Tim Metcalfe Trying To Strip Union Rights Of Cub Foods Workers
I have posted before about my fondness for the Cub Foods store located near West Town in Madison. I love the store, workers, produce, and prices. (And the slope of the driveway–CP readers will know what that means.)
This week I shopped, as I always have, at the store and was informed by some of the workers of the underhanded way Tim Metcalfe is treating the Cub’s employees as he works to bust a union.
So…
This is the letter I sent to Mr. Metcalfe.
Dear Mr. Metcalfe,
I am taking the time to write to you today to express my concern about Metcalfe Markets recent purchase of the only existing full service Union grocer in the greater Madison area.
With the highly charged recent activity around collective bargaining rights in this state, we have all had to ask ourselves “which side are you on?” I have clearly made that choice and I will support those that allow long term dedicated employees such as those employed by Cub Foods to maintain that right. By hiring a majority of these experienced workers at Cub Foods you will allow them to continue to collectively bargain over their wages, hours and working conditions.
I am convinced that the only reason that a majority of these workers would not be hired would be to strip them of their Union rights. I believe Wisconsinites are fed up with this type of action.
I am hopeful that this is not your intent, as I look forward to patronizing your newest store provided that you recognize these worker’s rights.
I will continue to monitor this situation and encourage you and Metcalfe Markets to decide; “Which side are you on?”
Sincerely,
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What can Emanuel do? As you suggest, Craig, he can cut an employee. Or, he can cut wages. Thus, he creates a situation where fewer people can afford to purchase fewer products or services. Or, he can do what the anti-union sucessful industrialist Henry Ford said to do “There is one rule for the industrialist and that is: Make the best quality of goods possible at the lowest cost possible, paying the highest wages possible.” Then workers can afford to buy and keep the economy going.
Ford, also, said:
“Where people work longest and with least leisure, they buy the fewest goods. No towns were so poor as those of England where the people, from children up, worked fifteen and sixteen hours a day. They were poor because these overworked people soon wore out — they became less and less valuable as workers. Therefore, they earned less and less and could buy less and less.”
― Henry Ford
And, he must have been ahead of the Occupy movement when he said:
“It is well enough that people of the nation do not understand our banking and monetary system, for if they did, I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning.”
― Henry Ford