Fairway Market Workers Ratify New 3-Year Contract

On the day of the vote, the message and tone was clear, “No matter the position, no matter the language, your vote matters. We’re united,” said Iris Bien-Aime, who gathered and spoke to her coworkers about voting at Fairway in Red Hook, Brooklyn.

Fairway Market is truly like no other market, the staff is like an extended family. At the vote in Red Hook, workers who were not on schedule to work came to vote with their children and family. The mood and feel at any Fairway screams solidarity. Which was crucial during the last four months, this was the first contract negotiation with new Fairway's new CEO that took office in September of 2014.

“Our team was dedicated from the start to not only protect our contract, but to set a tone for future negotiations,” said lead union negotiator Rob Newell, “Because of their solidarity and passion, many positive changes were made in the contract. It was a real honor and privilege to work alongside of the committee, their drive and emotion earned all Fairway workers an excellent contract.”

Throughout the four months of negotiations, Fairway members wore solidarity buttons while at work demanding the company negotiate the “Fair Way”. The buttons truly made an impact and helped show support to the negotiating committee.

The contract also includes a number of quality of life issues such as increasing the number of minimum workweek hours for everyone. All members, regardless of class or tenure, are guaranteed to be scheduled a minimum 21 hour workweek.

“The deal gives stability to our families. Especially the medical, pension and legal service benefits, which were all unchanged,” said John Graham, a union negotiating committee member who works at Paramus Fairway.


The term of the Agreement is March 30, 2015 through April 1, 2018. Fairway workers will receive six raises throughout the term, including a retroactive wage increase from March 30th 2015. A minor, but very popular change was switching when vacation time was paid. Vacations are now paid prior to taking vacation, as opposed to receiving the pay the week of vacation. The agreement also includes a successors clause and increases contributions to the Union scholarship fund. Additionally it protects all members of UFCW Local 1500 from any discrimination because of: race, color religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, genetic information or gender identity or expression.

As the vote was closing Jeannette Taylor, who has worked at Fairway for over eight years, walked up to the poll, placed her ballot in the box, and proudly bragged, “I’ve got my union button…I don’t leave home without it.”

Wegmans is the Wrong Fit for Brooklyn

Bruce W. Both, President of New York's largest grocery workers union, the 23,000 member United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1500 Union (UFCW), today released the following statement after the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation announced Wegmans will anchor the redevelopment plans for Admirals Row.

"Our communities surrounding the Brooklyn Navy Yard are in desperate need of a supermarket, one with a proven track record of providing healthy food, affordable food, and sustainable jobs for New York City. While the public spotlight is on the popularity of Wegmans to its upstate consumers, it's our responsibility to shine a light on the types of jobs they may bring to Brooklyn.

"Our communities need jobs with benefits in order to support and grow our families. Brooklyn deserves jobs which provide guaranteed raises, pay, benefits, and job security. But most importantly in the New York City food retail industry, our community needs a guaranteed set amount of working hours, to make it possible support our families and to balance a schedule between work and family life. Will Wegmans be offering this to the Brooklyn community?

"After all, it's about providing our Brooklyn community members with opportunities for stable and sustainable careers. Simply put, the company has no familiarity or understanding of providing good jobs and healthy food in New York City.

"The Brooklyn Navy Yard needed a responsible employer that our communities and families could count on to build a better Brooklyn. They needed a company that would help Brooklyn families attain the American Dream. What it didn't need was yet another out of town transplant to move into its neighborhood again. Brooklyn deserved better."

###

United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500, based out of Westbury, New York, represents 23,000 grocery workers in New York City, Long Island, Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties. Members of Local 1500 are employed by Pathmark, Fairway, Stop and Shop, Gristedes, D'Agostino, Key Food, Shop Rite and King Kullen.
Stay up to date with UFCW Local 1500 on twitter @ufcw1500, facebook.com/ufcw1500, and at ufcw1500.org.

Local 1500 Toy Drive Helps Hundreds of New York Families in Need

Union Rep. Stone Vargas with Shop Steward Carol Graziadio, from Stop and Shop 529

Since November, United Food and Commercial Local 1500 Members have been collecting and donating toys for families in need for the upcoming holiday season.  "We and our members love doing anything possible to help our communities," Secretary-Treasurer Tony Speelman said, "That's what being in a union is about, sticking together and helping our communities, that's the very fabric of our union." 

