Unions Join Whole Foods Boycott Fray

[onehandle]

Source: Huffington Post

Two unions have now joined in the growing chorus decrying Whole Foods' CEO John Mackey and suggesting a boycott of the store. Two weeks ago, Mackey penned a controversial op-ed in the Wall Street Journal offering the "Whole Foods alternative to ObamaCare."

"The last thing our country needs is a massive new health care entitlement that will create hundreds of billions of dollars of new unfunded deficits and move us much closer to a government takeover of our health care system," Mackey wrote, then suggested a neat solution. (Hint: this alternative involves grocery shopping at Whole Foods.)

As the NY Times write-up of "the most unexpected" sideshow to the 2009 Health Care Debate put it: "Reaction from pro-reform Whole Foods shoppers was swift and vociferous." Now the Change To Win Investment Group and United Food And Commercial Workers Union -- both a part of the Change To Win federation of unions representing six million workers -- have put out statements criticizing Mackey and encouraging a boycott of the store.

CtW called for Mackey's removal as chairman of the board and CEO. "Mr. Mackey attempted to capitalize on the brand reputation of Whole Foods to champion his personal political views, but has instead deeply offended a key segment of Whole Foods consumer base," the group's executive director Bill Patterson said in a statement. UFCW has begun handing out pamphlets to Whole Food shoppers. The group said Mackey's op-ed was an "attempt to undermine Obama's health-care reform." (Whole Foods is not unionized.)

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/26/unions-join-whole-foods-b_n_269895.html

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Remove Mackey Now!

[wordpix]

1. just shopped there today but I'll join the boycott - they will lose a lot of $ if my fam stops

buying there 2x/wk.

Really, what we need are stores that can compete with Whole Foods so we organic foodies can find decent food at reasonable prices. Either that or goodbye, John Mackey, and we can keep shopping Wh. Foods.

[onehandle]

2. I stopped by there for the first time in 2 weeks today. (I was early for an appointment nearby)

It was pretty quiet and I hope it wasn't a coincidence.

I walked the store and partook of their various samples.

Then I walked out without spending a dime.

Ha!

[wordpix]

3. Totally forgot about Mackey when I went today but I won't forget again!

thanks for the reminder!

[aquart]

21. I did that yesterday.

But I didn't feel triumphant, just really sorry. The 365 brand is quality and affordable. I used 365 butter, milk, salad dressings, all kinds of things. Whole Foods didn't make a lot of money off me, but they definitely had a customer they could count on. Not anymore.

[Stephanie]

65. Ride your bike up to 125 St. Fairway

LIke I just did. Totally worth it.

[aquart]

81. Haven't had the bike in a while, Steph.

But if I was still biking, I much prefer the original on B'way in the 70s.

[Stephanie]

64. I've been doing that too!

Walking thru the store is a shortcut on the way home from work. I cruise through, try all the free samples, and leave empty-handed. The Tribeca store seems a little emptier but not by much. Of course it's a wealthy neighborhod. Still some leafletting might be worthwhile.

[Arugula Latte]

71. That's a good idea. People should go in, eat the samples, and leave.

[onehandle]

75. Stopped in again today.

Alaska Salmon Salad Samples!

Paydirt!

Had several big scoops on crackers, with a few organic grapes from produce for dessert.

Suckers.

[DebbieCDC]

16. look for a local co-op or farmers market in your area that may carry organics

[iamjoy]

17. There Are Alternatives

At least here in Florida, Publix carries a pretty good selection of organics, and even has them in separate displays.
For that matter, Wal-Mart supposedly has a decent selection of organic stuff, although I (like many others) refuse to shop there. However, it seems we do have few alternatives for socially conscious shopping. I will avoid Whole Foods because my expectations for a company like that are higher than many others. I refuse to shop at Wal-Mart not because they are that much worse than so many other companies, but because they are the biggest and if they are pressured to change, others will follow.

[No Elephants]

33. Maybe we should petition Target to start carrying whole foods?

They are my favorite alternative to Wal-Mart.

