Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s

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Economic Justice, Macy's and Bloomingdale's, Retail, UFCW Industries, UFCW Values

Macy’s Workers Continue to Struggle as Top Executives Collect Millions

Mar 18, 2013

As many Macy’s workers struggle to survive on low pay and insufficient schedules to qualify for health care, Macy’s executives are doing quite well.

A few weeks ago, Macy’s Inc. CEO Terry Lundgren and ten other Macy’s executives received a handsome payout in the form of 727,000 shares of performance restricted stocks. Macy’s paid more than $11 million to Lundgren and ten other executives collected more than $14.4 million in the form of performance restricted stock units.

The retail sector is the largest industry by employment in the United States, and retail jobs are setting the working and living standards for thousands of American workers.  That’s why it’s critically important that Macy’s and other employers in this industry compensate workers with the kind of pay and benefits that allow them to live in the middle class.

Academic studies, including a recent report by Demos, provide quantitative evidence that retailers, workers and the U.S. economy can benefit if retail companies invest in their workforce.  According to the Demos report, raising wages for full-time retail workers at the nation’s largest retail companies (those employing at least 1,000 workers) would result in improving the lives of more than 1.5 million retail workers and their families who are currently living in or hovering above poverty.

For more information about Macy’s executives and their generous stock options, visit http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2013/03/04/macys-execs-get-millions-in-stock.html.

Macy's and Bloomingdale's, Retail, Retail Food, UFCW Industries, Uncategorized

UFCW Members Make Valentine’s Day a Little Sweeter

Feb 13, 2013

source: Labor 411

 

According to the National Retail Federation, Americans will spend $1.6 billion on candy this year to celebrate Valentine’s Day.  UFCW members across the country, along with members of many other unions, have worked hard to make this holiday a little sweeter this year, by helping to create your favorite candy, chocolate, gifts, and other Valentine’s day products! Refer to the list below, brought to you by Labor 411 to help you find last-minute, union-made goodies.

Chocolate:

  • See’s Candy
  • Russell Stover
  • Ghirardelli Chocolates (UFCW)
  • Hershey Kisses and Hugs
  • Necco Sweethearts
  • Tootsie Rolls
  • York pepper mint patties

Champagne:

  • Andre (UFCW)
  • Cook’s (UFCW)
  • Eden Roc (UFCW
  • J. Roget (UFCW)
  • Jacques Bonet (UFCW)
  • Jacque Reynard (UFCW)
  • JFJ (UFCW)
  • Le Domaine (UFCW)
  • Tott’s
  • Wycliff (UFCW)

 

C0logne and Perfume:

  • Hugo Boss
  • Pierre Cardin (UFCW)
  • Avon (UFCW)
  • Old Spice (UFCW)

Making dinner for your Valentine? Then pick up what you need from a union grocery store near you, with the help of the UFCW mobile app. Then pick out some union-made wine to go with it!

You can also make these Chocolate Peanut Butter cupcakes with the union-made ingredients provided in the recipe for your sweetheart. You’ll be sure to impress.

And if you really screwed up last V-day, why not purchase some jewelry from fellow union members at department stores like Macy’s?

We hope that with the help our our tips, you and your honey have a happy, union-made Valentine’s Day!

Macy's and Bloomingdale's, Retail, UFCW Industries, Walmart

Activists Unite to Fight for Living Wages and Decent Benefits for Retail Workers

Feb 04, 2013

Today, a coalition of political and social justice activists from around the country launched the National Retail Justice Alliance to highlight the social and economic struggles of retail workers across the country.

The new alliance is dedicated to raising the living and working standards of retail workers in the United States.  The retail sector is the largest industry by employment in the United States, and is projected to add almost 1.8 million jobs between 2010 and 2020—more than any other industry except construction. Although the retail sector is one of the fastest growing sectors in the country, many retail workers are struggling to survive in low-wage jobs with inconsistent hours and few benefits.  Strengthening the middle class is essential to rebuilding our economy and it’s critically important that retail employers lead the way in making sure that retail jobs are good jobs with benefits so that workers in this growing industry have a pathway to the middle class.

“The retail sector is an important employer of minorities and women, and too many of these workers are living below the poverty line,” said Bill Fletcher, chair of the National Retail Justice Alliance and director of field service and education at the American Federation of Government Employees. “It’s clear that leaders in the retail industry need to step up to the plate and ensure that all retail jobs have decent wages and benefits that can support a family, and Walmart—the world’s largest retailer—is a good place to start.  Unfortunately, the retail giant’s drive to put profits ahead of its workers has influenced other retailers to do the same, and that’s why this alliance was formed.”

For more information about the National Retail Justice Alliance, visit www.retailjusticealliance.org.