Competition is a function of go-to-market offering, not labor contracts. Crappy stores with no union aren’t more competitive than great stores with unions.

There is no question in my mind that a more competitive labor agreement is a key component for all unionized operators. However, while this is an important step, there is more than just the cost/flexibility of the workforce that needs to be fixed with these chains. I hope that we will see these efficiencies returned to the shopper in the form of better service and more exciting food options.

The challenge facing all US workers is the fact that the number of “labor units” required to produce the same volume of Gross Domestic Product is declining. As more corporate consolidations occur and improved automation increases the span of management control, the number of workers required goes down. Union employees still benefit from representation that should enable them to cushion the fall in compensation, but the days of ever increasing wages and benefits are over. The unions are wise to realize that “some job is better than no job” and that the success of the organization that employs their members must be a primary concern. More collaboration between management and unions to improve results can only benefit everyone. In addition to wage concessions, employers and unions must open up a dialog on how they can improve operating results through better procedures, equipment, and performance. Management must be open to suggestions and unions must be ready to accept change. Only if both sides have a common vision will they avoid wasting resources on infighting that can… Read more »

I personally have experienced the wrath of the big chain mergers here in Chicagoland, being a shopper at all three and heavily involved in a store design department for another retail chain here in Chicago. It’s very unusual….Dominick’s has lost its share of being number one since Safeway bought them, Jewel-Osco has thrived from the customers that have left Dominick’s and Kroger has entered Chicago on Dominick’s loss, having opened many Food 4 Less stores in former Dominick’s stores that were once 80,000 sq. ft. Omni Superstore powerhouses! My name is “omnisuperstore” because it shows my love for a once famous division of Dominick’s that was similar to, but more upscale than, Cub Foods. Once Safeway took over Dominick’s, many of the former Omni’s closed while smaller, older strip center Dominick’s stayed open. It doesn’t make sense why they didn’t focus on the exposed ceiling Fresh Store power houses, but instead focused on the smaller, older stores with drop ceilings and old decor. Stores that once had bright lighting and decorative displays were remodeled to… Read more »

Labor contracts may not be the only factor affecting competitiveness, but they are a critical one. But it can’t just be about squeezing the life out of employees to compete with other sweat-shop like players in the market. The labor needs of retail stores are changing. The challenge for union and management alike will be to agree on how the workforce needs to change to remain competitive and thrive in the coming years. As we’ve all discussed here, greater emphasis on customer service and training pay off for retailers. Those concepts need to be recognized in labor contracts as well. A better trained albeit smaller workforce will pay off for both sides.

If the “days of increasing wages and benefits” are over, we face a pretty dismal future. These are, after all, consumers, and this view of the future, certainly not limited to retail grocery workers, is a recipe for a death spiral in spending power that will fundamentally erase the shopping power of American workers. I have anxiously awaited some sign that the Big Three grocers are doing something, anything, with their increase in competitiveness based on lowered wage and benefit costs. Is it showing up in pricing? Not hardly. The average gross margin of ABS and SWY both increased, though Kroger, to their credit, has lowered pricing and margin somewhat. Is it showing up in capital expenditure? No, all three of these companies are reporting capital spending as just about what it was before the strike – or lower. The rate of new stores and remodels is quite a bit lower than it was three or four years ago. Is it showing up in new and improved customer service? Pardon my hysterical laughter, but I… Read more »

…and sorry…..I really didn’t answer the main question about Unions….but my main point is….if you are going to run high-priced stores run by Unions, you have to have strong stores. You can’t have crappy stores and high prices…..and that’s especially the case with Safeway/Dominick’s. Let’s all hope that the speculation is correct about Roundy’s buying Safeway. We need Bob Mariano back here in Chicago!

David,

Your comments could not be more true about Dominick’s and Safeway. Safeway has destroyed everything about Dominick’s. Again, I say, the only savior is Roundy’s with Bob Mariano, who has a love for Dominick’s and knows the loops about the Unions in Chicago.

Thank you.

First, the strongest of the three is Kroger. While they are not the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree as far as being a retailer, they do hold very strong market share positions in several major markets, such as Columbus, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Louisville, Denver, Atlanta, Nashville, Little Rock, Houston, Phoenix, and Memphis, to name a few. Kroger has not been slaughtered and humiliated the way Albertsons and Safeway has in similar markets. Kroger has not totally destroyed acquisitions to comical levels the way Safeway has. Sure, Smith’s and Fred Meyer have taken a step down in class, but are not total flops like Randall’s and Dominick’s. Some of these Kroger market shares are well into the 30s% and 40s%. Kroger does a good job with new stores and remodels. Safeway and Albertsons don’t quite have those big market share numbers except in a few isolated markets. Both of those companies operate high price, minimum labor, low service level stores which have become easy marks for us BrainTrust panelists to make sport of. They are also… Read more »

I don’t want to change this into a Dominick’s debate, but you are correct omnisuperstore. You have one shot at recovery and I think Bob Mariano is it. He has basically replaced Roundy’s with the Dominick’s of the 1990s, with both people and stores. So getting back to Chicago would be a natural fit. Morale has been a problem at Roundy’s with both original Roundy’s employees and retailers. I think over the next couple of years, most of both will be gone and he will have his “Dominick’s North” well in place. I hear a lot of bad things about Roundy’s but I think most of my contacts have a biased view from having their “cheese” moved. Dominick’s would be a good fit to this growing organization. Hang in there and be patient. Eventually, Steve Burd will no longer be able to hold on to the rope as Safeway becomes the next Winn-Dixie. Or better yet, send your resume North.