[No Elephants]

32. Whole Foods has been buying up its competition, but there is still Trader Joe and Erewhon for a lot

of things and don't overlook the organic food section of your supermarket. Those prices are coming down.

I miss the prepared foods at Whole Foods, but the boycott is more important. Health care is important and, in general, it's important for folks to see that teabaggers and town meeting disrupters are not the only ones who can organize.

Long term, though, Democrats really have to build some serious infrastructure.

[bemildred]

4. Whole Foods is a very expensive yuppie franchise.

I would boycott them, but I never shop there anyway, because of their prices. They do have great selection, but not for stuff I want or need, and not for things I can't get cheaper elsewhere.

[wordpix]

9. Whole Foods own 365 brands are very reasonably priced - just bought organic raisin bran there for $2

a box, a can of dog food for $1, and it goes on from there. There are always specials that are reasonable.

[No Elephants]

34. Opposing health care is unreasonable, though. Especially when your customers tend to be progressive

Besides, I'd rather pay double or do without than break a boycott for a noble cause--and paying double or doing without is rarely necessary anyway.

[bemildred]

39. So they have loss leaders.

My wife gets the 365 brand stuff from time to time. They charge an arm and a leg for grape seed oil, coffee, vitamins, and lots of other stuff I can get cheaper at Trader Joes or local markets. They do have a good selection of unpackaged grains, dried fruits, gorp, etc., but at high prices.

[Betsy Ross]

5. Demonstration in Berkeley this Friday

11:00 am to 1:00 pm
Telegraph and Ashby
Berkeley, CA.
UFCW Local 5 and others

[friendly_iconoclast]

6. The new Whole Foods in Dedham, MA is across from UFCW Local 1445!

And it's due to open in a week. Opening day may be quite interesting!

[No Elephants]

35. Let's hope people show up with signs.

[knixphan]

7. Good!!

[Omaha Steve]

8. R #5!

[ZombieHorde]

10. Mr. Mackey must be kicking himself. nt

[friendly_iconoclast]

11. If he isn't, the shareholders will soon be doing it for him!

*snork*

[Q3JR4]

12. Seriously.

It's not a good idea to piss of your core group of shoppers just so you can save a buck or two.

Q3JR4.

[spooky3]

13. I passed a WF today - pkg lot is usually jammed but it was < 3/4 full today.

[geckosfeet]

14. I have no reason to buy at Whole paycheck anymore. When I heard of

what Mackey said I decided that I no longer needed to shop there. The problem was where to find a reliable source of gluten free products, since that is mainly why I shopped at whole paychecks.

As it turns out, Hannafords (a local chain) carries a lot of gluten free items. The local Trader Joes has some but is farther away. And since I have been looking harder, I have discovered that the local chain super market has a small gluten free section.

Thanks to the duer's who suggested Hannafords and Trader Joes.

[Oregone]

15. Wow. Thats so awesome.

I didn't notice this until now (skipped other threads).

Sometimes its neat when politics meets marketing and a conflict of interest arises. This guys gotta realize the joke, eh?

[Demonaut]

18. damn people!!.....he has the right to give an opinion

his message sucked but the employees should not pay for the boss's mistake....money and power usually lead a soul to becoming republican, on edit Walmart is the greater evil

[nightrain]

19. employees might be able to/want to find a better work situation too.

[nodehopper]

20. the boycott isn't against employees

It's against the corporation. should we shop at Walmart to support Walmart workers?

[Touchdown]

22. They will never get union wages there, and their HC plan literally sucks!

They would be better off with those "unhealthy food peddlers" Kroger & Safeway as union members with decent health care plans.

[jxnmsdemguy65]

25. I always shop at Kroger...

and since I find worker's issues interesting, I often ask my checkout clerk if they are happy working for them. I always hear an enthusiastic 'yes', along with explanation of great benefits and how the UFCW really looks out for their interests. Always.

[aquart]

23. So you think I should pay to have Mr. Mackey sabotage my healthcare?

Am I obligated to support that smug ass? Have I no right to choose where I spend my money?

Thanks so much for your regard for me.

