Park Slope Food Coop Employees Move To Unionize

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — Employees at the neighborhood's longstanding Park Slope Food Coop are moving to unionize, claiming there is a coercive work environment under the management of their fellow full-time members.

The attempt, which was first reported by the New York Post, comes as the coop works through allegations of unfair labor practices submitted with the U.S. National Labor Relations Board.

Records show that employees filed a complaint in April that alleges their employers were changing terms and conditions of employment and were using coercive statements and actions such as surveillance or threats. Patch has submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for the full complaint details.

The Post reported that the management, about six of the 76 full-time employees that act as coordinators, have tried to squash the union attempt. Although, when reached by phone Monday, the coop's general manager denied those claims and said that the management will support employees rights to join the union.

"We're not an anti-union place," General Manager Joe Holtz, who is also one of the six coordinators, said. "We want employees to decide. If they want a union, they can (form one)."

Holtz and the other coordinators also released a statement on their website saying they "recognize the right of any group of people to form legal associations to meet their collective needs and support their mutual benefit."

The statement goes on to say that the general coordinators, member-owners and board of directors do not have a role in the decision to unionize but will ensure that staff can participate in all efforts to organize.

"Following Coop principles, we would like to see that any decision by our staff will be made democratically," it reads.

Patch was not immediately able to reach any employees at the coop, but charges listed in the complaint with the labor relations board include "concerted activities" such as retaliation, discharge and discipline. The filing also claims the employers used interrogation, including polling, and coercive statements like the promise of benefits.

Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, which is helping the employees organize, did not immediately return a request for comment.

The Union Street coop — which the New York Times once called perhaps the largest, oldest and most successful of its kind in the country — was first founded in 1973 and was officially incorporated in 1977.

The coop's other 17,000 members who are not full-time employees are all required to work at least 2 hours and 45 minutes every four weeks, or about 13 times per year.

Holtz said that updates about the union will likely be available in the coop's upcoming newsletter.