Tesco: A “Fresh” Approach or a British Wal-Mart?

On the heels of the grocery workers’ heartening contract victory, a new threat to good retail jobs is descending from Britain.  The giant British retail chain Tesco plans to open more than 100 grocery stores in the western U.S., including seven in San Diego County, within a year.

A new report from the Occidental College Urban & Environmental Policy Institute details how Tesco's workplace and environmental track record in 12 countries has fallen short of its promises. The report recommends steps communities should take to hold the company accountable for its claims of social responsibility.

For instance, Tesco calls itself "a great place to work," but plans to rely mainly on part-time employees, who must juggle multiple jobs to earn a family-supporting income. At a San Diego press conference in June, company officials said their typical workers will be "moms or students." The chain also markets its commitment to increasing fresh food options in low-income neighborhoods, but only 10 of the first 98 U.S. sites are considered low-income areas.

Tesco is the world's third-largest food retailer, often considered similar to Wal-Mart. In San Diego County, the company is planning stores, called Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Markets, in Point Loma, San Carlos, Fallbrook, Vista, Escondido, Casa de Oro, and Chula Vista.

UCLA Report Backs CPI on Health Insurance and Poverty

A new analysis of survey data from 2001 to 2005 documents that job-based health insurance has declined most dramatically for low-income workers. The four-year analysis from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research found that only 14% of California workers living below the poverty level had job-based health insurance in 2005, down from 19% in 2001. For workers with income just above the poverty level, job-based coverage fell from 43% to 33%.

A CPI report last month, based on the 2005 data, found that workers in industries and occupations with the lowest wages were least likely to have employer-provided coverage.

Both studies also state that the working poor increasingly rely on publicly funded programs like Medi-Cal, if they meet the stringent eligibility requirements, or go without needed care.

Join Us For a 10-Year Celebration!

CPI has provided research and advocacy for working people in San Diego for 10 years. To mark our anniversary, please join us for dinner and a lively program on Thursday, October 18, at the Holiday Inn on the Bay. 

For more information, including sponsorship opportunities, please contact Quynh Nguyen at 619.584.5744 x 26 or Quynh@onlineCPI.org.