Nearly 1,000 toys were donated to the John Theissen Foundation, headquartered in Wantagh, NY.    Since 1992, the foundation has collected over 550,000 new toys and donate them to sick and underprivileged children in over 185 hospitals and child-care facilities across New York year round.

Additionally two Brooklyn ShopRite stores took part in a toy donation challenge.  The two stores competed since November on which could gather more toy donations.  The challenge ended earlier this week between ShopRite 289 and ShopRite 219, with 289 squeaking by with the win.  "The only real winners in this competition are the families receiving these gifts and both stores for doing an outstanding job collecting toys for families in need.  The competition was a fun little incentive for bragging rights, it was great to see everyone working for a greater good," said Rob Ecker, Union Rep.

We'd like to thank all of our outstanding members and Shop Stewards for taking the time this holiday season to give back to our communities.  Great work, you've made many families holiday season more enjoyable this year!

More on John Theissen:

My name is John Theissen. In 1992, I founded The John Theissen Children’s Foundation, a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization. When I was 17 years old I was hospitalized for a brain tumor at a local children’s hospital. During my stay, my family and I befriended a seven-year old girl named Tasha. This little girl was in and out of the hospital throughout the year receiving different treatments for her illness. She received very little family support. She was dropped off and then picked up again when it was time to go home without having a visitor.

Hundreds of toys donated by UFCW

Tasha was very excited about a holiday party sponsored by the hospital staff and was expecting her family to attend. They unfortunately did not. I was still too ill but my family agreed to take her. When Santa asked her what she had wanted, Tasha replied, “ I would like a teddy bear for friend upstairs.” I felt fortunate to be that friend. Her positive attitude and generous spirit inspired me. When I got out off the hospital I wanted to help children just like Tasha.

In 1992, I held a toy drive during the holidays to benefit children in local hospitals. During the first toy drive, I collected over 800 hundred new toys in just two weeks and brought them to three different hospitals. Well that was the beginning of what has become a year round organization. Since 1992, we have collected over 550,000 new toys and donate them to sick and underprivileged children in over 185 hospitals and child-care facilities across Long Island year round. We also donate therapeutic and recreational equipment. Donations enabled us to fulfill wishes and help families with medical expenses. In 15 years, we have never said no to a child in need.

Dan's & Pick Quick Key Food Contract Vote

On Thursday, May 15th 9 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. come review the tentative agreement your negotiating committee has agreed to with Key Food at the following locations:

All members from Dan's Key Food and Pick Quick Key Food may vote at any of the following locations:

• UFCW Local 1500: 425 Merrick Ave
• Adria Hotel: 220-33 Northern Blvd. Bayside, NY 11361
• NY Marriott at Brooklyn Bridge: 333 Adams St. Brooklyn, NY 11201
• Amalgamated Transit Union Hall: 3948 Amboy Rd. Staten Island, NY 10308

Voting will also take place at the following stores:

PICK QUICK – STORE #21
1994 Bruckner Blvd. Bronx, NY 10473
TIMES: 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

 

DAN’S – STORE #15
540 West 235th Street Riverdale, NY 10463
TIMES: 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. 
 

DAN’S – STORE #11
35 Pleasantville Road Pleasantville, NY 10570
TIMES: 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Related articles

• Key Food Contract Update

Red Hook Fairway Prevails

^{March 2013
Article appears in our March 2013 Issue of The Register.
By: Joseph Fedele}View in original PDF format

In 2006 Fairway opened a store in the seaside community of Red Hook, Brooklyn, a neighborhood starved for a quality supermarket.  The store was an instant success, creating over 300 union jobs and becoming a favorite among Brooklyn residents.  The store’s popularity helped Red Hook in a huge way, as small businesses began to grow surrounding the store to take advantage of the tremendous traffic Fairway received.   The 52,000 square foot store sits on the banks of the New York Harbor, with a spectacular view to the Statue of Liberty.  In November when Hurricane Sandy hit, the waterfront store was flooded with five feet of water, destroying millions of dollars in food, merchandise and equipment, and leaving hundreds of union members with nowhere to work. 

