Latest news with #Persaud
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Bernie Sanders urges UNFI to negotiate a ‘fair contract' with Cub Foods workers
Dive Brief: Sen. Bernie Sanders has called on United Natural Foods, Inc. as well as two grocery operators to "negotiate in good faith to sign a fair contract" with employees affiliated with United Food and Commercial Workers Local Union 663 after they voted to reject the grocers' contract offers in May. Along with UNFI, the Vermont Democrat senator sent letters to Minneapolis-area grocery operators The Haug's Companies, which runs two supermarkets under UNFI's Cub Foods franchise, and Knowlan's Festival said in an emailed statement it takes Sanders' comments "very seriously" and is in touch with his staff about the ongoing negotiations. Dive Insight: UFCW Local 663 workers at these Minneapolis grocery banners have been working without a contract since March, Sanders wrote in separate letters to the three grocery operators, noting in his letter to UNFI President and CEO of Retail Andre Persaud that this is "absolutely unacceptable." Unionized workers at UNFI/Cubs Foods, Haug's Cub Foods and Knowlan's Festival voted in May to reject contract offers from the grocery companies. That month, the union representing the workers filed unfair labor practice charges that claimed UNFI/Cub Foods failed to bargain in good faith and alleged additional violations of the National Labor Relations Board by Haug's and Knowlan's Festival. According to UFCW Local 663, the contract rejected by workers would have imposed additional healthcare costs on workers, failed to provide livable raises and sought concessions from the unions. UFCW Local 663 represents more than 2,300 workers across 33 UNFI Cub Foods locations, according to the senator's letter to Persaud. "I have personally heard from these workers, who have expressed serious concerns about your company's demands for healthcare concessions and your insistence that workers drop current unfair labor practice charges and grievances – including what I understand to be approximately $2 million in sick time class action grievances alone," Sanders said in the letter to Persaud. He continued: "These unlawful tactics, including refusing to negotiate, threatening workers, and surveilling employees over their union activity, are unacceptable and have prompted the filing of multiple unfair labor practice charges." UNFI said in its emailed statement that it has been negotiating in good faith with UFCW Local 663. "As part of the negotiations, we've offered strong wage increases, continued market leading union health care and significant increases in our contributions to the union's pension plan to help address underfunding and protect the benefits of all participants. It is our strong hope that the union will choose to meet with us to continue negotiations toward a new contract," UNFI said in a statement. The company added that almost 80% of Cub Foods' workforce is unionized. UFCW Local 663 said last month that the companies' conduct "has set the union on a path to potential strikes," which could involve as many as 2,800 workers at 38 stores throughout the Minneapolis area. The threat of a strike is the latest challenge facing UNFI. Early this month, the grocery supplier suffered a cyberattack and is currently relying on manual procedures to receive and fulfill orders from customers after having to entirely shut down its online platform on June 6. Last week, UNFI disclosed that it is mutually ending its relationship with supermarket cooperative Key Food, which includes a $53 million contract termination fee for UNFI. Copyright 2025 Industry Dive. All rights reserved.
New European
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New European
Expressing the bleeding obvious
Under the byline 'Raj Persaud – consultant psychiatrist', the doc offered such insights as how the president appeared 'to nurse his mouth area with a hand briefly as he reappears, suggesting he may even have been hurt', before speculating, as he is younger than his wife, that it indicated 'this whole incident transmitted the sense of an adolescent male's rejection by a more experienced woman'. 'I'm a consultant psychiatrist – these are 3 things the Macron 'shove' incident reveals,' ran a headline in the Daily Express this week, as one-time daytime TV mainstay Raj Persaud analysed the eye-catching interaction between the French president and his wife. The incident, he warned, 'was perhaps a sign that the turbulence may be far from over, and the French need to fasten their seatbelts'. Express readers have grown used to this sort of deep insight from Persaud. Earlier this month, following the Duke of Sussex's BBC interview, they were treated to 'I'm a consultant psychiatrist: These are 3 things Prince Harry's latest outburst reveals', in which he speculated that the errant royal's 'latest public outpouring was in fact an attempt to send a message to the King and other members of his family'. 'With other avenues of communication apparently cut off – he claimed the King will not take his calls – this was quite possibly a bid to garner attention on the public stage in a manner they simply cannot ignore,' he added. Back in March, under the headline 'I'm a consultant psychiatrist: This is what the King's music reveals about his character', Persaud noted that Charles had said that music can 'comfort us in times of sadness', prompted him to draw on his years of experience to ask: 'This emphasis on how melody affects mood raises the question of whether His Majesty needs cheering up a lot. In which case, has the playlist revealed that he can really get quite low at times?'. And that itself came just a week after 'I'm a consultant psychiatrist – here are THREE ways the Ukraine crisis has transformed PM', under which Persaud used his expertise to scoop every political hack in Britain with his assertion that 'as a professional people watcher, I get the sense Starmer may have finally found the cause that makes him feel like a mover and shaker on the world stage'. Groundbreaking analysis. Or, as Basil Fawlty might have said, stating the bleeding obvious. Next week: I'm a consultant psychiatrist – and I'll knock out any old rubbish for a few quid!
