The Road Goes On - Latest Comments

Re: The True Meaning of Pragmatism: Bloomington’s Mayoral Question

TheProgressiveTroll — Sat, 02 May 2015 22:16:49 -0000

Excellent post. I had Darryl Neher's wife on my porch today telling me that Darryl is in favor of community broadband. Her reasoning was that she is Darryl's wife and it is on his website, which it isn't. I went back and looked.

Re: Dear Bloomingfoods, Please Don’t Hire Union Busters

Dan — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 18:18:37 -0000

When you're willing to attach your name to your statements I will be happy to dialog with you. If you'd rather stay anonymous on the internet, but still want to discuss these things, then I'd be happy to meet you in person downtown. Shoot me an email, pick a cafe and a time.

Re: Dear Bloomingfoods, Please Don’t Hire Union Busters

Anon — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 01:05:48 -0000

Posting a video is not a response. It's just pointing to someone else's lecture. What does it tell me about your perspective?

Dan, when challenged on your fundamentals (i.e. your claims as to what coop democracy looks like) you avoid the topic.

I get that you're wanting to make all of these claims that there was nefarious union busting behavior by the coops admin. But thats pure romanticism, intended to fire up the base. And ok. Fine. If that's what you're going for, cool.

But it's not what happened. And you know this. So there is clearly an intent to manipulate the series of events. It's a shame. I want the union. But not behind a veil of harmful invective that is meant to create an us verses them mentality within the coops membership.

It's obvious that youre not really wanting a dialogue. You want the union, to Hell with the means since unionization is the end. This is your platform. Again, thats fine. But I just want to make it clear that you're union first, even if it harms the coop (which, judging by your tactics, you're fine with).

Re: Dear Bloomingfoods, Please Don’t Hire Union Busters

Anon — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 10:34:15 -0000

Why is it supposed to fight capitalist shit? The coop represents the member-owners. If the member-owners want capitalist shit, is that not a result of the democratic process in that individuals are accurately represented?

Do you want democracy? If so, you have to accept people make choices you don't agree with.

Re: Dear Bloomingfoods, Please Don’t Hire Union Busters

Karissa — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 08:50:01 -0000

Sad to see bloomingfoods be just another iteration and reinforcement of the capitalist corporatist shit it's supposed to fight.

Re: Why do I Shop at BloomingFoods? - The Road Goes On - Daniel Bingham

Colin Roy-Ehri — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 13:51:58 -0000

How can a member-owner best support the union effort?

Re: Dear Bloomingfoods, Please Don’t Hire Union Busters

Anon — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 18:49:40 -0000

But it did make a great deal of assumptions. You have yet to respond to the points made about your interpretations of cooperatives and member participation.

It's easier to call me a coward than to respond to the substance. I think you're well intentioned, but I also think you're looking at things from a narrow ideological lens that I am concerned you're not tempering with an understanding of how coops function (when you say "that's not how a coop works," it's factually inaccurate). For example, you point at the Park Slope food coop in NYC as a model for coop member working participation without knowing the legal challenges in adopting such a model, not to mention the lofty amount of coordination it would take to get 300 members to work (and for every member owner who works, that's one less worker with a paycheck).

The point of this is not to say you're misguided (you're not and I don't intend to insult your motivations). But I am frustrated at the ideal type perspective you have wrapped around the coop. A coop embedded in a capitalist economic system cannot do all the things you want while also taking capitalism down. There are value trade offs.

I would respectfully encourage you to continue the mobilization on behalf of staff. But definitely do look around more and ask the questions about why the coop does some of the things it's does before you imply its fallen off of the tracks. You might be surprised how damaging that could be to the coop.

