This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/20/nyregion/unionize-park-slope-food-coop.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
They Tried to Unionize the Park Slope Food Coop. Guess What Happened. They Tried to Unionize the Park Slope Food Coop. Guess What Happened.
(1 day later)
[What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.]
Had you found yourself with nothing to read at any point this summer, the letters section of The Linewaiters’ Gazette, the bi-weekly newsletter of the Park Slope Food Coop, might have sated a certain narrative hunger. Serving a community of 17,000 members, The Gazette is a forum for news, grievance, debate, inquiry and perhaps above all, the expression of principle. Not long ago, for example, a member wrote in about the problem with buying bulk coffee in the absence of signage explaining the impact on biodiversity.Had you found yourself with nothing to read at any point this summer, the letters section of The Linewaiters’ Gazette, the bi-weekly newsletter of the Park Slope Food Coop, might have sated a certain narrative hunger. Serving a community of 17,000 members, The Gazette is a forum for news, grievance, debate, inquiry and perhaps above all, the expression of principle. Not long ago, for example, a member wrote in about the problem with buying bulk coffee in the absence of signage explaining the impact on biodiversity.
“I am looking for something like ‘shade grown,’ ‘rainforest certified,’ in addition to ‘Fair Trade,’" he said. “Alas, this has been proven very difficult.’” The co-op’s coffee buyer weighed in, assuring him that the coffee met rigorous standards of environmental and social consciousness.“I am looking for something like ‘shade grown,’ ‘rainforest certified,’ in addition to ‘Fair Trade,’" he said. “Alas, this has been proven very difficult.’” The co-op’s coffee buyer weighed in, assuring him that the coffee met rigorous standards of environmental and social consciousness.
Given the seriousness with which the co-op takes matters of equity and justice in all things, it surprised many members to learn that an effort on the part of some paid workers to unionize had not been going smoothly. Owned and operated by its members since it was founded in 1973, the co-op permits only those who work a certain number of hours per month (behind the cash register, unloading delivery trucks, stocking oranges and so on) to shop there. It also employs about 75 people, all but 11 or so of whom receive an hourly wage.Given the seriousness with which the co-op takes matters of equity and justice in all things, it surprised many members to learn that an effort on the part of some paid workers to unionize had not been going smoothly. Owned and operated by its members since it was founded in 1973, the co-op permits only those who work a certain number of hours per month (behind the cash register, unloading delivery trucks, stocking oranges and so on) to shop there. It also employs about 75 people, all but 11 or so of whom receive an hourly wage.
How was it possible that these workers in an institution so famously aligned with a collectivist left were not already unionized? It was like imagining the Catholic Church without baptism. As one stunned member pointed out in his letter to The Gazette, the co-op is “literally on Union Street.”How was it possible that these workers in an institution so famously aligned with a collectivist left were not already unionized? It was like imagining the Catholic Church without baptism. As one stunned member pointed out in his letter to The Gazette, the co-op is “literally on Union Street.”
One argument is that the co-op is not Goldman Sachs and benevolence is so built into the design that agitation never seemed necessary. There are none of the huge disparities between what people high up in the administrative chain make and what average workers take home. “Does the top person make five times as much?” Joe Holtz, the co-op’s general manager and highest paid employee, asked rhetorically. “No. Does that person make four times more? How about three times or two times?” (The correct answer, he said, was somewhere around 1.7).One argument is that the co-op is not Goldman Sachs and benevolence is so built into the design that agitation never seemed necessary. There are none of the huge disparities between what people high up in the administrative chain make and what average workers take home. “Does the top person make five times as much?” Joe Holtz, the co-op’s general manager and highest paid employee, asked rhetorically. “No. Does that person make four times more? How about three times or two times?” (The correct answer, he said, was somewhere around 1.7).
