PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

East End Food Co-op Workers Choose Union Representation
by EEFC Workers Committee Sunday, Jul. 09, 2006 at 8:12 PM
WeRunItIU460@yahoo.com

The Thomas Merton Center performs independent authorization card count, showing union has clear majority support, while East End Food Co-op management continues to work with Braun Consulting Group

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Workers Prevail in Independent Union Authorization Card Count
Majority of East End Food Co-op Workers Demand Union Representation

PITTSBURGH, PA—A clear majority of workers have chosen union representation at
the East End Food Co-op, Pittsburgh’s only member-owned natural and organic
food market. The East End Food Co-op Workers Committee, affiliated with the
Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), held an independent union authorization
card count after their employer refused to accept the workers’ signed cards as
democratic proof of union support. The Thomas Merton Center, a well-known and
respected peace and social justice organization since 1972, facilitated the
card count and verified the results on July 6, 2006.

On behalf of the Thomas Merton Center, Board member Michelle Burton Brown stated
in a written declaration of confirmation, “The East End Food Co-op Workers
Committee, an affiliate of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), has
obtained a clear majority of workers who wish to have the IWW serve as their
exclusive bargaining agent for the purposes of negotiating a collective
bargaining agreement covering wages, hours, and all other terms and conditions
of employment with their employer, the East End Food Co-op.”

“We couldn’t be more pleased with these results,” said Hope Anne Nathan, a Co-op
worker. “We’ve worked really hard to reach out to all of our co-workers and
discuss the union so they could make an informed decision. Workers’ support
for the union was obvious to us. Now we’ve clearly proved it with a neutral,
third-party counting the cards and recognizing the Workers Committee as the
bargaining agent.”

Evan W. Wolfson, another Co-op employee said, “The law doesn’t yet compel
employers to accept the results of an authorization card-count, but we’re
certain that most Co-op’s shoppers and advertisers understand what happens when
workers feel disrespected and voiceless. The quality of the Co-op is going to
suffer if management doesn’t start listening to their employees.”

The Workers Committee began its organizing drive with the IWW on May 15, 2006 to
improve working conditions, pay and benefits, and to address long-standing
issues of low staff morale and high turnover. The Co-op employs approximately
50 workers who would be covered by a labor contract should the union prevail in
its quest for legal bargaining rights.

At the June 26th meeting of the Co-op Board of Directors, the Board and General
Manager heard several testimonials from employees and Co-op members
overwhelmingly in favor of unionization and the card-check process. Without
making a statement either for or against the union, the Board abruptly departed
from it previous practice of dealing with the union and delegated authority and
control over union matters to the store’s General Manager. Since then,
management has disavowed the card-check process in favor of a secretive ballot
election and has hired Braun Consulting Group, based in Seattle, Washington – a
known union-avoidance firm with experience in dealing with union campaigns at
consumer co-operatives.

Contact:
Stacey Clampitt (412)758-9045
East End Food Co-op Workers Committee
WeRunItIU460@yahoo.com

PO Box 90315
Pittsburgh, PA 15224

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