For immediate release:

Ashland, OR- An unfair labor practice (ULP) was filed against the Ashland Food Co-op (AFC) on Tuesday. The charges were filed with the National Labor Relations Board by UFCW Local 555 on behalf of workers engaged in a campaign to organize a union in their workplace.  Workers at AFC want to organize because they believe in the responsibility of community leadership rooted in the values of social justice and workers' rights. As members and owners of a co-operative organization they seek to fully participate in the creation of policies that govern working conditions under which they work.

Ashland Food Co-op employees that support forming a union were seeking to increase the transparency and sense of democracy at their work place. They had hoped, after engaging in respectful dialogue with their co-workers, they would be able to choose a solution supported by the majority of co-workers with the best interest of all employees, the AFC, as well as the community and customers.

Unfortunately, instead of peaceful conversation held between the people who would be affected by having a union; the management of AFC has created such divide that a fair election now seems impossible.

As a result of long deliberation unfair labor charges were filed touching on a variety of issues facing union supporters at Ashland food Co-op, including instances of surveillance and intimidation through coercion. 
Dan Clay UFCW 555 president states "We support every worker in their freedom to organize, we at UFCW 555 believe the workers voices deserve to be heard and respected and look forward to working with Ashland Food Co-op employees to ensure demorcracy is protected."

Fred Meyer recently opened a new store in Wilsonville, Oregon.  This store, the newest in Oregon, is a beautiful store but the best thing about it is that the Grocery and CCK employees have said "Union Yes!"  Some workers transfered from other Union locations but many of the employees were new hires.  UFCW Organizers spent time talking to the employees and showed them the advantage of being Union.

Next time you are in the Wilsonville area, stop in to the new Fred Meyer store and say hello to the UFCW Local 555 members and let the meat and non-food workers know that they too can enjoy the advantages of saying "Union Yes!"

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, According to the UFCW Local 555, U.S. corporations hold a record $1.93 trillion cash surplus while 25 million unemployed and underemployed people of this nation require a financial stimulus that will provide living wage jobs;

WHEREAS, economic disparity continues to escalate so that the richest 5 percent now own 65 percent of this nation’s wealth;

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Over 62,000 workers represented by seven UFCW local unions in Southern California have been bargaining since March for a fair contract that will keep good, family-supporting jobs in their communities. Sadly, Vons, Ralphs, and Albertsons (owned by Safeway, Kroger, and Supervalu, respectively) are opting to hoard billions of dollars in profits instead of sharing their success with the workers that keep their companies running. The companies' stall tactics have finally forced grocery workers to give a 72-hour strike notice.

Now we must show our brothers and sisters in Southern California - and the grocery companies - that we stand behind workers as they fight for a fair deal! Visit the Safeway, Kroger, and Supervalu Facebook pages today and leave each company a message letting them know you support workers who want to keep good jobs in their communities.