Re: Dear Bloomingfoods, Please Don’t Hire Union Busters

just_ranting — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 11:11:27 -0000

To those that think Bloomingfoods can do no wrong, and that employees don't have a reason for unionizing... Why hasn't Bfoods said anything yet? This has been nearly happening for 3 weeks and Jeff jewel has only said one very vague line so far. It is Bfoods responsibility to reach out to the community and give some answers but so far they've acted as if nothing is happening. Which it seems is the way they handle the majority of issues. Elm heights was such a big mistake. Kirkwood is still open despite losing money for so long. And they spend 75k a year on rent for their swanky little admin office!! It's okay for them to cut the hours of their lower level employees, and prevent many people who want full time from being able to get it. But they're the ones who keep making stupid decisions, so they need to be the ones taking pay cuts. Here's the thing: Bloomingfoods wouldn't be able to make stupid decisions as easily if they paid their employees more. They could have not opened elm heights and instead spent that money on improving their currents stores and employees lives. They have spread themselves too thin. And instead of using money to improve the stores and lives of their workers they opened a store that is way too big and fancy and rarely busy. No employee is happy their because that place is depressing. Management is so disorganized and there is way too much unguided pressure from upper management on the employees who aren't given any direction or reason to care!

Re: Dear Bloomingfoods, Please Don’t Hire Union Busters

paul — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 03:29:00 -0000

Right on - good work.

Re: Dear Bloomingfoods, Please Don’t Hire Union Busters

Dan — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 09:53:44 -0000

Here are the confessions of a union buster: http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Now, Martin's not the most trustworthy of sources, but the union organizers I've spoken to tell me that they have seen each of the tactics he talks about over and over again in the organizing campaigns they've done.

Here's a source that describes the sorts of counter organizing campaigns these guys orchestrate:http://www.jwj.org/wp-conte...

Here's a paper analyzing their development: http://teamster.org/sites/t...

And finally, here's a guy who managed to sneak into seminar one of them is gave:http://inthesetimes.com/art...

No, I don't know for sure that Nathan is one of these guys. Or that he can't separate his counsel. But with out an unprecedented level of transparency from the Co-op, I can't know for sure. So, if I want to protect the co-op's workers -- which I do, I have to assume the worst. Yes, I said "assume". When you're working, potentially, against someone who's going to do their best to deny you information or even sow misinformation, then you have to work with what you have. That's what's so insidious about these guys.

Re: Dear Bloomingfoods, Please Don’t Hire Union Busters

Dan — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 09:18:12 -0000

So brave of you to make that accusation from behind an anonymous handle. Really, you're so gutsy.

My last article contained no assumptions, no speculation and one fact that was quoted to me that I didn't check out enough.

This one, yes, I'm working with less. But I have no choice. Once I've had my coffee I will track down some information on union busting lawyers so you can see why I draw these conclusions.

Edit: See my response to Adam above.

Re: Dear Bloomingfoods, Please Don’t Hire Union Busters

Cindy W. — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 09:00:23 -0000

I'd agree with you, Linda - I did not know about Irwin Miller specifically, but I've known employee-owners (Ernest Morgan of Antioch Company in Yellow Springs, Ohio comes to mind, or George W. Jenkins, Jr. of Publix Supermarkets, or more recently Art DeMoulas of Market Basket) who valued their employees and in two of those cases, made them owners as well. But I think such leaders are uncommon, so one can't depend on that happening to protect employees. And I don't "have a dog in the fight," as I don't shop at any of these stores and have no co-op to support in my community.

Re: Dear Bloomingfoods, Please Don’t Hire Union Busters

Linda — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 08:44:18 -0000

Cindy - Whole foods is expensive but we also have Lucy's coming as well. I think it is time that Bloomingfoods had a little competition.... Wholefoods does have great benefits for their employees. If Bloomingfoods had done the same their employees would not want to unionize. If employers had the same value for their employees as Irwin Miller did who owned Cummins this would not be an issue " Miller had an extremely enlightened view toward employee relations. Rather than fighting the unionization of the company he supported and encouraged their efforts. Cummins set new trends in worker-centered policies. He felt that the health and life of his employees was as important as maintaining the machinery that they used to build the companies products."

Re: Dear Bloomingfoods, Please Don’t Hire Union Busters

Anon — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 02:48:39 -0000

You will find that Dan makes a lot of assumptions from speculation. Doesn't seem to slow him down.

