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Perhaps. Are they rude because they can be due to union rules? We see that a lot with Civil Service employees.

If there are no sanctions for poor performance (such as union or civil service rules) employees will act as if there are no consequences. Which, of course, they don't have.

Perhaps the unions aren't totally to blame, but I seriously doubt the unions went out of their way to forestall this.
The grocery business operates on notoriously thin margins (instead they count on higher inventory turnover rates). In many instances profit margins are very low even under optimal market conditions. It's not rocket science. You can run loss leaders to get folks in the door but you are counting on making a small amount off the load of bread but then selling lots and lots of loaves.

It's like anything else. Company A, B, and C all have to sell bread for around the same price (basically what the market will bear...e.g. What the average consumer thinks the bread is worth). If the margin is thin anyway and company “C” is having to pay union wages instead of prevailing market wages (like company “A” and “B”) that cuts into an already razor thin profit and somebody is not going to survive. In a “Bizarro” kind of world Food World could just jack its prices to compensate for higher wage rates. We would pay $2.00 for a $1.50 loaf of bread to offset the higher wage rate and they would survive. That's kind of been happening anyway. If you compare Brunos/Food World to many other grocers they do tend to be higher priced.

I personally hate to see them in trouble. They do a good job with some things. But, consumers (in a downturn) will not pay higher prices to offset higher union wage rates. They are shopping based on price an no one can blame them for that in a bad economy.

Edited to add: This is not an anti-union rant. There are certain instances in our history when unions have performed a valuable function and honorably served their membership and helped build America. It's just that when Americans have to shop based on price in a tough economy they will shop at non-union establishments to save a few bucks and union chains such as Brunos will continue to suffer. I can truly see (and appreciate) both sides of the argument here and there are no easy answers.
I wish them the best.
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Last edited by blackacre
quote:
Originally posted by jmbo35660:
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Some people believe the unions are to blame for the bankruptcy of Food World/Brunos. No customer service, rude and angry employees will ruin a business in no time. Mismanagement is also to blame for their demise.


Probably some of both. Didn't old man Bruno and a bunch of senior management die in a plane crash some years ago? I wonder if that was the beginning of their problems.
quote:
Originally posted by CrustyMac:
quote:
Originally posted by jmbo35660:
Link

Some people believe the unions are to blame for the bankruptcy of Food World/Brunos. No customer service, rude and angry employees will ruin a business in no time. Mismanagement is also to blame for their demise.


Probably some of both. Didn't old man Bruno and a bunch of senior management die in a plane crash some years ago? I wonder if that was the beginning of their problems.


I think you're probably right Crusty. It may have signaled the beginning of the end. Of course it was also about the time Wal-Mart started ramping up grocery operations and also about the time Publix stores started springing up.

If I'm remembering correctly the plane crash that killed several members of the senior management team and some family members was in 1991. I have a buddy that worked for them (upper, upper management) and helped put together the KKR merger in 1995 and he has lots of good stories.

I hate it for everyone involved. It is a tough time to be looking for a job.

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quote:
If there are no sanctions for poor performance (such as union or civil service rules) employees will act as if there are no consequences. Which, of course, they don't have.


Hmmm, last time I looked there were sanctions for poor performance of civil servants - reduction in pay, withholding of pay raises, job transfer, etc. In fact there is usually at least a 90 day probationary period before they are hired permanently - sometimes longer. Now if you experience rude behavior and fail to report to that person's supervisor there is no way to record the behavior/complaints. You are not required to join a union if you are a civil servant.

Isn't Alabama a "right to work" state? Can't folks fire for no reason? I didn't know Food World/Bruno's were union -

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