Remember in 2004 when Safeway decided to reduce health insurance for their employees? That left a bad taste in my mouth (since Safeway employees, I'm sure, don't get paid a huge wage), and I haven't been back yet. I don't care how pretty it is now, it's still a big ol' corporation that doesn't treat its employees very well.

I want to know where all the *original* friendly Safeway employees are...I have to say I was put off on my visit last week with all the fresh faces and little if any kindness- NEEDS WORK!

Thanks for the article. I've been trying to figure out what's going on with Safeway for the past few months because of all the hectic reorganizing. It will be interesting to see if the revamped store affects traffic congestion in the area. *sigh* if only I could get toilet paper and dish soap at the farmer's market!

I haven't been to the "new" Safeway in years. If what some of the bloggers says is true, I won't go there if the clerks are rude and underpaid. (That's why they may be rude - they're underpaid!)

I'm a union member, so I like to support union workers. I don't like it when union members have to pay more for healthcare or don't get pay raises. But they still work in a union shop, and workers still have union protections. That's why I still shop at Safeway for certain items. I also shop at other places, such as Farmer Joe's and Trader Joe's, and occasionally Whole Foods and the Berkeley Bowl, but unless I'm mistaken, none of those workers enjoy the support of a union contract. I don't know what kind of benefits those companies offer, but my guess is that they aren't as good as those negotiated with a union. So I thought I would offer a different perspective than the person who boycotts Safeway. A union is always better than no union, and I would hope that some day the workers in the other stores could get unionized.

Hey, Teri, FYI, Whole Foods has a very aggressive anti union policy, they busted the union when they moved in to Berkeley, and are pretty hardcore about keeping unions out of their shops. Berkeley Bowl's workers voted the union down.

I used to work for Lucky Stores and I wasn't paid a huge wage but I was paid better than when I worked at other non-union establishments and even though I was part-time (as are most grocery workers these days) I had excellent benefits including vision, dental, podiatry, chiropractic, orthodontia (fully paid)... (pretty funny having braces at 23 years of age)... anyway my point being that union grocery workers are paid well compared to their non-union counterparts and receive excellent benefits... even if they have to pay more now for benefits, they are still much better off than most. Remember Safeway is not Walmart... union grocery workers are not making minimum wage (even part-time baggers make more than minimum and are eligible for excellent health benefits).

It has gone downhill big time for that Safeway the last year or so - less friendly employees and just a mess in the parking lot and inside - they must have changed manager. I'm looking forward to Trader Joes on Lakeview.

The Safeway store seems disorganized and the produce aisles are too narrow to allow carts to pass one another. I hope the employees will be less rushed and harried when the customers (like me) learn our way around to find the same items we have purchased there for years! The parking lot is definitely more of a challenge with the added delivery schedules.

We want companies that pay more than min. wage like Safeway. The stores are clean and they do a good job. Do you want Walmarts instead of a Safeway who at least has good benefits? Traders Joes does not take care of it's employees like Safeway tries to do.

I work for a safeway in northern nevada and I have to say I have been their for 9 years and only receive 2 pay raises. The out put of work that is expected from it's employees is definetly not compensated for appropriatly . Basically more work no pay equals bad attitudes.

I live right on Grand Ave. near the Safeway so it is so very convenient to run across the street. I have had similar experiences with employees there. I'm a pretty easy going guy and pretty friendly and these workers were all for the most part very rude. I spoke with the GM twice and expressed my view and he was very apologetic. It is simply too convenient for me not to go. Also, in reading some of these posts...GUYS, CMON NOW...we all better get hip to the idea of having to pay more and more for our medical benefits. Most large and small companies today are having to cut back their share of paying benefits for their employees. I recently went back to Kaiser HMO after having a great PPO Medical and Dental benefit for years. I work for a very healthy, strong, prosperous co. and they are paying less and less of our benefits. This is now the NORM regardless of union or not! Get used to it, this is now all of our realities. This is why I had to go back to Kaiser, for lower co pays as well as no deductible. Simply can't continue paying what I was with my good PPO insurance. Soon, companies will not be offering these benefits at all...this is our future in american companies. Happy New Year all...the best for 08!