Berkeley Bowl Market: Soy Dream or Soy Nightmare

Berkeley Bowl Market: Soy Dream or Soy Nightmare?

SOY

Ever since the Berkeley Bowl opened its humble doors to the community it has been praised for its willingness to supply organic produce and vegan alternatives. People flock to the marketplace to pick through produce they didn’t even know existed and stock up on non-diary products. This alternative grocery store is seen as the paragon of the East Bay lifestyle in its liberal appearance. Most people are under the impression that the store is actually a co-op, or at least union. But the current workers of the Berkeley Bowl say that things are not as kosher as they seem.

NIGHTMARE

The truth behind the label is actually that the Berkeley Bowl is neither a co-op nor union organized. The workers at the store actually make well below industry standard wages and receive sub-par health benefits. Some full time employees are not even offered health benefits. There is no structured system of raises, and most pay increases are based on favoritism. Cashiers who have worked there three months make more than produce workers who have been there for two years. There is no equality behind the scenes of the touchy-feely façade that the marketplace exudes. The employees are tired of playing the part of the bastions of the Berkeley persona; they want it to be true.

DREAM

The employees of the marketplace have decided to stop waiting for change and to make a better workplace for themselves. Currently they are working to organize a union in order to make sure that Berkeley Bowl practices what it preaches. They are fighting to ensure a level of equality in the store between all employees. They have faced many set backs due to manager union busting, but the push to organize continues. With community support and determination the store might actually stop being a dream and become a reality.

Press Contacts:

Chuck McNally 510-847-7249
Cory Abshear 510-848-5475