The Chico City Planning Commission voted this summer to reject Wal-Mart's plan to convert its store on Forest Avenue into a Supercenter. 

The 5-2 decision was the second victory for Chico citizens over Wal-mart since a proposed Super center north of town was stopped late last year. 

A Supercenter is a large Wal-Mart store that includes a full-size super - market. Local citizen groups across California have resisted construction of Supercenters since Wal-Mart began introducing the format into the state in 2004. 

Many of the citizens’ efforts have succeeded. Chico’s Planning Commission voted to deny Walmart’s environmental impact report for expansion

 of the Forest Avenue store, citing concerns about its “significant and unavoidable” effects on air pollution, public health, traffic and road conditions.

The commission’s decision was also based on the store’s potential impact on existing retailers in the city, including union supermarkets. 

Commissioner Kathy Barrett said Wal-Mart's arguments that the new store would bring jobs to the city were irrelevant if they aren’t good quality jobs.

“Chico made a mistake [30] years ago when deciding to pursue region al shopping as a job-development strategy,” Barrett said at the com miss -ion’s meeting. “I don’t want to see us go down that road any farther.” Commissioner Jon Luvaas said he

was concerned by the expansion’s effects on Chico’s strong environ - mental laws. 

Wal-Mart said it will appeal the decision to the Chico City Council. UFCW 8 President Jacques Loveall praised the Planning Commission’s decision.

“We know about the disastrous effects that Wal-Mart Supercenters have had on local economies, especially in the South and Mid west,” President Loveall said.

“In town after town, good busi - nesses, including union employers, were shut down, leaving citizens little recourse but to seek low-quality jobs at Wal-Mart. “Chico is acting in its best interests when it says ‘no’ to Wal-Mart.”

UFCW members of Local 99 in Arizona and Local 7 in Colorado voted in overwhelming numbers recently to reject con tract proposals by major supermarket chains. 

At the same time, they voted to give the leaders of their respective unions the authority to call strikes against the employers, should that become necessary.

Health care and wages were the most contentious issues in both sets of negotiations

At four meetings around Arizona, members of UFCW Local 99 voted

Local 99,  Arizona                        to give their union leaders authority to call a strike, should one become necessary, against the Fry’s and Safeway supermarket chains.

“our number-one priority is to negotiate a fair and equitable contract for our members, and we will leave no stone unturned in that endeavor,” Local 99 President Jim McLaughlin said after the votes were counted. 

“This vote shows that the members are united in achieving our          (Please see page 7)

Official publication of UFCW 8-Golden State Jacques Loveall, President