Re: HEY JEREME! (was: Photos from yesterday at City Market)

Yo.

First of all, I want to say how heartening it was to
see the heads present at the rally.

Second, no I wasn't participating. I didn't actually
know it was happening until I showed up for work. And
while in general I am supportive of the Union, I do
keep a low profile. 

For the record: Management did not speak to us about
the rally one way or another. Frankly, they don't
dare. 

They did know what was going on, and they were quite
nervous. This Union business does serious damage to
City Market's brand, and they know it. The working
class already resents the place because it is
over-priced, and now the liberal bourgeosie resents it
because of the way the employees are being treated. 

You are correct in your observation that there were
not many employees participating. There was a core
group of strongly pro-Union agitators, and God bless
'em.

As far as consequences for participation go, it isn't
anything an employee really needs to worry about.
Every employee has the right to have a Union steward
present when being called to a meeting that could lead
to disciplinary action against them. Again, management
wouldn't dare. 

Personally, I have mixed emotions on the whole
subject. I support the Union, but feel that some
things should be conceded on that aren't being
conceded. A livable would be ideal, but perhaps it has
to wait until the store is sufficiently profitable.
I'd much rather have a job with benefits than have the
store fold and have to work for Wal-Mart. That said, a
lot of management's proposals were utter bullshit. To
wit: cutting paid breaks (rollback, anyone?) because
"we can't afford them" or making everyone wear uniform
aprons (because somehow we can afford to purchase and
launder uniforms for all 120+ employees?).

I should point out that people like to bang around the
term "management" like it's some kind of bad word that
refers to bad people. The fact is that many people in
"management" are not just good people, but are
supportive of the Union cause. Not that I'm naming any
names. 

The current contract expired two hours ago. Assuming a
new one hasn't been reached (unlikely as of this
writing) the vote for a strike is tomorrow. I'm voting
in favor, though I'd rather not strike. 

In the meantime, keep shopping there if you want. Fill
the comment box with thoughtful criticism. And leave
voicemail for General Manager Earl Bell. I'm not going
to print his phone extension here, but if you come
into the market and ask for it as a customer I'll
gladly give it to you. You can also always call the
market at 802.863.3659 and ask to be transferred to
his voicemail. 

Thanks Heads.

-j.


--- Adam Miller <[email protected]> wrote:
> Just curious: For those of the heads actually
> employed at City Market, I didn't see you at the
> rally, and in fact, I think I only saw one or two
> people who I know to work there participating. It
> makes sense that, as a union member and not a
> negotiator, you'd want to keep a low profile and not
> make the situation any more sticky for you, but did
> management address the planned rally to you guys
> before it happened, maybe ask you not to
> participate? It just seemed funny to me, Earl
> definitely knew what was going on, and looked like
> his head was gonna blow right off his shoulders if
> we didn't walk right back out of the store after
> going in. He doesn't strike me as the type of guy to
> respect the concept of civil disobedience, so I was
> just wondering if he made clear to the employees if
> there would be consequences for participating or
> what. If so, that would strike me (as a completely
> uninformed and uneducated individual in this area)
> as some kind of conflict in the negotiating proce
>  ss.
> 
> -A(m)
> -- 
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