Employees of a Whole Foods store in Madison, Wis., recently voted 65-54 to unionize under the United Food and Commercial Workers, becoming the first Whole Foods workers in the country to organize successfully. But the fight ain’t over yet: According to Madison’s Capital Times, Whole Foods has filed an appeal with the National Labor Relations Board to nullify the vote. The company and its CEO, John Mackey, have opposed unions in the past. — L.A.
Laid off? The AFL-CIO has created a Web site, www.laidoffworkers.org, to help you survive unemployment. Among the many noteworthy features are links to info on protecting retirement security, pertinent telephone numbers (local unemployment insurance offices, for example), and “When the Paycheck Stops” — the AFL-CIO’s guide to developing a financial action plan. — L.A.
Weed Watch: According to results of a national poll released by Zogby on July 19, 47% of respondents ranked alcohol as the most dangerous recreational drug among the big three — alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana — while only 20% put pot at the top. The poll, commissioned by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, surveyed 1,109 likely voters from different age groups. NORML reports that among respondents age 30-49, 51% ranked alcohol most dangerous, but only 12% thought marijuana the most deadly vice. The poll’s margin of error is plus- or minus-3.1%. — J.S.
So That’s Why Wendy OK’d the Enron Scams: Sen. Phil Gramm recently explained to the Senate why he was opposed to new accounting regulation: “I have a pretty high opinion of accountants,” he said. “If I had to trust the safety and sanctity of my children and my wife today after all these revelations about bad accounting to a politician, a preacher, a lawyer, or an accountant drawn at random in America today, without any pause I would choose an accountant.” — M.K.
Noelle Bush, the 24-year-old daughter of Florida Governor Jeb Bush, was sentenced to three days in the clink in Orlando last week on a contempt of court charge. The Prez’s niece, who was caught trying to buy the anti-anxiety drug Xanax with a fake prescription, violated a court-ordered treatment plan by possessing prescription pills during treatment. Imagine what would’ve happened to her if she weren’t a Shrublette … — J.S.
A July 18 front page article in The New York Times titled “Poll Finds Concerns That Bush Is Overly Influenced by Business” reports that, by more than 2 to 1, poll respondents said the administration was “more interested in protecting the interests of large companies than those of ordinary Americans. That concern was expressed by more than a third of Republicans and an overwhelming majority of Democrats.” — M.K.
This article appears in July 26 • 2002.