After unprecedented public pressure, co-op management made some constructive changes to the labor contract. But by engaging in retaliation and seeking to curtail workers’ ability to speak out, they reinforced workers’ mistrust. Instead of better labor relations, they’ve sown further discord.
Most workers agree: we have a problem
River Valley Co-op’s management and board of directors often seem intent on minimizing the unrest among the staff, usually referring to “some” employees.” But in May of 2016, 77 bargaining unit workers signed an internal petition to the board of directors outlining multiple concerns about working conditions and the management of the store.