[CJmcMD mmm) THE FOOD DEALER W lil'-W t/ hJ'^y jl iI^W [1TM1 iliJ ii UH iJ[&liW I'lil' K >/ HI '(1 mM AUG.-SEPT., 1973 Pepsi-Cola Cites Retailers The Pepsi-Cola Metropolitan Bottling-Company, recently honored some 60 food and beverage merchants at a dinner in their honor. Pictured above at the event, from left, Tom Regina, Pepsi vice-president, Jay Welch, Louis Vescio, Tom Noxon of Pepsi, and Michael Giancotti. Pepsi presented the retailers with special service citations. About Labor Unions — Page 3 C old c a sh . If you re a beer drinker, you want it ice cold. But if you re a beer seller, you want it red hot Because a red hot seller is the kind of item that makes a man a success in the beer business. In the last 4 years Stroh s sales are up over 60% . At that rate, it's one of the hottest cold beers around. From one beer lover to another. THE FOOD DEALER Aug-Sept., 1973 GUEST EDITORIAL What To Do If Union Orgonizers Come Around By EDWIN RICKER zation cards that the organizer is in authorization cards. If he does, PLRS Management Consultants asking to be signed. An authoriza­ he may take them to the Labor tion card is easy to get signed by Board and ask for an election which Due to the many supermarket organizers and in 90% of the cases, would be normally granted. units that are being closed by such most employees are not truly aware Most unions try to obtain more national firms as A & P, Kroger, of what significance the signing of than 50 % of the employee’s signa­ and National Tea, many unions in an authorization card happens to tures on cards knowing that with the retail field find themselves hav­ be. Therefore, it is very important more than 50% they can make ing reduced income in the form of that you communicate at the first somewhat of a pass at management initiation fees and union dues. Con­ signs of union activity abiut au­ hoping that the management would sequently, they are becoming more thorization cards. recognize them on the basis of the aggressive in their organizational The second method that I feel is cards by themselves. So, at this activities to replace the stores that very beneficial and is the better of point, we will assume that the or­ have closed down that were form­ the two, is to call a meeting of all ganizer has more than 50 % of the erly organized. We can expect much employees and explain to them, cards signed even though the union greater activity than we have ever again, what is taking place as far would not represent a majority of witnessed in the past because of as a union is concerned, what meth­ the employees as to their true feel­ this fact. ods they are using to get their au­ ings. Now, when an organizer ap­ thorization cards signed, and ex­ proaches you and asks you about The unions are plain the process of union organ­ recognizing them, here are some also becoming more suggestions as what you should do: sophisticated a n d izing activity It is also important have learned much to inform them that they have the 1—You should take it easy You from management right to join or not to join a labor are not the first one to face this in establishing goals organization to be decided in a problem. If you show anger or fear, and incentives secret federal government election. the organizer has the advantage. whereby their or­ At this time, I would now wait 2— You should also be polite. The ganizers are moti­ and see what transpires as to fur­ organizer may be looking for trou­ vated to a greater RICKER ther developments. Now, if the un­ ble. Courtesy and calmness truly degree, which has led to increased ion organizer has been working disarm them. organizing success. sometime without your knowledge, 3—Make sure that introductions he may or may not have obtained are understood as to your name and This article will deal briefly with more than 30% of your employees what you should do if you find your­ (Continued on Page 12) self being organized by a union or­ ganizer. My suggestion is that on the first signs of any union organ About Edwin Ricker izational activity, you contact a Edwin D. Ricker is president of PLRS, a management labor relations counselor or a labor consulting firm concentrating in providing services on Labor relations attorney and review the Relations to both union and non-union people. PLRS is special ground rules that are now also involved in organizational development, manpower in effect, so that you will not com­ assessment and training, communications, wage and salary mit any unfair labor charges which data, and conducting management seminars as well. Prior to forming his own consulting company, Mr. Ricker tros em­ will make it easier for the organ­ ployed as director of personnel at Hamadv Bros. Food Mar­ izer to obtain bargaining rights for kets, Flint. He also held the same position at Marsh Super­ your employees. markets, Yorktown. Indiana, and