I called the UFCW Local 1445 on Monday because I was curious about the organizing history at Market Basket. The local and the national are both supporting the Market Basket workers in their efforts to reinstate their preferred CEO – http://www.ufcw.org/2014/07/31/ufcw-members-stand-with-market-basket. In fact, the local is offering free legal help for any Market Basket workers who feel the need for same – http://www.ufcwlocal1445.org/MarketBasket.htm. The person I spoke with has been with the union for 37 years and says that the local has not tried to organize at Market Basket in that period of time because the workers had fair wages, good conditions, and decent benefits, including profit sharing that amounted to 15% of the companies profits. The UFCW probably decided that their efforts would be more effective elsewhere.
I have been torn between my oldest brother’s connection to Market Basket and my desire to see someone, anyone, take on the pointless blather coming from EB3 on this topic.
The MB employees are free riders, yes?
…that the MB employees will organize with them after the dust settles, now that they’ve seen that nothing is certain.
UFCW probably realizes that by supporting fellow workers, even non-union workers, they will enhance their reputation among their own membership and make other non-union workers consider what a union could do for them.
I had heard that offers of help from the Teamsters (who organize a lot of S&S) were unkindly refused. This is a good organizing opportunity, and I hope the workers of Market Basket see it this way.