The Fry’s and Safeway strike in Arizona has been averted, for now. Breaking news this morning claims that union talks have been successful, and some sort of agreement has been reached. But what was the whole debacle about anyways? Health care, of course.
I was watching the news last night, watching hundreds of these grocery employees argue over who’s going to picket and who’s going to cross lines. In Arizona, a right-to-work state, anything is possible. But, I wondered how on earth these employees and this union can even think about striking during a recession. At a time when millions are out of work, and even more don’t have healthcare, is it selfish to strike for better wages and healthcare? You can decide about that one.
The key issues in the contract negotiations include disputes over wage increases and employee contributions to health-care premiums. Employees don’t contribute to health-care premiums now, but the employers’ offer included contributions from newly hired workers of $5 to $15 per pay period. – AZBiz.com
According to the Arizona Republic, associates currently pay nothing for their health insurance coverage, and new hires aren’t willing to pay the difference. Do you have free healthcare from your employer? I’m not sure many employees actually have healthcare that just comes with the job, no fees or deductions taken from their paychecks every week. I think workers understand that health care isn’t free, especially in this day and age.
Healthcare premiums are going up all over the place, everyone knows that, and it’s not just affecting individuals or small businesses. Big businesses, like grocery stores, are hurting just as everyone else, and with sales down and bills going up, what else could they have done?
I was wondering how we were going to get our weekly shopping at Fry’s done this weekend, until I heard that the grocery chain had hired over 6,000 ‘scabs’ who are more than willing to work during the strike. Which brings me to my next point; what union thinks that they will stage a successful strike in a time when everyone is willing to come in and take over empty positions?
Arizona’s unemployment rate is around 9%. That’s thousands of individuals who are willing to do anything for work, and a strike is a great opportunity for the unemployed to get work. Was it very smart of this union to stage a strike, a strike to keep free healthcare, during a recession? What’s your opinion? Would you strike during a recession, when the national unemployment rate is 10% and almost 50 million don’t have health care, for higher wages and free health insurance?
Don’t forget to check out the No Insurance Club at http://www.noinsuranceclub.com.