Edinburgh Live
08-05-2025
- Edinburgh Live
Expert says Prince Harry's BBC interview sends one 'clear message' to King Charles
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Prince Harry's 'another angry interview' with the BBC following his recent legal defeat was intended to send a clear message to the Royal family, suggests a consultant psychiatrist. The Duke of Sussex has faced criticism for comments he made to the BBC regarding his loss of security in the UK, where he criticised his father the King and even accused the Court of Appeal and the Government of a 'stitch-up'. Harley Street medic Dr Raj Persaud has now offered his perspective on Harry's decision to voice his concerns, proposing that this latest public expression was an attempt to communicate with Charles and other estranged family members. READ MORE - UK households who leave Fairy Liquid near kitchen sink issued warning READ MORE - Donald Trump's 'eight-word command' to Canadian Prime Minister 'exposed by lip reader' "With other avenues of communication apparently cut off – he claimed the King will not take his calls – this was quite possibly a bid to garner attention on the public stage in a manner they simply cannot ignore, quite possibly a form of emotional blackmail," he shared with the Express. He suggested that the underlying message is that Harry will persist in voicing his grievances until his family takes him seriously. Dr Persaud also pointed out that the emotional Duke seems unable to move forward, despite having previously lost this legal battle. As Harry reiterated his stance repeatedly, he "appeared psychologically stuck, so convinced of the logic and morality of his position that he couldn't seem to grasp that, even if he is right, he is still not getting what he wants", says Dr Persaud, reports the Mirror. The psychiatrist concluded by suggesting that Harry is likely still tormented by the tragic loss of his mother, a factor that influences his quest for security and shapes his thought process and decision-making. "Yet reacting to this latest legal disappointment by throwing fresh grenades seems like a hasty, ill-though-out tactic, and one which will certainly not serve to soften differences between the Duke and Palace," he stated. "He appears to be in difficulty and, I would suggest respectfully, needs help to move on and really start a process of rapprochement with his family. Sadly this is unlikely to happen though the prism of another angry media interview showing his apparently trapped mindset." This sentiment is mirrored by Palace insiders, who believe Harry's outburst will only exacerbate the rift with his family. His remark about the King's cancer, where he said he "doesn't know how much longer he has left", was deemed particularly "poor taste". The Duke of Sussex, aged 40, spoke with BBC News on May 2, shortly after a judge dismissed his legal challenge regarding his reduced security following his step back as a working Royal in 2020. In the recent interview, Prince Harry expressed, "I would love reconciliation with my family. There's no point in continuing to fight anymore. "Life is precious. I don't know how much longer my father has," Prince Harry remarked, implying the unpredictable future of King Charles. "He won't speak to me because of this security stuff, but it would be nice to reconcile." Harry also suggested that his security troubles "could be resolved" by King Charles. He noted, "There is a lot of control and ability in my father's hands," before adding, "Ultimately, this whole thing could be resolved through him. Not necessarily by intervening, but by stepping aside, allowing the experts to do what is necessary." Despite these assertions, the palace has regularly rebutted the idea that the King has the capacity to reinstate Harry's security. In turn, a source disclosed to the Sunday Telegraph their concern about privacy breaches, asserting there's "nothing that can be trusted to remain private" and hinting at reasons for the lack of contact: "as for their being no contact, well, he has just proven why, yet again". Moreover, an informant conveyed to ITV News: "For a son who claims to want a family reconciliation, it's certainly a very curious way to build bridges or offer olive branches. His beloved grandmother would have been truly horrified. The King is a kind man with a warm heart and quite enough on his plate to deal with, without all this from his son."