[Iowa]

24. It's always only a matter of time until someone steps in to shed tears for the villain.

Some folks are just inclined to align with power.

"...he has the right to give an opinion... the employees should not pay for the boss's mistake"

Jesus H Christ... John Mackey is the one who poses a threat to the employees; those who are prodding the company to toss his sorry ass are doing the employees (and the country) a favor.

"...money and power usually lead a soul to becoming republican..."

Only the ones without consciences. And it's our role to do whatever we can not to support such assholes in any way, shape, or form. In case you haven't been paying attention, it's us against them.

[No Elephants]

36. Unions are boycotting. On your theory, no boycott is ok, unless it's against Walmart?

BTW, Mackey's anti labor policies are worse for the employees than a boycott ever could be.

And no one stopped him from expressing his opinion, much as no one should stop anyone from expressing their opinion of his opinion by boycotting his stores.

But thanks for passing on the position of the Wall Street Journal on this.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204683204574356390709311288.html

[onehandle]

41. This is bigger than one company. He spat in the face of his customers.

He must go.

[Stephanie]

66. Yes, and so do we

[SemiCharmedQuark]

89. Everytime there is a boycott, people pull out "Freedom of speech!"

Obviously, many people do not understand what that means. It does not mean there are no consequences for your words. It means that the government won't punish you. But people can spend their money where they want--that's just a fact.

This came up when people were boycotting Prop 8 supporters too.

I bet if DU were around in the 60s, people would have said "But those bus drivers were just doing their jobs!"

[efhmc]

26. Ex-shopper and stockholder here. Where can I write a letter?

Also, Texans have a good choice for variety in organics at HEB and their central market stores. How about organic co-ops, if like me you are not close to an area where there is a farmer's market?

[Dem2theMax]

28. Go here:

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/company/service.php

I wrote last week and told them that they lost a customer. I got a REAL email reply from a REAL person, apologizing all over the place for the IDIOT CEO's words. And I told them that he was an IDIOT.

Happy writing! ;)

[efhmc]

56. My letter:

As a devoted customer and stock holder,I am thoroughly appalled at the comments made by your CEO,John Mackey. His inability to place himself outside his very privileged life and into the lives of millions of Americans who have been forced into economic collapse because of health care costs over which they have NO CONTROL is at best cold and calloused and at worse greedy and manipulative. My family will not be shopping at your store any more. I will use local farmers' markets and HEB Central Market. You may be interested to know that I was an original shopper at your first store on South Lamar in Austin. This is a sad day for what was once a great company.

[No Elephants]

37. Your proxy materials and the like must have a contact address for stockholders.

Try pursuing that. Or call Whole Foods Customer Service and ask for contact info for their stockholder services.

[Joe Bacon]

27. Took my business to Erewhon and Trader Joe's

Let's remind Mackey that those who live by Ayn Rand die by the invisible hand's middle finger!

[marybourg]

29. I'm writing to the manufacturers of the multi-allergen-free specialty products

that I buy in WF to ask where else I can buy them. I say that I will not shop in WF any more and encourage them to try to place their products elsewhere.

[Psephos]

30. This is a crock. Whole Foods is ranked among the most employee-friendly workplaces year after year.

http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/99/open_customer-whole-foods.html

Employee Innovator Runner-up: Whole Foods Market
By: Ryan Underwood Wed Dec 19, 2007

Whole Foods nurtures democracy, putting their health plan to a company-wide vote. The outcome: satisfied workers and ultimately happy customers.

On Whole Foods' heavy roster of employee-friendly policies--for instance, no executive at Whole Foods makes more than 14 times the average hourly employee's pay--nothing stands out as much as the <b>company's employee-designed benefits plan</b>. In 2003, the granola set's grocery chain of choice decided to put the entire package, from medical plans to vacation time, out for a companywide, 25,000-person vote. After three rounds of voting (and an 87% turnout) employees voted for a health plan that takes nothing from their paycheck and offers cash to cover out-of-pocket expenses. (Dependents get the same treatment after five years.)

