Safeway Kills Democracy

On Jan 5th 2006 588 members, labor activist and family members showed solidarity and support for Doug Slaydon presidential candidate for UFCW Local 588 while at his "Board Of Adjustment" hearing at the Local 588 office 2007 Yosemite Blvd, Modesto Ca.

Doug began an active organizing effort to garner membership support in the 2006 election to become the Local Union President but Safeway fired him shortly after he made his candidacy public and began his campaign.

The group supporting Doug was small, eleven or so but they were very militant and vocal. At least half the group had to travel well over 100 miles one way just to be there, the interesting part of this is there was members from Merced, the foothill areas and parts of the Bay Area all in support for Doug. It’s obvious that there has been some good networking going on.

Supporters had hand made signs saying things like "Safeway Kills Democracy", "Reinstate Doug Slaydon"and "We support Doug Slaydon". There was even a small future labor activist around age three to four sporting a sign that said "I Support Doug Too."

One highlight of the day was watching each Safeway management person come across the line first Bernard Hardy then Penny Schumacher from HR followed by Jason one of the asst managers at Doug’s store. When they would drive up to the union office they all had this look of confusion on their faces. Priceless!!! As each one crossed the line to enter the union office they were confronted with very loud chants like "Safeway do the right thing! Reinstate Doug Slaydon" Doug made the comment that " the chants were so loud you could hear them all through the union office"

Doug’s so called "Board Of Adjustment"was deadlocked with Local 588 allowing Safeway’s Bernard Hardy to play witness and voting member determining the out come of Doug’s board of adjustments! How the hell is that legal?

When members in stores started hearing the out come of Doug’s case there was out rage and a lot of questions! The biggest question being asked by members "Do you think Local 588 and Safeway are working together to get rid of Doug Slaydon so he can’t run for office?"

Well we at Grocery Workers United don’t know that for sure but one has to think does the Loveall leadership want to give up feasting at the trough at the members expense? And why would Safeway want any kind of union reform when they are already getting what they want from 588's Loveall leadership concessions, concessions and more concessions!