UFCW Local 1500 members went to work after the storm, helping other disaster relief organizations clean up the damaged food and property.  “It was crazy, real crazy” said Theophilas Harvard, a union member for over 7-years, who helped clean the store days after the storm, “There was so much damage, we cleaned up for weeks.” Union workers helped clean up the destruction for over 20-days, filling over 70 dumpsters with damaged items.  The damage in the store was so severe officials announced it would remain closed for 3-months, targeting March 1, 2013 as a re-open date.  

So what does an employer do with over 300 workers during the 3-month reconstruction? If you recall last year Target (a non-union employer) in Valley Stream closed for a 7-month reconstruction.  They laid-off nearly half of their 250 workers, and rehired a new workforce at lower pay upon reopening.   Fairway took a different approach.  They insured all 300 workers from Red Hook a job at another one of their 11 stores. 

Sounds great, right?  But how would the workers from Red Hook get to their new temporary jobs at other stores, some over 25-miles away? Fairway provided free hourly bus shuttles to the temporary jobs.  When they could have easily taken the easy route and told employees “tough luck, you’re laid off”, like Target did, Fairway displayed the fabric of a responsible and sustainable employer. “In times of economic hardship having a company like Fairway giving every one of its employees an opportunity to work at another location until their home store reopens, is a testament to the type of company they are and type of strong labor relations we have with them,“ said UFCW Local 1500 Field Director Rob Newell.  “Our first priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of all our employees,” said Charles Farfaglia, Vice President of Human Resources at Fairway, "There would be no Fairway without them, they are Fairway." 

Fairway also organized multiple relief efforts to help residents in need, donated nearly 3,000 turkeys to centers in Brooklyn and Staten Island and offered shuttles for residents to their Manhattan locations to sustain community access to food during aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.   As Thanksgiving rapidly approached, Fairway saw another opportunity to help their community and put together a Thanksgiving feast for over 4,650 storm victims, ensuring the devastated community would be able to celebrate Thanksgiving.

UFCW Local 1500 Members from Red Hook were shuttled to locations as far as New Jersey and Westchester, and as close as Manhattan.  11-year union member, Tomas Caceres, was glad to retain his job during the reconstruction, “It was an easy, it took about a week after the storm to get placed in a temporary store,” said Caceres, who is now working atKips Bay in Manhattan, “The storm was a shock, but I’m ecstatic to be able to work while Red Hook is getting reconstructed, and now my commute is actually faster!” Caceres joked. 

Fairway plans on re-opening the store on March 1^st.   The New York Times reported the repairing and reopening the store would cost close to $10 million.  With the grand re-opening approaching residents and transferred union members are getting excited about Fairway’s return to Brooklyn.   Alvin Augustin, a fish cutting master and union member for over 13-years, was transferred to two different Manhattan locations and is now temporarily working at the Kips Bay store.  “It’s one big family at Red Hook, I’m excited to go back to Brooklyn,” Augustin said, “I cut the best fish and Marty Markowitz (Brooklyn Borough President) is one of my biggest fans.”  Harvard, who helped clean up the damaged store will be returning in a few weeks to prepare to re-open it, “I’m excited to go back and re-open it,” Harvard explained, “I helped clean it up after Sandy, and now I’ll help re-start it, it feels good to do that.”

---

Related:

Good Food, Good Jobs Good Health: Fairway Kips Bay Opens, Creates 300+ New Union Jobs  

Now Open: Fairway Kips Bay

Thursday Morning One Liners: Aldi grows, Walmart still Fails.

Aldi, a store that typically employs 13-30 part-timers, is replacing a former Pathmark on Nostrand Ave. in Brooklyn.  The store will open October 2013.  More @ The Brooklyn Daily.

Retailwire is watching Aldi grow in NYC...quietly.

The neighborhood surrounding Cherry St. Pathmark held a rally in opposition to the recently announced plans to close the grocery store.

Now that Long Island City Pathmark closed their doors, Food Bazaar announced they'll open up a new LIC store.

Walmart workers across nine states and 12 cities went on strike this week.  They also announced they'll do the same thing on Black Friday, if the company doesn't change.  Read more @ Business Insider.

