Eastside Food Co-op workers vote to unionize with UFCW Local 653
\nWorkers at Eastside Food Co-op in Minneapolis won their election on Thursday, April 20th to form a union with the United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 653. More than 70% of workers voted in favor of unionization.
\n\u201cAddressing economic justice issues like implementing a genuine living wage is a clear extension of our cooperative values,\u201d said Brian David who works in Eastside\u2019s IT department.\u201d We are excited to begin the bargaining process because now, everyone will have an opportunity to be heard.\u201d
\nWorkers have begun circulating bargaining surveys to help the bargaining committee understand their co-workers\u2019 priorities.
\n\u201cI have been working at Eastside for seven years. Forming a union is going to help workers have a voice and support each other,\u201d said cashier Molly Garner-Puff. \u201cWe want to make sure our co-op continues to be a sustainable store for the workers and the neighborhood.\u201d
\nMany workers live close to Eastside Food Co-op in Northeast Minneapolis. Forming a union is how workers can actively ensure family sustaining jobs for the whole community.
\nWhen workers first started discussing forming a union, they met discreetly to create a safe space to refine their goals and identify who would be most interested in organizing. They wanted to create their own organizing plan without worrying about potential management interference.
\n\u201cOrganizers gave advice, and UFCW members from Linden Hills Co-op and other retail stores offered support, but\u00a0we\u00a0led the organizing – Eastside Co-op workers,\u201d said Alex Bischoff from the Meat Department. \u201cI hope other working people who want to organize reach out to us. We would love to support them. We are always stronger together!\u201d
\nEastside Food Co-op workers were inspired by other workers who recently organized a union at Linden Hills Co-op, The Wedge Community Co-op and Whole Foods Co-op in Minnesota and the People\u2019s Food Co-op in Michigan.
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