They're No. 16 on Fortune's Best 100 Companies to Work for in 2008 (and No. 5 in 2007).
http://www.fortunesmallbusiness.com/magazines/fortune/bestcompanies/2008/snapshots/16.html

They're pro-active on sustainable and eco-friendly food procurement.
http://www.mikrofax.com/news/Whole-Foods-adopts-innovative-standards-in-seafood-procurement/430021572/918449656.html

PETA says they're the BEST animal-friendly retailer.
http://austin.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2004/12/27/daily22.html

Their LOWEST paid workers get $13.15/hr.

Whole Foods is an active partner with local and national food and hunger philanthropies, and permits their stores to be used for fundraising.

According to Wikipedia,

* Whole Foods Market has been included in Fortune magazine's annual list of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" every year since the list's inception in 1998, most recently at No. 5 in 2007.

* CEO John Mackey was named to Barron's list of the world's best CEOs, which recognizes 30 top corporate leaders who excel in not only profit growth and stock-price gains but also leadership strength and industry stature.

* The Environmental Protection Agency awarded Whole Foods Market its top honor of Green Power Partner of the Year for 2006. The company was also presented with the Green Power Leadership Award in 2004 and 2005.

* In the 2006 Harris Interactive/The Wall Street Journal ranking of the world's best and worst corporate reputations, Whole Foods placed 12th overall and received the best score of any company for social responsibility.

* Whole Foods was included in Corporate Responsibility Officer magazine's annual "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list for 2007, ranking No. 54 out of 1,100 U.S. public companies surveyed. The ranking is based on measures of corporate service to eight groups: shareholders, community, governance, diversity, employees, environment, human rights and product.

* CEO John Mackey was named the 2003 Overall National Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year.

* Whole Foods was named 'World's Greatest Food Retailer' by the British trade magazine The Grocer in 2006.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whole_Foods_Market#Awards_and_recognition

Read the whole Wikipedia article - there's plenty more I haven't even touched on.

So Mackey writes an op-ed suggesting alternatives to single payer health care in an open and friendly discussion based on ACTUAL EXPERIENCE AT HIS PROGRESSIVE COMPANY and the result is this asinine boycott? He spread no myths or lies, did not traffic in fear or name calling, and instead of droning NO NO NO like the repugs actually put forth some alternative ideas.

In other words, he engaged in civil and informed discussion. No one is compelled to agree with him, and he did a service to those who disagree by providing tangible policy suggestions instead of hate and lies to react to. He added to the debate, and took nothing from it.

LOOK AT THE RECORD ABOVE OF THIS EXCELLENT PROGRESSIVE COMPANY and tell me what's not to like. They deserve our support, not our condemnation.

Fuck this boycott.

[Javaman]

31. Ahhh so you must be one of the team leaders there, right? because you don't sound like a team member

do you work there? I have several very close friends who work there, and all is not beer and skittles in the land of food.

you can spew all you want with links to one article or another, but from what my friends tell me on a daily basis, things aren't so happy there these days.

or is that you, mr. mackey?

So you actively support whole foods practice of union busting? do you also support whole foods position on no national health care?

[Psephos]

45. I am self-employed and have no relatives working there, own no stock, and have no connection

Hmmm....

Maybe YOU work for Trader Joe's or Erewhon.

lol

come clean ;)

[Javaman]

46. Bwahahahahaha!!!

You didn't answer my questions. are you anti-union? are you anti-national health care?

do you know that whole foods distributes union busting material to their employees?

do you know that the wonderful "health care" plan that wacky mackey is offering his employees raises the deductible 20% per year for the next 5 years?

Do you know that their other option is an increased copay and an huge increase in the deductible which will be renegotiated in 2 years?

site all the links you want, I know exactly what is going on at whole foods, and if you want to willfully support a nut job libertarian, knock yourself out, but you won't get much support from the people here on DU.

And no, as I have stated, have very many friends working at whole foods. I know exactly what I'm talking about.

So again, are you anti-union? are you anti-national health care?

