Buffalo, NY (WBEN) - Workers at the Lexington Co-op announced that they are organizing a union at both of the grocer's Buffalo locations.
Lexington Co-op Workers United sent a letter to the Co-op's Board of Directors announcing the formation of their organizing committee and calling on management to sign the Fair Election Principles and voluntarily recognize their union, Workers United Upstate New York.
"Co-op workers believe in the community-minded mission of the Co-op and believe that unionizing will allow us to be even more community-minded going forward," said Philip Kneitinger, a four-year employee at the Hertel store. "I've been part of a lot of uncertainty in my four years at the co op. We've seen a lot of seen a lot in just the last two years alone. And the thing I'm most certain about is that US forming this union to work with management to build a stronger Co Op going forward is the best thing for it."
Lexington Co-op Workers United's core demand is the right to organize. The Fair Election Principles they are asking management to agree to lay out a framework for a fair unionization process, free of threats, intimidation, and unethical conduct. "We're looking for an equal voice at the table when talking about wages, benefits, working conditions, making sure that there aren't any, aren't any drastic decisions made for the coop unilaterally," says Kneitinger, who notes relations are friendly but not equitable.
Kneitinger says he was inspired by the Starbucks unionizing efforts in Buffalo. "For pro union sentiment in union campaigns, Starbucks' effort has been huge and also started here in Buffalo, which is another another big piece of evidence that buffalo is a strong union town, strong community minded town," he adds. He also notes customers are seen in the Co Op, wearing the Starbucks t shirt and the Starbucks button. "We can already see that they that they support union efforts at other local, well, not quite local, but other businesses in the community," says Kneitinger.
The workers have given management until 2 PM on Friday, Nov 11 to recognize their union.
