While we wish it weren’t the case, we’re seeing misinformation, half-truths, and omissions coming from management, the board, and even the union. We’ll try to keep up here.
How big is our labor relations problem?
Claim: “Some” employees are discontent
Management and the board often appear to be trying to minimize the size of the labor relations problem at the co-op. For example, in a July letter to owners posted at the store website, we read about “increasing discord on the part of some employees.” And on June 21, we read that “some staff have expressed dissatisfaction” with the shuttle situation.
Fact: A large majority of the bargaining unit is unhappy
And everyone knows it. In May of 2016, 77 bargaining unit workers signed an internal petition to the board of directors outlining multiple concerns. More than 80 percent of workers who had the chance to sign the petition did so. The board, citing its “policy governance” model, declined to meet with workers to receive and discuss the petition. This despite workers’ letter to the board describing the petition as “an overwhelming vote of no confidence on upper management.” Read the staff letter and petition.