[Psephos]

48. I am a union member and am pro national healthcare

Sorry to rain on your parade there, Trader Joe. ;)

If you want to know where I stand on single-payer national healthcare, you could, for example, check this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=4018655#4019635

:hi:

[Javaman]

50. And so then you willfully support a libertarian anti-union anti-healthcare

corporation?

man, talk about screwed up priorities.

it ain't my parade to be rained on, it's the people who need healthcare and union supported jobs that you are raining on by supporting whole foods.

[Psephos]

60. Just one question: who will get the business that WF loses?

Care to describe the social responsibility, above-normal wages, and progressive values of those companies?

Data would be appreciated.

[Javaman]

70. And yet you still don't answer my basic question that I have asked you

with each of my replies.

Do you support a libertarian CEO who actively campaigns against unions and against national health care.

Until you answer to that, you get no more replies from me.

[Psephos]

79. Hey Trader Joe, I answered three of yours...now it's your turn

C'mon now, don't be shy. ;)

[Javaman]

83. Well, its apparent you are willfully dodging the questions

The same questions that I have been asking you since you first replied.

You use some really questionable logic in trying to infer that anyone who questions mackey and or whole foods, works for their competition and thus would disqualify them. That the concept that ordinary people have the facts regarding this matter that refutes directly mackeys bullshit is somehow not reliable or false. That is some truly bizarro type argument there.

As I have suspected from the beginning of your rant, in a phrase, your full of shit.

You say you are a union member, but refuse to answer a basic question about whether or not you support mackey's anti-union stance. It should be a no brainer but apparently you are logically challenged.

And as far as you not answering the question regarding mackey's stance against national health care, which all major unions have gone on record as supporting, once again is a no brainer and you still refuse to answer.

So you must be either a total bullshit artist or a self loathing union member.

Or as I pretty much suspect, a tool from whole foods that is doing their foot work in a very obvious manner. It appears you really enjoy carrying their water for them.

Have fun with that, you seem to enjoy it.

So I end again, I will give you one more chance to answer the questions.

All it takes is a yes or a no.

Do you support mackey's anti-union position?

Do you support Mackey's anti-national health position?

I've asked these question in each of my replies and yet you fail to answer them. If you read back through the thread you will see I asked these first before you even brought up anything else.

[wickerwoman]

96. There's a lot more options now than there were ten years ago.

I shop at PCC:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCC_Natural_Markets

Most major cities have similar food co-ops. They're cheaper than Whole Foods, have a comparable selection and had better produce than the Whole Foods I visited.

You can also subscribe to a CSA (community supported agriculture). You buy a share in a local farm and then once a week they deliver a basket of fresh produce to your door (or a local drop-off point). You can get a huge box of fresh, organic produce for $20-30 a week and support local small farmers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_Supported_Agriculture

Or you can shop at your local farmer's market. There's at least three within short driving distance of me on different days of the week and they always have much fresher and cheaper produce than Whole Foods.

It only takes slightly more organization to get everything you need from local sources and you can save a lot of money even vs. shopping at regular grocery stores because you aren't tempted by all the preprocessed crap.

[No Elephants]

38. Why does the right to express an opinion go only one way? I have a right to express my opinion of

his opinion. He thought the most effective way for him to express his opinion was by writing (or putting his name to) an op ed. I think the most effective way for me to express my opinion is by joining a boycott.

BTW, are we relying on a wiki that anyone, especcially Whole Foods, can edit to prove that Mackey is a good guy? "Cause on the earlie thread about the boycott, plenty of articles that did not portray Whole Foods as saintly were posted.

[Psephos]

44. NE, everyone has a right to express an opinion

This isn't about expressing an opinion. This is about groupthink. Few who are piling on WF know anything about WF's extraordinary record.

What's despicable to me is the tar brush applied to a company that is better than most companies in almost every way we consider important.

Businesspeople will look at this hypocrisy and conclude that it makes no sense for them to try being more socially responsible if a company like WF gets treated this way.

I can't accept your point about wikipedia sourcing here. First, because I provided plenty of non-wikipedia sources that corroborate it, and second, because you provided zero refutation.