Denver chooses good jobs, not another Walmart development.

The CEO of Westgate Resorts wrote an interesting email to all of his employees Monday, "You'll likely be fired if Obama is Re-elected."

Friday News Bites: Social Media Ruling by NLRB

“You don’t roll out the welcome mat for a company that kills more jobs than it creates,” he said. “Our first rule has to be do no harm, and that means safeguarding the jobs and small businesses that Walmart puts at risk.” - Bill de Blasio

The National Labor Relations Board has made their first firm ruling in an employer's Social Media Policy case, UFCW 371 vs. Costco.  The board found Costco's policy was overbroad, illegal.

Walmart to open first India store in 18 months.

Washington Post: How does Walmart work for America? Low prices at an enormous high cost, that will be around forever.

Unorganized Walmart Warehouse workers were forced to strike due to working conditions within the warehouse.Workers marched for 6-days to create awareness of their horrendous working conditions, the march ended a few days ago at LA City Hall.  Read the release here.

A cancer patient was fired by Walmart for using prescribed, medical marijuana.

Must Read: In These Times: Walmart Holds Secretive "Workerwashing" Meeting in DC w/ Labor Advocates.

Boykewich believes that the purpose of the DC event was to create the appearance of ethics without having to deal directly with supply-chain workers. “With this kind of event, [Wal-Mart executives] are trying to create this kind of halo of seriousness about ethical sourcing. They have done this again and again: They did this during the bribery scandal, they did this in the case of CJ's, and they are doing it with the striking [warehouse] workers now. There is nothing scarier to Wal-Mart than the prospect of actually having to negotiate directly with workers up and down the supply chain."

The Economist has a great read on taking unions, workers, for granted: Unions and the election: With friends like these...Republicans are getting tougher on unions. But so, too, are Democrats.

The Fresh Market is going to Southampton, while law makers mull their town's supermarket laws.

Stamps just aren't Fresh- Fresh Market won't be accepting Food Stamps.

Walmart won't be calling Brooklyn, home.

“This is a huge victory for the people—stopping a giant from coming in to exploit our workers and devastate our economy,” read the statement. “Going forward, East New York will now be respected and will get a retailer that respects its workers and our community’s economy. Stopping Walmart is not a loss of jobs. Instead, this shows that stopping Walmart can create a net gain of good jobs for workers.”

What are UFCW members doing to help working families win this election in November? Find out at UFCW's Blog.

Local 1500's Labor Night with The Brooklyn Cyclones!

President Both in his windup for the first pitch!

Last night we all filled the bleachers at MCU Park at Coney Island in Brooklyn to for our first annual Labor Night with the Brooklyn Cyclones!  The fun began when Local 1500 President Bruce Both threw out the first pitch!  

Thank you to all who attended and made this event great and helped raise money for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.  

You can view pictures from the event on our Google Plus Page here: https://plus.google.com/photos/109970984195102264623/albums/5782827354306098977?authkey=CNq-7oG9ipypZg

What We're Reading Monday: Rally for Locked Out Con Edison Workers

The Wall Street Journal wants to know: What's Wrong with America's Supermarkets?

The NLRB slammed Tesco for their anti-union coupons, the coupons apologized to customers for union picket lines.

Bronx residents are flocking to Queens to apply for jobs w/  Fresh Direct, as the company plans to open a new warehouse in the Bronx in 2013.

A study pronounced Target pays more attention to social media and responds more frequently than Walmart.

Target & Walmart are on a Canadian hiring binge.

Unbelievable: US Olympic Team Uniforms Made in China. 

Huffington Post Op-Ed on our own USA Olympic team not purchasing American made gear for the opening ceremonies. Ugh.  Update: 2014 uniforms will now be made in America due to outcry, Romney says "it doesn't matter."

Mass Labor March Tomorrow, July 17, 2012 at 5:30 PM to support the locked out Con Edison workers. Here's a list of all the solidarity support sites.  Sign the petition online to support the 8,500 locked out workers here.


ShopRite bought a gas station in Albany to compete with Price Chopper.

SaveMart in Cali has reached a settlement with UFCW Locals 5, 8 and 648.  More @ Patch. Here's the UFCW statement.