Re: Dear Bloomingfoods, Please Don’t Hire Union Busters

Adam — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 01:31:50 -0000

No offense, but most laypersons aren't sufficiently knowledgeable about specialized areas of practice to support observations like this one. Particularly when the observations rest on nebulous, almost anecdotal premises. I think you make a lot of assumptions about this particular lawyer, about the motivations behind this particular lawyer. I don't think those assumptions are supported.

Re: Dear Bloomingfoods, Please Don’t Hire Union Busters

Cindy W. — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 15:16:51 -0000

Good for you, Dan - sorry to hear of this. As a former law firm employee (and ex-wife of JD/LLM and aunt of 2 attorneys), I learned a long time ago the difference between "employment law" - which usually means pro-management/anti-union - and true labor law. Generally speaking, there's more money in the former than the latter, and labor lawyers besides having almost to have independent means, are hamstrung by laws that are written in favor of property rights or corporate rights. Most Americans think we have a legal system that defends citizens - no, it doesn't usually. That said, I suppose you could have a good employment lawyer who could try to remain objective, but he/she is supposed to defend the rights of his/her client - the store in this case. I liked Bloomingfoods & remember when it began years ago. Hope somehow the co-op members/employees/et al. can hold the store management to co-op ideals. As for Whole Foods coming to town - shoppers need to support their locally-owned businesses. Whole Foods is very expensive and you're supporting a different paradigm shopping there than when you shop in a co-op. Good luck!

Re: Dear Bloomingfoods, Please Don’t Hire Union Busters

Dan — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 13:18:17 -0000

I am a member and have been since I moved back in to town 4 years ago.

The section in the bylaws requires a 10% quorum of members. Bloomingfoods administration currently state there are 11,000 members. Personally, I strongly doubt there are 11,000 _active_ members, but the bylaws say members, not active members. So that would mean we need 1,100 people to attend the annual meeting. Furthermore, to put an issue up for consideration, you need 50 signatures on a petition and the petition needs to be entered 45 days before the annual meeting. This years annual meeting is on October 16th, so it's too late to enter a new issue for consideration. Furthermore, I seriously doubt we could raise the 1100 member quorum necessary to vote.

Which means we'll have to work with the board and hope we can convince them to make the needed structural changes. I don't think we can afford to wait until next years annual meeting.

Re: Dear Bloomingfoods, Please Don’t Hire Union Busters

boo — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 13:11:39 -0000

Would it be possible for many of these signatures to be collected at the general meeting if this issue can't be placed on the agenda?
Perhaps it would be a good idea members who are pro union to attend the general meeting and collect as many signatures as possible at that time.

Re: Dear Bloomingfoods, Please Don’t Hire Union Busters

Katherine O — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 11:57:39 -0000

Are you a member of Bloomingfoods? If so check the by-laws there will be a section on there about members calling special member meetings, referendums, recall of board of directors. (Maybe not all of the preceeding but at least one.) If Bloomingfoods members are really upset about this then start collecting signatures (generally special meetings require a certain number or percentage of members to sign a petition to be held.) But the annual meeting is coming up isn't it? There may be another provision in there to put an issue/item for vote at the member meeting in the by-laws.
Good luck!

Re: Dear Bloomingfoods, Please Don’t Hire Union Busters

Dan — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 09:43:04 -0000

The difference being that for union avoidance lawyers, when engaging in union busting, their whole modus operendi is to take advantage of people giving them the benefit of the doubt. They maintain the appearance of simply providing counsel to their client, and they counsel the client to maintain the appearance of respecting the worker's right to organize, but then undermine that right behind the scenes. When they are undermining the right they often take actions that are legally grey, if not outright illegal at times.

The trouble here is that, with out an unprecedented level of transparency, it's impossible for us to know whether this lawyer is just giving them healthy neutral counsel or engaging in his union avoidance.

