Ashland Food Coop Union History

Traditional Union Busting AFC Union Busting Time Frame

19982000 Stall Union negotiations if union vote does pass AFC is uncooperative party in negotiations; promises to resolve issues w/o a union Staff Council introduced, but SC functions languish AFC uncooperative in resolving worker issues/rights 2001

Union building
Ashland Community Food Store votes to unionize Contract negotiations fail Union effort looses steam and vanishes

2011 April June 20 June 22

Long-time AFC employee/Staff representative on BOD contacts UFCW 555 @ unionizing AFC After efforts to resolve issues, employee contacts UFCW 555 again 3 AFC workers talk with UFCW 555 representatives 20 AFC members meet in first open meeting w/ UFCW; Within 2 weeks, 40% AFC workers sign authorization cards Union continues to build support through positive conversations between coworkers

Convince workers that management can solve issues w/o union Persuade workers that the business is a family and can resolve issues internally Management introduces idea that unions are divisive and costly

AFC holds 3-4 illegal mediation sessions between workers and management/BOD

June

Target pro-union workers w/ disciplinary actions or worse

GM issues letter to workers: Any talk of unionization in the workplace can be divisive. they just dont care about anything except getting dues money. AFC staff log is required daily reading for workers; log & disciplinary actions are used by GM, BOD, and anti-union workers to tarnish reputation of pro-

June 29

UFCW and AFC workers begin to document violations of NLRA in hopes for free & fair elections, no charges are filed (by law, filing charges delays voting)

July

Employees carry on with building efforts. Regular meetings are held to answer questions about organizing. Employees increased outreach effort to owners about having a free and fair election.

Ashland Food Coop Union History

union workers & threaten jobs Staff Council revived & presented as solution; prior SC members supporting union, were demonized and blamed GM letter to employees paints union as an outside force We also doubt that any outside, third party is necessary here at the Coop. BOD denies request from owners to direct GM to stop using anti-union consultant Dept managers start attending/sitting as block at BOD mtgs; managers badmouth union to workers. Management was involved in creating and circulating an anti union petition. Escalation of union busting tactics creates work environment that prevents real conversations between employees while encouraging unprofessional behavior by anti-union individuals, including threats, name-calling and intimidation. AFC Consultant Braun admits in BOD mtg. to helping workers craft antiunion petition; managers take employees off the floor

Introduce union-like options:

Paint union as a "3rd party":

Workers continue to emphasize that workers are the union

Workers ask Board to direct GM not to work with consultant Braun, a known union buster Pro union employees continued to be harassed by coworkers with no relief from management. Pro-union workers continue to hold regular, open meetings for undecided workers to learn about benefits of organizing

Organize supervisors for information gathering on employees & for intimidation:

Organize anti-union workers:

Early Sept

Out reach to community and owners intensifies Solidarity shop-ins are held to allow for communication between workers and owners and to show support for free and fair election process

Ashland Food Coop Union History

to offer anti-union petition in private mtgs. BOD denies ownersponsored petition for special meeting for 3 different reasons at 3 different times BOD holds owner meeting & presents misinformation about union effort; AFC PR Director quoted in Sneak Preview & Ashland Daily Tidings representing union as divisive/obstructionist & painting AFC as victim of union/NLRB.

October

Workers and owners submit petition under terms of AFC ByLaws Article III Section 3.2 for Special Meeting where workers can talk to owners about union effort Union took the necessary steps to protect the pro-union workers rights

Obfuscate peoples understanding of how NLRA protects & regulates union initiatives. Present business as the victim

Sept. Dec.

2012 Establish alternatives to unions: SC members initiate votes on deducting money from employee pay for SC stipends & proposals to change departmental representation

UFCW files 15 charges of violations of NLRA with NLRB; NLRB investigates Union adds to the list of charges already under investigation. 17 total charges filed with support documents and witness testimony. NLRB is expected to complete investigation in February

AFC = Ashland Food Co-op GM= General Manager of Ashland Food Coop NLRA = National Labor Relations Act NLRB = National Labor Relations Board SC = Staff Council UFCW 555 = United Food and Commercial Workers International 555