Money is not what has motivated the movement. Many workers receive upward of $27 an hour, and health-insurance fees are not deducted from that pay. Instead, as Marc Thompson, who has been behind the effort to organize, told me, the problems have had more to do with strained dynamics between workers and supervisors and poor communication generally.Money is not what has motivated the movement. Many workers receive upward of $27 an hour, and health-insurance fees are not deducted from that pay. Instead, as Marc Thompson, who has been behind the effort to organize, told me, the problems have had more to do with strained dynamics between workers and supervisors and poor communication generally.
Another big issue is that the co-op is an “at will” shop, meaning that workers can be let go at any time for any reason, without managers having to offer cause. This rarely happens, however. The last time someone was abruptly fired, it was because of theft, Mr. Holtz explained, and that was three years ago.Another big issue is that the co-op is an “at will” shop, meaning that workers can be let go at any time for any reason, without managers having to offer cause. This rarely happens, however. The last time someone was abruptly fired, it was because of theft, Mr. Holtz explained, and that was three years ago.
Still, there are other factors at play that betray the co-op's sense of itself. Mr. Thompson is a receiving coordinator, which means that he makes sure arriving groceries get where they need to be. In meetings, he said, he felt silenced. And as a black man, he felt that race had a lot do with it.Still, there are other factors at play that betray the co-op's sense of itself. Mr. Thompson is a receiving coordinator, which means that he makes sure arriving groceries get where they need to be. In meetings, he said, he felt silenced. And as a black man, he felt that race had a lot do with it.
A white colleague would present Mr. Thompson’s ideas without crediting him, he said. “I do frozen a lot,” he explained referring to work in the frozen-food section. “It is near the bagel bin and a lot of times, I am asking people not to put their hands in the bagel bin. They’ll say, ‘Oh, I’m just getting one.’” Entitlement, he feels, is bred into the ethos of the co-op.A white colleague would present Mr. Thompson’s ideas without crediting him, he said. “I do frozen a lot,” he explained referring to work in the frozen-food section. “It is near the bagel bin and a lot of times, I am asking people not to put their hands in the bagel bin. They’ll say, ‘Oh, I’m just getting one.’” Entitlement, he feels, is bred into the ethos of the co-op.
He would like it if supervisors faced consequences when confidentiality was breached. “There is no penalty for disrespecting someone who looks like me.” Mr. Thompson would also like to see the staff become more diversified, and he would like to see everyone receive “anti-racism training.”He would like it if supervisors faced consequences when confidentiality was breached. “There is no penalty for disrespecting someone who looks like me.” Mr. Thompson would also like to see the staff become more diversified, and he would like to see everyone receive “anti-racism training.”
Earlier this year, those workers interested in organizing met with the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, a national labor group of 100,000 members. With its guidance, the co-op organizers have sought a neutrality agreement between the union and the co-op’s management. These are contracts that dictate the terms of the unionization process beyond what the law requires.Earlier this year, those workers interested in organizing met with the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, a national labor group of 100,000 members. With its guidance, the co-op organizers have sought a neutrality agreement between the union and the co-op’s management. These are contracts that dictate the terms of the unionization process beyond what the law requires.
Mr. Holtz has said the he doesn’t have “an anti-union bone’’ in his body and that he would support whatever decision the workers ultimately make. As it happens, the majority of workers are not interested in such an agreement, in part because it would give a great deal of control to an outside body many view as intrusive and in part because there remains an abiding faith in the co-op’s ostensible culture of insular good will.Mr. Holtz has said the he doesn’t have “an anti-union bone’’ in his body and that he would support whatever decision the workers ultimately make. As it happens, the majority of workers are not interested in such an agreement, in part because it would give a great deal of control to an outside body many view as intrusive and in part because there remains an abiding faith in the co-op’s ostensible culture of insular good will.
“We are equal,” said Annette Laskaris, who has worked in the membership office for the past 18 years. “We make the same amount of money; we get the same amount of vacation.” A union, she believes, would only burden overworked supervisors further simply because they would have to deal with it. And the fees would stress paychecks.“We are equal,” said Annette Laskaris, who has worked in the membership office for the past 18 years. “We make the same amount of money; we get the same amount of vacation.” A union, she believes, would only burden overworked supervisors further simply because they would have to deal with it. And the fees would stress paychecks.
