President David Cook updates shop stewards on the growth of non-union competition for grocery sales. The companies contend that the increased low-wage/low benefit competition is impacting their ability to compete. The following charts illustrate the growth of non-union competition in the Greater St. Louis area.
The chart above indicates the increased number of Wal-Mart Supercenters in the Greater St. Louis area in the past 10 years.
The chart above indicates the number of total store locations that are union vs. non-union in 2003, 2013 and projected in the next year or two. The number of store locations that are union represented have shown no increase in the past 10 years. The number of non-union store locations is projected to have increased by approximately 50 over the same time period.
The chart above reflects the dollars spent on groceries in union vs. non-union stores in the Greater St. Louis area. Estimates are that dollars spent in non-union stores has increased from 32% to 48.7% in the last 10 years. Stated in dollars that is an increase from $28,415,000 to $61,740,000.
