TRADER JOE'S WORKERS IN WILLIAMSBURG JOIN UNION WAVE

[Donkees]

Trader Joe’s workers in Williamsburg, Brooklyn are unionizing, joining a growing movement to organize the popular grocery store chain.

Libby Rainey
September 25 2022

Excerpts:

Workers at the New York City store, which opened less than a year ago, say they have faced racial discrimination, poor working conditions, and, lately, union busting while working at Trader Joe’s. According to a flyer that workers distributed to customers at the Williamsburg store on Sunday, Trader Joe’s managers last week fired a Black union organizer one day after telling staff that they had learned about efforts to unionize their store.

“This store, Trader Joe’s Williamsburg-548, has a pattern of inappropriately targeting workers of color for discipline,” reads the statement from workers. “We’re asking you to stand with our crew as we work together for the protections and fair working conditions we deserve.” The workers are unionizing with the independent union Trader Joe’s United and are calling for management to reinstate the fired worker, Jaz.

Trader Joe’s also closed its popular New York City wine shop in August, just days before workers there were set to go public with their intentions to unionize with UFCW. The workers there say they believe the company closed the store to avoid negotiating with the union — a claim Trader Joe’s has denied.

“We really feel given everything going on in the wider environment and given everything Trader Joe’s has already done, we need to have the legal protections in place for workers that have filed for a union,” said Trader Joe’s worker Amy Wilson. “We want to start documenting unfair labor practices, because we think they’ve opened the door and we want every tool available to fight back.”

“Trader Joe’s likes to say it’s a national chain of neighborhood stores and I think we’re going to be a national chain of local unions.”

https://perfectunion.us/trader-joes-workers-in-williamsburg-join-union-wave/

https://twitter.com/TraderJoesUnite

[Johnny2X2X]

1. Every time I read of workers voting to form a union, I smile

We're seeing workers come together and fight for a better life.

I firmly believe that the destruction of the Middle Class in America was more closely linked to the decline of unions than any other single factor. We're seeing a reverse of that. Remember, for every high paying job a union fights for, 2 more workers not in the union in that community get a raise too.

[Omaha Steve]

2. K&R!

[Coventina]

3. Trader Joe's has a friendly reputation, but they have a dark side.

Lots of age discrimination and sexism, once you get beyond the entry level.

[lame54]

4. I've not witnessed that

[crickets]

5. Good for them. Union! K&R