Berkeley Bowl Workers Vote Today on Union De-certification

Berkeley Bowl Workers Vote Today on Union De-certification

March 23, 2010
by Jonathan Nack

OAKLAND – Workers at the Berkeley Bowl Market will vote today in an election on whether to de-certify the United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 5, as their bargaining agent.

UFCW has represented the workers there since 2004, when a Judge of the National Labor Relations Board issued a Bargaining Order which found that Berkeley Bowl owners were guilty of numerous unfair labor practices in trying to keep the union out an ordered the owners to negotiate a contract with the union.

On Monday, June 21, a labor/community rally was held in front of the Berkeley Bowl store at 2020 Oregon Street in Berkeley. There were a few speeches and lots of singing, guitar playing, and even some dancing. UFCW Local 5 gave out leaflets to patrons and engaged them in conversations about their position.

Two anti-union activist sat quietly at a table marked “Union Free Works for Me.” On the table was a flier of the same title, which reads suspiciously like it was either coached, or written directly by, the owners of the Berkeley Bowl, or anti-union agents under their employ.

The Berkeley City Council and Mayor Tom Bates are on record supporting the efforts of UFCW to organize the Berkeley Bowl's other store at 920 Heinz Avenue, Berkeley. Local 5 has gotten the owners to agree to a neutrality agreement and a card check in order to determine if the majority of workers support the union and it should should thus be the designated the bargaining agent at that store.