You're usually one of the most thoughtful posters here, even though we often diverge in our perspectives. I respect thoughtfulness in discourse. In this case, the evidence is overwhelming that WF deserves recognition for doing so many of the things we consider dear. If you differ, I'd like to hear an argument that addresses the specific facts and records I posted earlier.

One more thought. Who is going to suffer from a boycott? Mackey? Or employees? Seem fair to you?

[No Elephants]

55. Thank you. I think Mackey will suffer more, though.

I also disagree that business people will conclude there is no point being good. They know the boycott is because of health care, not because WF employees get breaks.

Again, though, check the thread on this from a day or so ago. The posts and articles linked on that thread were just not consistent with what you are saying.

BTW, I am seldom guilty of group think. I disagree with everyone at one point or another, and not because I choose that path, but because I don't post for approval.

[Psephos]

57. heh heh

I agree, you aren't a group thinker - that comment was not meant to include you.

I can't help but think we have thousands of better targets than WF.

BTW, I will check that thread you mentioned.

[AngryAmish]

67. Bullshit. He needs to be crushed.

If he wants to open that shithole he calls a mouth then we have the right to destroy his company. No mercy. Only crushing.

[Psephos]

69. "Shut up, he explained."

You sure you're not hiding a copy of the Teabagger Manual under your desk? Cuz that sounds like what they advocate on page 37. ;)

[clear eye]

93. I call BS

You are a "self-employed" "union member"? How, exactly do you manage that?

[onehandle]

40. So he's just a little anti-progressive. What's the big deal?

I will have no problem going back after he is gone.

[Doremus]

42. You do realize that half your citations are from monied interests?

Hard to take it seriously when you offer the recommendation of Barron's and Bush's EPA as evidence that Whole Foods is "good."

Doesn't do a thing for your argument.
Detracts from it, actually.
FYI.

[Psephos]

43. Try responding to the other half.

Not doing so doesn't do a thing for your argument.

Detracts from it, really.

A dismissal without an argument is weak tea indeed.

Meanwhile, are you seriously implying that "monied interests" can make no legitimate observations about the operations of a responsible company? Give me a break.

When business press goes out of its way to take note of a progressive company's social responsibility and excellent employee atmosphere, do you think that makes a positive or negative impression in the business world on whether or not companies can be successful progressive entities and successful businesses at the same time? I doubt many in that world cruise DU or DK for an idea of what a prog corp can actually achieve.

[Romulox]

54. Translation: "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!" nt

[Psephos]

58. No, I'd just like to hear what you think about the points you didn't address

Not being testy here - I've seen your good posts many times in support of the domestic auto industry, and found them valuable.

In this case, it's not an argument or discussion if there's no argument or discussion. ;)

[Doremus]

62. Sure, if you'd like.

When the CEO of a company is a proponent of the law of the jungle, aka "pull yourself up by your bootstraps," I wouldn't call him a friend of employees.

$13/hr. and good lip service may be your idea of employment shangrila, but it only proves how far we've fallen in this country that we'd be not only willing to settle for that, but giddy at the opportunity.

[Psephos]

63. Just a thought, but how do you think a company gets started so it can hire employees?

As my grandfather used to say, poor men do not hire people. (Actually, what he said exactly was "poor man never gave nobody a job." He was a lifelong Democrat and a firefighter, btw.) The man had a point...and the bootstrappers have a role. 70% of new jobs in the US are created by small businesses (i.e., entrepreneurs). Check it out on www.bls.gov (the government's Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Also, here in Michigan, there would be a line half a mile long for $13/hr jobs in a pleasant environment. Grocery stocking isn't exactly a high-skill position. It's astonishing they can offer that wage when their competitors offer not much more than half that for the same work.

That's WF's lowest wage, btw. And their highest wage in the executive suite is held to 14 times their lowest.

When you stop shopping at WF, which stores will now get your business? Have you thought to compare their business practices to WF's?

[spooky3]

76. Sorry, that 70% stat is a pet peeve of mine. Doesn't that stat consider

< 500 employees to be a "small business"? I don't think that 500 employees (or even 100-500) is what most people think of when they think of small business.

