from http://harvestmembers.info/

Management at the Harvest Co-op has thumbed their noses at members and workers by hiring a replacement for fired union supporter Deon Furtick, despite an ongoing investigation by the National Labor Relations Board, and weekly protests in front of the store.

Pay at the Harvest co-op is below industry standards. New hires in most positions can expect to make $8.00 an hour. The Harvest will save money by not having to pay Deon for the raises he had earned during his four years of service (including one $0.50 raise paid the day before he was fired). But the loss to customer service, and the credibility of the Harvest as an alternative to their bigger corporate competition, will affect the bottom line in a way that cannot be measured.

Management fought and lost a recent battle against Diego Bencosme, the former meat department supervisor, for unemployment benefits. Now Harvest will once again be paying lawyer's fees to fight its own workers at the National Labor Relations Board. If they lose this time, they may be required to reinstate Deon Furtick and Diego Bencosme with back wages. Both Deon and Diego were excellent employees, yet because they stood up for themselves and others, management at the Harvest sought any opportunity they could to fire them. Nothing could be further from the founding principles of the Harvest.

The message to Harvest's non-union “at-will” employees is clear. If you complain about working conditions, want respect, or talk to co-workers about a union, you will be replaced. Director of Membership and Community Relations, Chris Durkin, writes that the Harvest is being “attacked” by union activists. He even compares the Harvest with Metro Lighting, a company in Berkeley, California, where workers who joined the IWW have been locked out after protesting age discrimination and refusing to work under hazardous conditions.

It is becoming apparent that pride and power are more important to management at Harvest than justice for employees, or even the financial welfare of the co-op. Members asked the board of directors to investigate and intervene. Hundreds of flyers have been given to customers outside the store. Dozens have made phone calls to Marc Cutler, the manager in charge of hiring and firing. Articles are beginning to appear in local newspapers such as The Bridge and What's Up/Spare Change. Yet when recently asked about Deon's case, Marc Cutler said it would be “unprofessional” to rehire him. We can only wonder what profession he thinks he's in.

Members, workers, and the community must not be ignored. We are now asking our supporters to call Marc Cutler directly on his cell phone. 617-304-1137. Can you hear us now Marc? Give Deon Furtick and Diego Bencosme their jobs back with back pay before the National Labor Relations Board forces you to. Do it before the picket lines and bad publicity hurt the co-op any more. Do it for the sake of justice.