Daily Record
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Prince Harry's BBC interview shows 'ongoing struggles' with Royal Family and 'memories of Diana'
Prince Harry has lost his latest legal battle surrounding his security in the UK - and has since given a scathing interview to the BBC in which he launched an extraordinary attack on the King. Prince Harry's recent interview with the BBC, following his latest legal defeat, was a deliberate attempt to send a strong message to the Royal family, says a consultant psychiatrist. The Duke of Sussex has been criticised for his comments made to the BBC regarding his loss of security while in the UK, where he targeted his father, the King, and even accused the Court of Appeal and the Government of a 'stitch-up'. Harley Street doctor, Dr Raj Persaud, has weighed in on Harry's decision to go public, suggesting that the duke's emotional outburst was a strategy to communicate with Charles and other members of his estranged family. Dr Persaud said: "With other avenues of communication apparently cut off – he claimed the King will not take his calls – this was quite possibly a bid to garner attention on the public stage in a manner they simply cannot ignore, quite possibly a form of emotional blackmail." Dr Persaud further suggested that the underlying message is that Harry will continue to speak out and share his grievances until he is taken seriously by his family. Dr Persaud also noted that the Duke seems unable to move past the issue, despite previously losing similar legal battles. As Harry reiterated his stance repeatedly, Dr Persaud observed that he "appeared psychologically stuck, so convinced of the logic and morality of his position that he couldn't seem to grasp that, even if he is right, he is still not getting what he wants", reports the Mirror. The psychiatrist concluded that Harry is likely still haunted by the tragic death of his mother, which is influencing his quest for security and affecting his decision-making process. "Yet reacting to this latest legal disappointment by throwing fresh grenades seems like a hasty, ill-though-out tactic, and one which will certainly not serve to soften differences between the Duke and Palace," he said. "He appears to be in difficulty and, I would suggest respectfully, needs help to move on and really start a process of rapprochement with his family. Sadly this is unlikely to happen though the prism of another angry media interview showing his apparently trapped mindset." This sentiment is shared by Palace insiders, who believe that Harry's outburst will only further deepen any rift with his family. His remark about the King's cancer, where he stated that he "doesn't know how much longer he has left", was deemed to be in particularly "poor taste". Harry, 40, spoke with BBC News on Friday, May 2, just a short time after a judge dismissed his legal challenge regarding his reduced security following his step back as a working member of the Royal family back in 2020. In the recent interview, Prince Harry said: "I would love reconciliation with my family. There's no point in continuing to fight anymore. "Life is precious. I don't know how much longer my father has," he continued, referencing King Charles. "He won't speak to me because of this security stuff, but it would be nice to reconcile." Harry then stated that the problem with his security "could be resolved" through King Charles. "There is a lot of control and ability in my father's hands," he said. "Ultimately, this whole thing could be resolved through him. Not necessarily by intervening, but by stepping aside, allowing the experts to do what is necessary." The palace has repeatedly rejected the notion that the King can reinstate Harry's security detail. In reaction, a source disclosed to the Sunday Telegraph that this shows there is "nothing that can be trusted to remain private" and "as for their being no contact, well, he has just proven why, yet again". And another insider told ITV News: "For a son who claims to want a family reconciliation, it's certainly a very curious way to build bridges or offer olive branches. His beloved grandmother would have been truly horrified. The King is a kind man with a warm heart and quite enough on his plate to deal with, without all this from his son."
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
HA Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc. (HASI): A Top Dividend Challenger in 2025
We recently published a list of Dividend Challengers 2025: Top 25. In this article, we are going to take a look at where HA Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc. (NYSE:HASI) stands against other dividend challenger stocks. Dividend Challengers refers to US-listed companies that have raised their dividends every year for a minimum of five, and less than ten, consecutive years. These companies have demonstrated a relatively recent commitment to sharing profits with shareholders through dividends. Investors usually gravitate towards such firms because historically, dividend growers outperform the returns of the broader market. Moreover, most of these firms have a track record of exhibiting lower price volatility, which makes them favorable to those looking for stable income. Investor interest in stocks with reliable dividend growth remains strong due to long-term investment potential. As a result, many of these financially sound firms become targets for investors looking to manage risk without sacrificing growth. The Fidelity Equity-Income Fund and the Fidelity Global Equity Income Fund portfolios, managed by Ramona Persaud, seek stable dividend-paying firms with attractive valuations. She pointed out that declining interest rates tend to make dividend stocks more appealing than bonds due to relatively attractive yields. Indeed, Persaud argued lower rates could foster a more broad-based rally for stocks beyond the market gains, which have been largely concentrated on a handful of large-cap growth names. Her focus is on well-performing firms with reliable cash flows and strong, growing dividends. According to analysts, investors can adopt a strategy that balances both income and growth by focusing on dividend growers. Historically, they have shown less volatility and often outperformed the broader market, including benchmarks like the S&P Equal Weight Index. A report from Guggenheim found that between May 2005 and December 2024, companies that initiated or raised their dividends achieved an average annual return of 10.5%, compared to just 5.5% for those that reduced or suspended payouts. By contrast, the overall market averaged a 10.4% return during the same period, slightly lagging behind the dividend growers. The report also emphasized that dividend growth strategies tend to perform well across different market environments, both bullish and bearish. This makes them a compelling option for investors seeking long-term returns while aiming to protect their portfolios during downturns. Bank of America also noted that dividend-paying stocks helped stabilize portfolios during the turbulent month of March. As trade policy uncertainty under President Donald Trump rattled markets, value and dividend-oriented names held up better. In an April 11 report, BofA's quant strategist Nigel Tupper highlighted these trends and pointed to several top-performing dividend stocks during the market's choppy period.