If instead 70% of jobs were created by 10 person or smaller firms, that might be a meaningful statistic. But that might also suggest your grandfather was wrong - businesses start "poor" and grow, i.e., "poor men" DO hire people.

And do you have any idea of the failure rate of new businesses? It is extremely high, so jobs created there often vanish soon after.

Steven Pearlstein of WaPo has other concerns about the small business myth:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/07/AR2009070702650.html

and

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2009/07/07/DI2009070701598.html

[Psephos]

80. Thanks, that Pearlstein link is good food for thought

I use the Bureau of Labor Statistics for my primary source.

It's certainly worth further discussion. :think:

However, it might be better as a separate thread. My whole point in this thread was that by almost every progressive standard, WF is a good company, and far better than its competitors. Boycotting WF drives business to companies considerably less progressive than WF...which is hypocrisy writ large.

Mackey didn't use teabagger/astroturfer distortion and disinformation. He stated his opinions based on his actual experience providing excellent healthcare for his employees. I disagree with his opinion (and have posted my support for single-payer on DU in numerous threads). But I don't disagree with his right to say it without fear of reprisal. You know, Voltaire and all that.

[Romulox]

52. Do you understand that there is no such thing as a "progressive corporation"?

Corporate officers have a fiduciary duty to maximize shareholder returns. A policy of being generous to one's employees may well be one way to maximize these returns.

But a corporate officer may not put the interests of his employees above shareholder returns. You do understand this, right? Because the talk of an "EXCELLENT PROGRESSIVE COMPANY" (shout caps in the original) sounds distressingly like you've lost sight of the above...

[Psephos]

61. If you think it's impossible for a company to be progressive and also viable...

...then we must agree to disagree.

[Romulox]

74. What a lame punt. You obviously aren't aware of the fiduciary duties of corporate directors...

Which are not a matter of opinion, or any other similar deflection...

[Psephos]

78. "a corporate officer may not put the interests of his employees above shareholder returns"

mmkay, perhaps you'll explain how that worked with GM. By acceding to the known terms of the government bailout in advance, the corporate officers not only put the interests of the employees ahead of the shareholders, they wiped out the shareholders utterly, decimated the holdings of the bondholders, and made the employees the new owners (along with the government) in place of the shareholders. It's exactly the opposite of what you claim.

The notion that "a corporate officer may not put the interests of his employees above shareholder returns" is not supportable. The lawyers and executive cabals run the show, not the "fiduciary interest guarders," at many giant companies, and they're taking care of Number One, not shareholder X. It happens all the time. Or do executive compensation, company-paid perquisites, and bank bonuses not seem like they got a little out of control to you? I don't see much gained by the shareholders when the fat cats steal the silverware and laugh into their brandy snifters.

Corporate officers face a variety of real-world, as well as on-paper, responsibilities, influences, and decision drivers. Their personalities, background, and hungers are also major factors. Your statement doesn't begin to cover it.

[Joanne98]

47. He's the CEO and Chairman of the Board?

No wonder he's an asshole.

[ItNerd4life]

49. Boycotting whole foods is pure horse manure and disgusts me!

With all the good that they've done by changing what food we can get and how well they treat their employees. The CEO says 1 thing that people disagree with and they are ready to destroy the whole company and destroy how many employees lives?

John Mackey is the FOUNDER of the company. You really think he is leaving?

[Robb]

51. Horseshit. nt

[Romulox]

53. Do you agree that "sometimes free speech goes too far"?

:rofl:

[Doremus]

59. Doesn't matter if he's the founder, the founder's founder or the founder's founder founder.

Board of directors can and should shitcan his ass.

And if they don't do it, the shareholders should.

[TerribleLarryDingle]

68. Sorry but that's bullshit.

My local Farmer's market has much better Organic food at half the cost of Whole Foods. I hardly ever got there and I will make damn sure not to go there at all now. Be as disgusted as you want it does nothing to change what a shitheel Mackey is.

Go pay 3 times what it should cost for your arugula I could give a shit less.

[Arugula Latte]

72. American CEOs think they can run roughshod over the public.

I'm just happy one of them is finally getting a little blowback.