Commentary: Union Organizing is Community Organizing in Brooklyn @ Golden Farms.

The support of NYCC and the unions couldn’t have come at a better time for Golden Farm workers. Overtime and wage and hour violations are prevalent at the community grocery, and the clear violations forced Mr. Kim to settle the aforementioned 2011 class action lawsuit. Prior to the election, Mr. Kim forced employees to meet with an anti-union consultant.

Oregon's cannabis tax makes the ballot in November, why is this in here? UFCW 555 was a major supporter of this initiative.

Whole Foods is planning layoffs in Illinois.   They're also suing Vitamin Shoppe over a campaign slogan: "Core Health Starts Here" which they claim is too similar to Whole Foods notorious slogan "Health Starts Here"

Acme's parent company said the supermarket chain may explore more options as sales are continually down,  Local 1776 President said bankruptcy does not appear imminent.

New York City Taxi Drivers received an overdue raise last week.

Head shaking story of the week: Aldi in Europe destroyed a row of 300-year old cottages under historical preservation while "developing" a new store, they won't be fined or penalized although because it's "too expensive to fine them". 

Stand With Locked Out Con Edison Workers!

As you may have heard, members of Local 1-2 of the Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) have been locked out by Con Edison since Sunday, July 1, 2012. The workers’ contracts expired, and despite being prepared to stay on the job and work past contract, they were locked out.

This is a blatant attack on hard working Americans, a blow to working families, and is something that our labor movement cannot tolerate.

Local unions, community groups, members, and activists, have all joined together and have pickets at locations throughout the New York City.

With over 8,000 workers locked out, Con Edison is now short staffed leaving many neighborhoods in New York City with power outages because there are only 5,000 “managers” that are taking over the jobs of the locked out workers.  In addition, 5 managers have gotten injured trying to do the hard labor of the workers that they’re not used to doing.

We stand with the over 8,000 locked out workers from ConEd, and we will not stand by as workers' rights continue to be trampled in our country.  Below are picket locations we will be sending UFCW Local 1500 Representatives to show our support for our brothers and sisters!

If you live near one of the locations and want to support your union brothers and sisters, get in touch with us by replying to this email or calling 800.522.0456 ext. 11341.


In addition to showing solidarity on the picket line the New York State AFL-CIO is asking people to sign a petition showing that we are all standing with the workers in the lockout! Please click here to sign the petition!
 
If you’re a Con-Ed customer, the UWUA is encouraging people to file a complaint with the NYS Department of Public Service. Click here for a sample letter and the ability to send a complaint online!
 


UWUA Local 1-2 Locket Support Locations (Bolded Locations Prioritized)


Manhattan

•   24 Hours- 4 Irving Place, New York, NY 10003- 4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R trains to 14th Street/Union Square
 

•   8am-5pm- 16th Street Yard – 16th Street and Avenue C, New York, NY- L train to 14th Street
 

•   8am-5pm- 28th Street Yard- 28th Street and 11th Avenue, New York, NY- C train to 23rd Street


Brooklyn

•   24 hours- 3rd Avenue Yard- 222 1st Street, Brooklyn, NY- D, N, R trains to President Street/4th Avenue
 

•   8am-5pm- 30 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, NY (Monday thru Friday) – 2 train to Nevins St
 

Queens

•   24 hours- College Point Yard- 124-15 31st Avenue, Queens, NY- Q65, Q65L buses to College Point Boulevard & 31st Avenue
 

•   24 hours- Astoria Yard- 31-01 20th Avenue, Astoria NY- N train to Astoria/Ditmars
 

•   8am-5pm 88-11 165th Street, Jamaica, NY- F train to 169th Street

Bronx

•   24 hours- Van Nest Yard- 1601 Bronxdale Avenue, Bronx, NY- 2 train to Bronx Park East
 

•   24 hours- Bruckner Yard- 1560 Bruckner Boulevard, Bronx, NY- 6 train to Westchester/Morrison Avenue

Westchester

•   24 hours- Eastview- 315 Old Saw Mill River Road, Valhalla, NY- Harlem Bee Line 17 bus to Cortlandt Town Center
 

•   8am-5pm- 178 Theodore Fremd Avenue, Rye, NY- Bee Line 61 Bus to Port Chester

Thank you again for supporting your union brothers and sisters, Solidarity forever.

