cybersteward.net

Those of us with union jobs know what those jobs can mean to a person, or family, trying to make ends meet in today’s economy. We also know that our ranks have been decreasing in recent decades. While there are laws that could make the benefits of union membership available to more workers, we can also help ourselves by supporting union jobs where they already exist.

Many of us think of buying union when we make the big ticket purchases, but we can also make a difference in our week-to-week food shopping. In talking with my co-workers, I’ve noticed many who shop at non-union grocery stores. This isn’t meant to shame them — I’ve done it myself. Very few of us are perfect in supporting union jobs. But we should all try to be.

The grocery industry is rife with non-union stores, but there are also many union stores available to anyone wishing to support decent wages and benefits across the board. In the Philadelphia area, we have fine options like ACME, Pathmark and Shoprite. The UFCW has a sample list of union employers in the retail food industry, if you’re curious. You can also identify a unionized store by union markings at or near its entrance.

My local Pathmark employs members of UFCW Local 1776, and they’re some of the most friendly and helpful supermarket workers I’ve ever encountered. Their store is consistently clean and well-stocked (not to mention I get an actual cashier to ring up my order, even late at night). And, contrary to stereotype, my grocery bill is not that much more than it would be at non-union stores like Giant, Redner’s, Wegman’s, or the WalMart Supercenter around the corner from work. In some cases, my unionized Pathmark is actually cheaper.

Even though shopping union sometimes seems more expensive, by supporting unionized labor, we increase the bargaining power of union members across the board. Yes, that includes Teamsters working at UPS. Because when we support more sustainable, better-paying jobs, we help our economy, especially locally. The more people are able to afford goods and services, the more likely they are to give their business to sellers and service providers (like, say, UPS).

On the other hand, when we support non-union stores with their lower-paying jobs (what many refer to as the “WalMart-ization” of America), we increase the downward momentum that’s been decreasing wages for years. It’s the same momentum that’s been fooling too Americans (union members included) into thinking unions no longer matter. And to people who think unions don’t matter, shopping union doesn’t matter, either.

Speaking of which, if you’re a fellow UPS Teamster who believes unions don’t matter, imagine a future without industry-best wages, medical benefits, and a pension. If those are things you’d rather not have, then maybe you can say with a straight face that unions don’t matter.

But if you’re like me, and you appreciate a job with good wages and benefits, you should know full well how much unions matter. And if you know that much, you should understand the importance of supporting union workers whenever possible. By helping them, we help ourselves.

Filed under: editorial, solidarity, unionism