At Beef Northwest, even though the majority of workers have already voiced their support for a union, democracy takes a back seat. Despite casting their votes to form a union, employees continue to be denied a voice in the workplace.
Companies like Whole Foods, New Seasons and Burgerville are trying to make sure these workers are silenced. These retailers are saying Beef Northwest gets to call the shots on their workers' election. These companies--all non-union companies themselves--believe Beef Northwest workers' only opportunity to form a union should come through a management-dominated union election process.
Whole Foods, New Seasons and Burgerville appear all too willing to hide behind the belief that a worker's vote will be confidential. They want us to ignore the past consultants who've been hired to interrogate and intimidate workers over their support for the union. Workers are scared and fear for their jobs and livelihood. In this atmosphere, how is a free and fair election possible? Let's take a look at Beef Northwest's disgraceful anti-union campaigning record:
.Beef Northwest's general manager leaves the farm to take pictures of pro-union workers at a union barbeque.
.Beef Northwest's supervisors circulate an anti-union petition while on the clock, threatening workers with job loss if they don't sign.
.Beef Northwest employee Fortunato Diaz is pulled off his normal duties and sent to do the work of four others in an effort to humiliate him, all because he supports the UFW. The company even posts Fortunato's picture in their office as a clear, intimidating warning to other workers --do not support the union.
The UFW refuses to participate in this undemocratic process. We support the majority sign-up method of organizing, as it helps level the playing field. This is a fair and democratic process where employers recognize unions if a majority of employees demonstrate their desire to form one. In June, a majority of Beef Northwest workers voted in support of the union. The outcome was verified by an outside, neutral third party.
Instead of recognizing the results of last June's election, Beef Northwest is demanding a new one. If you don't like the results of an election you get to call a new one? Democracy does not work that way.
Just yesterday Bon Appétit (a major food service provider at college campuses across the US) joined another socially responsible retailer, PCC Natural Markets in choosing to take a responsible stance and support the workers at Beef Northwest.
We need your help to demand that Whole Foods, New Seasons and Burgerville abandon their support for an anti-democratic process and instead, recognize that workers have already spoken: a majority want the UFW to represent them. These companies should do the right thing and join retailers like PCC Natural Markets and Bon Appétit in saying no to the "sham" election Beef Northwest is trying to force on its workers and demand that Beef Northwest negotiate with the union that the workers have already chosen.
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