Tuesday's News Bites: Walmart- Not Made in America.

Not Made in America: 10 Ways Walmart Destroys US Manufacturing Jobs. 
Why is it that America no longer makes things the way we used to? Between 1980 and 2011, the United States lost 7 million manufacturing jobs.

ProGrocer: UFCW Local 5 authorizes strike.


UFCW/RWDSU Local 338 has been fighting to help workers at a small grocery store named Golden Farms in Brooklyn and is now fighting for a contract.

Walmart workers marched throughout LA last weekend, say no thanks to the giant retailer opening in the historic Chinatown. Tom Morello of Rage also joined the Walmart march/protest this weekend.

Around 1,700 UFCW Local 4 members in Montana have agreed to a contract with Albertson's, Safeway and Van's.  Contract includes 2.5% wage increases and added contributions to health and pension plans.

AFL-CIO has a great little page summing up all the union products you can buy to make your Fourth of July union-made!

The Obama Administration has named two UFCW officials to important Trade Advisory Committees.

Target has started the hiring process for some Canadian stores.

Speaking of Target, they failed to mention any corporate wrong doing in their annual corporate responsibility report, even as they were federally charged (and convicted) of violating their workers' rights.

And somehow Target was named as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies in 2011. Former Target employees started a petition to have them removed from the list! Sign it now! http://signon.org/sign/ethisphere-remove-target

Whole Foods just isn't catching on in the UK, they're losing millions.

Alabama Poultry workers vote to stick together, join the RWDSU! Congratulations!


Remember to buy union, and have a safe fun Fourth of July!

Monday Mornin' One-Liners: 99% Spring & Whole Foods in BK x2

The UFCW has joined the 99% spring, a movement to train activists throughout the spring of 2012.

April 9-15 we will gather across America, 100,000 strong, in homes, places of worship, campuses and the streets to train ourselves in non-violent action and join together in the work of reclaiming our country. History is calling; it’s time to step up.

American Labor Leaders are planning a door-to-door approach to help Obama's presidential campaign.

Christine Quinn has said she cannot support a paid sick days bill. 

The bill “will cost us jobs and cost us small businesses and their future in these tough economic times,” Quinn added, again using the same words spoken in January.

Great read from The Open Salon: The War Against Economic Recovery, highlights our Target Change campaign, and how our road to economic recovery starts with businesses creating good jobs.

Ad Age looks at retail in a piece focused on Target, Walmart & Kohls in: 'Size Matters in Retail'

Whole Foods is coming to Brooklyn, again.  They'll be moving into the heart of Willyburg at 242 Bedford, a 2nd Brooklyn Site.

Last week we came out against the NY GOP Senate's move to repeal the Wage Theft Prevention Act, a bill designed to protect workers and ensure they're getting paid the correct wages, the Huffington Post picked up the story.

A&P announced they're emerged from bankruptcy last week, they also named a new CFO.

UFCW Local 8 began picketing at Fresh and Easy stores last week.  In These Times (a great working blog) writes more about the clash between Fresh & Easy and San Fran natives.

Walmart in South Africa: 503 jobs reinstated as conditions of merger.  

Must Read: Not a mobster or a monster, just a union activist.

This is not just my job. It’s my lifestyle: I am a union activist. Yup, I'm one of those “maniacs” marching out on the streets with a sign that reads “STRIKE.”  But while some critics have slammed union activists as “mobsters,” I sure don’t look like what they might expect: I wear floral dresses, pink lipstick and talk to workers about their rights over coffee and jelly donuts.

Update on RWDSU's campaign Wash NY: East Harlem car wash workers confront owner over pay and working conditions.

Couldn't make the General Membership meeting last week? Check out the recap in our Blog.

3 Reasons Why Target is on Federal Trial

Target has been awfully hopeful many people would be quick to forget about why the retail giant who until this summer, never saw bad PR, is currently sitting in front of a federal labor board judge in Brooklyn, NY.

