

johnnyb9 wrote: post #11
kbd wrote: post #2

Figure this is an appropriate time to share this story: went to Whole Foods a little while back and the cashier seemed nearly terrified that she'd be terminated if she didn't make sure to ask before checkout if the customer was a Prime member. I'm pretty sure she said that other people had been for forgetting.

Is Amazon really this trigger happy?

This is the company where people piss in water bottles and leave them around the warehouse because they are so afraid of being fired for going to the bathroom.

Re: Whole Foods workers seek to unionize

#27

Post by s73v3r_ »

bonestamp2 wrote: post #25
codeddesign wrote: post #6

I fail to see “dedication”. Anyone getting paid minimum wage and working sub hours for a non career job is not going to be highly dedicated to a position. While I’m not against unionizing, I am against the rise of unskilled labor assuming that an employer owes them something. Unionizing isn’t inherently bad, but unions do tend to exploit both the laborer and the employer for the union’s gain. Failed labor unions comb…

I have trouble getting on board with your opinion about their dedication because Whole Foods stores across the country have some of the best and most consistent customer service experiences I've had. I'd say there's no doubt they are more dedicated than most retail workers. The real question for me is if they are worth $15/hr? I don't know the business, so I can't say with any certainty there.

Amazon is a trillion dollar company. There is no reason they can't pay $15/hour.

Re: Whole Foods workers seek to unionize

#28

Post by Marsymars »

opportune wrote: post #10
Marsymars wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In my home province, average social worker pay is comparable to average engineer pay.

I bet your home province doesn’t have many engineers

Roughly 20% less than average for the country (Canada). (Keeping in mind software developers generally can't call themselves "engineers" in Canada.)

Re: Whole Foods workers seek to unionize

#29

Post by EpicEng »

matthewmacleod wrote: post #20
crazygringo wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How is that any different from grocery stores asking everyone if they have a reward card, clothing stores asking if you have their credit card, McDonald's asking if you want to super-size that, or bartenders being required to offer to upsell liquor? It's extremely common for cashiers to be required to ask if customers are part of whatever program is relevant, if they would like the current promotion, etc. Nobody's go…

but if you're reminded repeatedly by management and you continue not to, then what would you expect to happen? I’d expect a massive fucking award for not constantly pissing off customers with this nonsense.

And you'd be fired because no one else lives in the world you've created in your head.

Re: Whole Foods workers seek to unionize

#30

Post by Marsymars »

drb91 wrote: post #9
Marsymars wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In my home province, average social worker pay is comparable to average engineer pay.

That’s either great or terrible, but I can’t tell which. Are they paid well?

Yes, pretty well. Individual median salaries about on par with median household income.
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