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Why Times Supermarket is not “at home in the Islands.”

Times deleted jobs of long-time employees, many of them female.

Times drastically reduced healthcare for injured workers and their families.

Times took away the guarantee of a 40-hour workweek for full-time workers.

Times eliminated the employee annuity (retirement) plan.

Times lied when it said it would recall union workers by seniority.

Times decided to eliminate the jobs of deli workers in all its stores last year, long before the economy became an issue. The majority of these workers were female with more than 25 years of loyal service. Some were just a few years away from retirement. But Times decided to put profits before people, eliminating the unionized deli worker positions and moving the positions to the non-union grocery department where it could employ new workers with less or no experience to save on costs. What about the loyal union worker with seven kids to feed, or the grandmother who needed to work a few more years before becoming eligible for Social Security and Medicare? Where do you find a new job at 62 years old? Is that the way to treat our kupuna?

And then there’s the issue of injuries on the job. It is not uncommon for people in this industry to suffer work-related repetitive stress injuries, strains and sprains, slips and falls, and even more serious injuries such as the loss of fingers or limbs. Overtime work increases the likelihood of these injuries, especially when fatigue sets in. Times drastically reduced their responsibility to provide continuous medical coverage for injured workers. Doesn’t Times value its workers? What about their spouses and keiki? Times would be taking medical coverage away from them, too. How is that caring for the Times ‘Ohana?

How can workers provide for their families without the guarantee of a 40-hour workweek? Hawaii’s high cost of living makes the guarantee all the more important. The owners of Times expect a profit. The management at Times expects a full paycheck. Why shouldn’t workers expect to make a reasonable living, too? Workers need a 40-hour workweek and benefits to support themselves and their families. Where’s the Aloha for people who simply want to make an honest living?

When workers have loyally committed their entire working lives to you and your company, and put their heart and soul into growing the company’s business, they deserve recognition for it. Despite admiration for the work ethic of its employees, Times no longer wanted to contribute to the long-standing annuity plan that was established to provide employees with retirement funds at the end of their careers. Where’s the company’s loyalty to the workers and all their efforts to make Times successful?

Where’s Times’ business ethics? Times publicly stated that it would recall union workers by seniority after the strike ended, but then they proceeded to recall whomever they wanted to without regard to seniority. Most employers, particularly in Hawaii, will follow through on promises, especially those made publicly. Disregarding promises shows disrespect for those involved and the community as a whole. How can you trust a company that says one thing and does another?

We invite you to continue to check this website for informational updates and our current commercials that present the workers’ side of the story in this ongoing labor dispute.

Please support us and Boycott Times until workers have a fair contract. Mahalo!

 

FAQ- Frequently asked questions about the Hawaii Teamsters labor dispute with Times Super Market

To All our Union and Community Brothers & Sisters, we want to say Mahalo for joining our Boycott Times Rally. We value your Support. 

 

 

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Please contact us on and questions or concerns regarding the boycott of Times Supermarket.

 

Hear why people are shopping elsewhere...

Latest News Update 11-18-2009

Times’ actions speak louder than words! 

Is Times over promising and under delivering to employees and the local community, or is their intention never to deliver at all?

For example, consider the announcement of the Times acquisition of Star Market. A Honolulu Advertiser article by veteran reporter Will Hoover (“Times to acquire Star Market stores”) published on July 8, 2009 quoted John Quinn, the Mainland owner of Times, as saying: 

“Today, we are combining two longtime kamaaina companies to create a powerful new brand in the local grocery industry.”

But Times had ceased to be a “kamaaina company” when it was purchased by Quinn’s PAQ Inc. of Stockton, California in 2002. After urging employees to work hard to make Times more profitable, this company:

-          Eliminated all deli clerks (mostly women), some with nearly 40 years of service;

-          Replaced most if not all fish cutters, meat wrappers and utility workers;

-          Cut worker benefits and the guarantee of a 40-hour work week; and

-          Terminated its company-sponsored retirement (pension) program.

Now that’s the kind of “power” our community can do without!

More jobs lost at Star!

According to the same Advertiser article: “Bob Stout, Times’ senior director of operations, said the remaining Star Markets locations would be rebranded under the Times Supermarkets name. But, he said, the employees would remain and the operation would be “business as usual for customers and employees.”

Yet a blogger who said her husband worked for Star for 30 years responded to the news article by saying:

“Registered and certified letters were mailed out by Star on 7 Jul (the day before the buyout announcement) to its employees stating that they have 60 days from the receipt of the notice that they will be separated UNLESS Times offers the affected employees a position … Mr. Stout’s statements about nothing drastic will happen is far from the truth … The parent companies (of Times and Star) are just getting richer off the backs of the hard working employees.”

Despite Stout’s media statement, Times recently closed the Star Market locations in Moiliili and Ewa Beach. Shoppers in those communities are rightfully upset. A shopper even told the media he was so angry, he would boycott Times.

Take a stand for fairness and respect. Don’t buy empty promises! Boycott Times!