Also, this shows that there are plenty of us who are pro-healthcare reform.

[Cha]

77. Yes, it does show

that .. Better yet, grow your own Arugula:hi:

[Arugula Latte]

84. Hola, Cha!

We have a little problem with gardening here -- our lot is very shady! We've got so many big trees (western cedars, big leaf maples, doug firs, etc.) that it's hard to find a good sunny patch to grow things without chopping down some of these giants!

:hi:

[Cha]

85. Darn Giant Trees in

Portland, Ore.

You have "New Seasons", though..do you like that store? I went when I was in Portland last year..it seemed pretty good.

:hi:

[Arugula Latte]

86. Yes -- I do like it a lot.

They are very progressive, do a lot of good work, food is great -- lots of local, organic, etc. A little pricey, of course. There is one not far away from us.

:hi:

[SemiCharmedQuark]

88. Bullshit. Everybody is free to spend their money where they want.

let the market speak. This CEO should be in favor of that.

[tinrobot]

91. They discovered an untapped market and exploited it.

Not sure if that's good or bad, but it's certainly been profitable for them.

[LeftyMom]

97. The quality of the food and the treatment of the employees are both better at local shops here.

Pricing, too.

I don't shop at Whole Foods because:

1. John Mackey is a lying piece of shit and a libertarian whackjob just slightly to the left of Ayn Rand, and I knew that long before this mess.
2. They're overpriced for what you get.
3. I refuse to pay organic prices for conventional, frequently imported produce. It is insane to sell peppers and tomatoes from Mexico in Northern California in the height of summer, when they're being organically farmed WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF THE STORE.
4. I can get a better selection of healthy food and bodycare items at a local shop.
5. The local shop is unionized and has the best employee benefit package I've ever seen outside of government jobs.
6. The local WF is overrun with suburbanites driving luxury SUVs and they are extremely rude.
7. The staff at the local shop is much more helpful and has much lower turnover and greater product knowledge.
8. Having worked for a supplier to WF in the past I don't have much confidence in their business practices.
9. WF's animal welfare standards for their suppliers are a joke, which makes me suspect the remainder of their supplier criteria are similarly greenwashed.
10. There is nothing at WF I can't get at a local business. I see no point to support a CEO in Austin, TX or a corporate farm in who knows where when I can support workers I know, who know me by name, selling food grown and prepared almost in my backyard.

[Selatius]

98. So what if Mackey founded the company? Shareholders own the company now. They can vote him out.

If the shareholders feel the pinch of the boycott and get pissed, they WILL fire Mackey as CEO, and they will strip him of the chairmanship on the board of directors. Lots of founders have been kicked out of the company. Walt Disney's family doesn't even control Walt Disney Worldwide anymore, for instance.

[CrispyQ]

73. I haven't shopped there since I worked there.

What a fucking sweat shop. I was in one of the administrative offices & salaried. We worked a crazy number of hours because WFM wouldn't backfill four open positions in our department. One night I calculated how many hours a week I was working & divided it into my weekly salary. I hadn't worked that cheap in years! The next day I gave my notice. You couldn't pay me to shop at there.

A lot of the employees only stay there because once you reach five years, WFM pays 100% of the health premium for the entire family. No wonder Mackey doesn't want any kind of public option - his employees are slaves to his business.

[Thucydides]

82. This deserves a thread of its own, a must read for all. K&R for this reply!

CrispyQ, you should really put together post just on this topic alone so more people can see how Whore Foods actually operates.

:yourock:

[tinrobot]

92. Slaves to health insurance.

Bingo.

[crazyjoe]

87. has there been a drop in sales yet ?

[defendandprotect]

90. k i c k

[Nuclear Unicorn]

94. I'm Ambivalent, but hardly unbiased

I think the CEO is very, very wrong but I have a couple of friends that work there; they thought it was a progressive place to work.

I'm guessing their jobs would suffer long before the CEO's ever does.

[Endangered Specie]

95. I dont shop at Whole Foods... not because of this...

but because I don't want to spend my whole paycheck there!

[myrna minx]

99. K&R n/t