It all started years ago, when Target execs made a decision to put profits ahead of people.  The choice was simple for them, sales continued to climb and they even began to compete with the retailer who was once dubbed 'untouchable', Walmart.  They've always been looked at as a better employer than Walmart, but it took 12 workers from a store outside of New York City who were tired of being disrespected and being treated like pawns, not people, to bring the truths about Target to light.  Working for them is no different than working for Walmart, in fact it could actually be worse.

So if you can get past their propaganda, flashy ads and cheap prices, here's three reasons Target sits before a federal labor board judge this week.

Target used this van to transport workers
to vote "NO" on election day
& get a free lunch!

1. Illegal Surveillance of Workers who wanted a Union

Target employees wanted a union, but management made union supporting feel almost criminal like, they actively encouraged the surveillance of 'pro-union' employees. They even told employees to call the police if union Organizers came to speak to them.
From Crain's NY Business: 

The labor board also decided the retailer unlawfully created the impression that workers' union activities were under surveillance and that supervisors told workers they could not solicit on behalf of the union in non-working areas, said Alvin Blyer, the regional director of the labor board.

2.  Interrogation of Workers Who Wanted a Union

So what comes after illegal surveillance? Obviously interrogation! From Crain's:

The labor board also found sufficient evidence to add charges that supervisors interrogated workers about their union activity and told them they could not solicit on behalf of the union in non-working areas, said Alvin Blyer, the regional director of the labor board.

 
3.  Intimidating Workers to vote against the union.

From handbills which questioned if the store would close 'if the union got in', to captive audience meetings where they told employees the store would close and they wouldn't have a job (nice).  If that weren't enough, they shoved corny anti-union propaganda (like this video) down the throats of employees...every day.

If that wasn't enough, Gawker sums up how Target's image was tainted from the June election,  and more importantly gives you worker testimonials (or 'soul-sucking stories) from Target workers throughout the country on what it's really like working for the bulls-eye.



It's summed up nicely here by Pat Purcell, Assistant to the President of UFCW Local 1500:

“There was only one way for Target to win this election, and that was to break the law.”

Local 1500 Endorses Hakeem Jeffries for Congress NY-10th District

Image via Wikipedia

STATE'S LARGEST GROCERY WORKERS UNION ENDORSES

HAKEEM JEFFRIES FOR CONGRESS

UFCW Local 1500 is first labor endorsement for Jeffries

Thursday, January 19, 2012 - Brooklyn, NY - United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1500, New York State's largest grocery workers union, announced its support today for Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries for Congress in NY-10. This is the first labor endorsement for Jeffries.

"We are excited and proud to endorse Hakeem Jeffries to be the next Congressman from Brooklyn's 10th Congressional District," said Bruce W. Both, President, UFCW 1500. "As a New York State Assemblyman, Hakeem stood side by side with our members and fought on our behalf as we worked to pass the New York State Wage Theft Prevention Act in 2010, a bill that provides workers in New York State protections against irresponsible employers who fail to pay their workers. As a member of Congress, our union is confident that Hakeem will bring leadership, innovative thinking and a progressive mind to a legislative body crying out for civility and common sense."

"It is an honor to have the endorsement of UFCW," said Jeffries. "This strong union stands up for all workers in their fight for fair contracts and wages, and the right to a decent quality of life. I am proud to stand with UFCW as a state legislator and I look forward to working with them in Washington to keep improving life for all city residents."

UFCW has a long history in New York. Its members work for companies such as Pathmark, Stop and Shop, Key Foods, Shop Rite and Fairway that operate in Brooklyn. With nearly 23,000 members, Local 1500 is not only the largest of New York State's grocery workers unions, it is among the largest locals in the entire national UFCW. The local represents working men and women in Queens, Staten Island, Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties.

Hakeem Jeffries has represented Brooklyn's 57th district in the New York State Assembly since 2007. During his time in the legislature, Assemblyman Jeffries has emerged as a champion for working families. He has successfully advanced a progressive agenda that has made a real impact throughout Brooklyn, including legislation to strengthen tenant regulations, protect the civil liberties of law-abiding New Yorkers during police encounters, reform state government in Albany, and facilitate the successful re-entry of formerly incarcerated individuals. For more information on Hakeem's candidacy, visit www.JeffriesforCongress.com.

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