Another point I will raise is that most divorce lawyers aren't against all marriages or all men/women. Many (most?) union avoidance lawyers are very anti-union. They think unions are bad, period, and want to fight them however and where ever they can.

Re: Why do I Shop at BloomingFoods? - The Road Goes On - Daniel Bingham

christie — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 08:28:17 -0000

Do you know anything about GFS and the food that they sell? Because I ran the kitchen at the east store for 10 years and ordered from GFS every week. You should not demonize them unless you know what you are talking about. They carry tomato products grown and produced locally within the midwest, for example. Just because they are a large company does not mean that everything they sell is corporate non-quality product. Yes, there are improvements still to be made within the prepared foods department, but those making decisions do so pretty carefully to get quality product within a reasonable price range.
And, yes, I perhaps have blown off the part time employees. I apologize I give the impression that they are "lesser" or not as important. They are essential employees just like full-time employees, but no, I don't believe they are necessarily entitled to the same benefits as full time employees.

Re: Dear Bloomingfoods, Please Don’t Hire Union Busters

Linda — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 00:31:48 -0000

I consulted with a lawyer before my divorce, and she gave me such valuable advice that my ex and I were able to work out the specifics of child support and parenting time without going to court. I found out later that this lawyer has a vicious reputation...like she is the one women go to when they want to get the big bucks from their ex. I was surprised. I thought she was really into mediation, because of my experience and what I was seeking. So just because the co-op is consulting with a vicious lawyer doesn't mean that they are being vicious. I think it is good to be watchful, and ask for communication and transparency, and so I think this direct query is a great idea. But I also think negotiations will go better if we try to keep the drama down. Much love to the co-op employees, this must be a tough time. Thanks for still smiling at me when I come in.

Re: Dear Bloomingfoods, Please Don’t Hire Union Busters

Dan — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 23:10:47 -0000

I don't have a problem with them consulting with an attorney, I have a problem with them consulting with an attorney who specializes in "resisting union organizing campaigns". Because that's a modern union buster.

Modern union busters use a plethora of tactics to try to disrupt union organizing campaigns. Most of them are legal, if morally grey, but they have also been known to step over the line in some pretty slimey ways. The good ones are able to do this with out you ever even realizing they're doing it. Plausible deniability is their bread and butter. They take advantage of people giving them the benefit of the doubt in exactly the same way you are. It's really unfortunate, really insidious and it's poisonous to the very thing that allows a cooperative to operate: mutual trust.

Because there are people out there like this (a lot of them, actually) we, as member owners can't take a chance that Nathan isn't one of them. We can't trust that he's not practicing his union avoidance on our co-op. Especially given the lack of transparency we've seen, we have to assume he is, unless we want to risk allowing the co-op to violate its workers right to organize.

There are lawyers who specialize in labor law but do not practice union avoidance. These are lawyers who we can really trust to advise the coop. Their advise would be no less helpful to the coop and the coop would be no less informed going in to this situation. But we member owners would be able to trust that the lawyer wasn't working to undermine the rights of the co-op's workers.

We aren't asking them to go in blind. We're just asking them to pick a guide that we don't have to worry is poisoning the well.

Re: Dear Bloomingfoods, Please Don’t Hire Union Busters

Adam — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 22:46:30 -0000

Unless you are an attorney yourself, which I don't take you to be, you shouldn't build presumptions about what role the consulting attorneys are taking by selected phrases from their website. My guess is that the board is consulting with the attorney to be informed of its rights, its bargaining position, the pros and cons, so that it can make an informed decision about how to negotiate with a potential union.

Unions can be great vehicles for furthering the position of workers. They can also cause breakdowns that cost a lot of people their jobs. A union's ultimate purpose is to collectively bargain with management; so it isn't 'cheating' when management doesn't go in blind, and being informed will likely benefit the workers as well.

I'm not yet an attorney; just a law student involved in low income legal services.

Re: Dear Bloomingfoods, Please Don’t Hire Union Busters

Tisk Tisk — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 22:27:48 -0000

And with all of the food store competition coming to town... This will be interesting.