In a letter to The Gazette that appeared in May, a group of workers representing the majority who oppose the union said they had “doubts that the traditional union model is the right fit for our very nontraditional workplace.” They were pro-union as a matter of belief but thought that the co-op had “a rich history” of solving its own problems. Whatever was wrong could be handled within the family, essentially.In a letter to The Gazette that appeared in May, a group of workers representing the majority who oppose the union said they had “doubts that the traditional union model is the right fit for our very nontraditional workplace.” They were pro-union as a matter of belief but thought that the co-op had “a rich history” of solving its own problems. Whatever was wrong could be handled within the family, essentially.
“A lot of people identify with the liberal mission statement of the co-op, and they believe it’s perfect and that there are no problems,” Ev Ruch, another staff member involved in the unionizing effort, told me. “I would like to see the co-op at the front of some our most important social justice issues.’’“A lot of people identify with the liberal mission statement of the co-op, and they believe it’s perfect and that there are no problems,” Ev Ruch, another staff member involved in the unionizing effort, told me. “I would like to see the co-op at the front of some our most important social justice issues.’’
Considered in a broader context, the rift suggests the tenuous relationship between progressive institutions and a revived labor movement that does not reflexively trust presumed liberal intentions. As graduate students began to unionize in recent years, they often found resistance from the universities that stood for democratic ideals but were comfortable exploiting them anyway. The Jeffrey Epstein scandal has further revealed how easily universities submit to the worst impulses of capitalism.Considered in a broader context, the rift suggests the tenuous relationship between progressive institutions and a revived labor movement that does not reflexively trust presumed liberal intentions. As graduate students began to unionize in recent years, they often found resistance from the universities that stood for democratic ideals but were comfortable exploiting them anyway. The Jeffrey Epstein scandal has further revealed how easily universities submit to the worst impulses of capitalism.
Beyond that, just this week, the labor union working with employees at Kickstarter, the crowdfunding platform founded in the name of helping to realize artistic vision, filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board accusing the company of terminating two employees who were involved in unionizing the company. Recently, the liberal think tank, the Center for American Progress, laid off the entire staff of its news site, ThinkProgress. Three years ago that staff had unionized, and as a result 11 people who lost their jobs were able to receive 12 weeks of severance pay and health insurance. The center then announced that it would revive the site in a different capacity. A unionized labor force is unlikely to be part of the next chapter.Beyond that, just this week, the labor union working with employees at Kickstarter, the crowdfunding platform founded in the name of helping to realize artistic vision, filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board accusing the company of terminating two employees who were involved in unionizing the company. Recently, the liberal think tank, the Center for American Progress, laid off the entire staff of its news site, ThinkProgress. Three years ago that staff had unionized, and as a result 11 people who lost their jobs were able to receive 12 weeks of severance pay and health insurance. The center then announced that it would revive the site in a different capacity. A unionized labor force is unlikely to be part of the next chapter.
The failures of neoliberalism — which have left so many young people financially adrift, unable to own homes or afford the crushing rents common in major cities — are likely to awaken more and more to the power of organized labor. At the Park Slope Food Coop more than 3,300 members have signed a petition in support of workers who would like to unionize under the neutrality agreement. This, the petitioners argue, is an effective means by which to create an environment free of discrimination and bullying. No one is immune from self-interest in the end.The failures of neoliberalism — which have left so many young people financially adrift, unable to own homes or afford the crushing rents common in major cities — are likely to awaken more and more to the power of organized labor. At the Park Slope Food Coop more than 3,300 members have signed a petition in support of workers who would like to unionize under the neutrality agreement. This, the petitioners argue, is an effective means by which to create an environment free of discrimination and bullying. No one is immune from self-interest in the end.