Don't give in to 'Check Yourself Out'

Do you remember the time when you heard that “No more than three in line and we will open up another checkout! Shop at Albertsons!”?

Well, no more, shoppers. I was in Albertsons Wednesday, May 4, at 7 p.m. and got into a long line. Others were pulling up behind me. The ONE line was winding past the ‘Check Yourself Out’ lines. The only other line open was the ‘10 Items or Less’ line. Several of us were voicing our disbelief and saying that we refuse to go to the Check Yourself Out lines, especially paying the same price for our groceries.

I then took it upon myself to go to the customer service area, where two or three Albertsons workers were. I asked, “Where are the checkers?” I was told, by I presume the night manager, “Go to the Check Yourself Out line.” I replied, “I refuse to use those lines and put checkers out of work. We need some checkers.” With that, she came and took the two ladies who were in front of me.

Then the checker in the ‘10 Items or Less’ stand said, “Where are the workers to box the groceries?” I replied, “Why do you need them when you sent all your checkers home? They would be here if you had checkers.”

Just three or four days ago when I was in Albertsons, I heard one of the checkers indicate that the Check Yourself Out area was going to be disbanded because not too many people were using them. Was May 4 the night that the big business minds were testing to see if they could force us to use those checkout stations?

Shoppers: don’t do it! Stand in line, complain and stop letting our workers be put out of work. Protect the jobs of our citizens. Take a stand. Go someplace else to shop. Let’s show them that people are empowered to change things.