Dont go to Farmer Joes, unionists urge

In a recent conversation, nine members of a workers committee thats been organizing since last August to unionize the now 100-plus workforce told of their struggle to overcome a concerted anti-union drive by owners Joe and Diana Tam. Because the campaign is continuing, the workers asked not to be identified.

In December, just as a majority of the workers were ready to join the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), the owners hired an anti-union consultant and started firing union supporters, committee members said.

Before the new store opened, said one, workers regularly put in 10-hour shifts, five days a week, with no overtime pay. Their wages average $9 an hour, and they have no benefits beyond a modest vacation allowance which must also cover sick days.

Promised a wage hike when the new store opened, workers did get a small increase, but at the same time, their hours were cut. We were also promised benefits, the worker said, but we werent told what they were. The union-busting outfit told us we have benefits and dont need a union.

Another committee member said management circulated an anti-union petition among the workers. The owners gave a petition to everyone, and said, youre either with the union or youre with us. Some people signed it because they were afraid they would lose their jobs.

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