Meijer Supermarkets and Thrifty Acres Stores. Grand Rapids. He was also super­ I basically subscribe to two visor of employee services for The Kroger Co., Cincinnati, methods of informing your em­ Ohio. ployees what is going on when an Mr. Ricker received a BS and MS degree from Miami organizer comes around — that is University in Oxford, Ohio, and receved additional personnel by a letter that is mailed to the and labor relations training at the University of Cincinnati. He is a member of the American Management Association homes of all employees briefly indi­ American Society for Personnel Administrators. American cating what activity is taking place Society for Training and Development and National Asscoi concerning unions, and explaining ation of Manufacturers. to them the dimensions of authori Page 4 The Food Dealer • Aug-Sept, 1973 THE FOOD DEALER The Sounding Board V olum e 47 — N o. 5 Copyright, 1973 Official Publication of To the AFD: THE ASSOCIATED FOOD DEALERS The President has asked me to respond to your 434 West Eight Mile Rd. — Detroit, Michigan 48220 recent letter in which your organization suggested Phone: 542-9550 that the Administration should impose export con­ EDWARD DEEB, Editor trols on certain agricultural products. SUANNE TAGG, Office Secretary No one shares your concern with higher food prices more than the President. It was on the basis of that KAREN HARDESTY, Insurance Secretary concern that he imposed the price freeze on June 13 Officers— 1973 and that he has taken other actions such as the ex­ pert restrictions on soybeans and certain other prod­ RAY MARTYNIAK, President ucts. Nevertheless, it must be realized that expori Ray's Prime Meat Stores ----- ----------------------Trenton controls impose long lasting costs on the economy as * ALLEN VERBRUGGE, Chairman commercial relationships are shattered and our repu­ Verbrugge's Food M arket___ _________ Grosse Pointe tation as a supplier nation is substantially dimin­ PHIL LAURI. Vice President ished. So long as the American people want the free Lauri Bros. Super M arket____________________Detroit dom to import freely, we must maximize our exports LOUIS VESCIO, Vice President As you know, this means that we cannot unreason Vescio Super M arkets______________________Saginaw restrict agricultural exports since they form i PHIL SAVERINO, Vice President large part of our total exports. Phil's Quality M arket_______________________Detroit In the context of these competing domestic ration­ EDWARD ACHO, Treasurer ales—the desire for reasonably priced food stuffs ir J-A Super Market __ Detroit the United States and the desire to export agricul­ EDWARD DEEB, Executive Director tural products in order to pay for the imports we want—the President and his advisors must look with GEORGE BASHARA, Legal Advisor the greatest of care at all available data before mak ing any decision which would lead to the establish D irec to rs ment of new export controls. Such a review is now STAN ALBUS — Stan’s Super Markets ______ ____________ D etroit proceeding on a virtually continuous basis. I am sure LAFAYETTE ALLEN, JR. — Allen’s Supermarkets _______ Inkster •ALEX BELL — Village Food M arket ______________Grosse Pointe that you have followed the crop report announce WILSON BOYD — King Cole Super M arkets ____________ Detroit ments which give us reason to be cautiously opti­ SAM COSMA — Atlas Super M arket_________________ _ Pontiac mistic about total production of critical crops this PAUL FELICE — Felice’s Quality Market ______________ Pontiac year. We also have indications of improved crops ir SIDNEY BRENT — Kenilworth M arket__________ __________Detroit GEORGE BYRD — Byrd House of Meats ___ __________ Livonia other countries which were hit by bad weather a •MICHAEL GIANCOTTI — Auburn-Orchard Markets _______ Utica year ago. Furthermore, we have undertaken con LOUIS GEORGE — Crown Food M arkets ...........................D etroit versations with representatives of a number of JACOB GRANT — F anner G rant’s M a r k e t___________A nn Arbor JACK HAMADY — Hamady Super Markets ________ __________Flint countries which buy our agricultural commodities t( DON HARRINGTON — Meat-N-Place ___ _____ St. Clair Shores exchange information and to encourage action to SID HILLER — Shopping Center Super Markets ____ Southfield avoid stockpiling in those countries. GEORGE JERRY — C. Jerry’s Super M arkets _______Port Huron DANNY KNOPPER — Danny’s Super Markets ____________D etroit It is our present belief that if our Fall harvests art •DONALD LaROSE — Food Giant Super Markets _______ Detroit as large as they now appear to be and if we are sue GENE MAT TI — Town Square Super M arket_________ Dearborn cessful in dampening unnecessary speculative de MOYED NAJOR — Publix Super M arket______________ D etroit JAMES PEABODY -— Peabody’s Market .