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Fired Nebraska IWW Baker Demands Reinstatement with Back Pay

On December 18th, 2010, members of the Industrial Workers of the World 
(IWW) and community supporters walked into the Open Harvest Natural Foods Cooperative Grocery’and presented management with a petition signed by supporters 
and a letter demanding that IWW baker Andrew Losh be reinstated with 
back wages for time missed.

“I love working at Open Harvest and I support their goals of providing 
the community with sustainable and organic food,” Andrew Losh stated. 
“I get along with my coworkers and enjoy interacting with all the 
great customers that shop there on a regular basis,” he continued. 
“But it seems as if the relationships between the management and the 
employees have gone downhill lately.”

Losh was fired by his manager, Nancy Sauer, on December 3rd for not 
maintaining an unspecified work pace. According to Losh, Sauer has a 
history of treating employees unfairly.

On October 20th, 2010, Losh took a shift off. Despite giving notice 
a month in advance, posting a request for a co-worker to take the 
hours, and ultimately getting oral approval from his manager, Losh 
was written up immediately upon return for not giving prior proper 
notice. Losh contested this with his manager and a co-worker who 
witnessed the approval verified his account. Yet this warning remained 
in his file.

Community supporter and Open Harvest customer Jason Nord explained, “I 
support Andrew's demand to be reinstated. I think it's important that 
Open Harvest stay consistent with the values of an organic grocery 
consumer co-op and not treat their employees in the same fashion any 
other retail store does.”

According to a current employee at Open Harvest, who asked not to be 
named out of fear of retaliation by management, “I feel like a large 
part of the management here doesn't really respect us (the 
employees).”

Jim Nelson, the current general manager for Open Harvest, was 
unavailable for comment, but in the Fall 2010 Newsletter he had this 
to say about workers, “In the food business today, as I am sure it is 
with other retail stores, employee turnover is an issue. Another 
issue is lack of dedication on the job.”

Co-op member and customer John Hennessy found it unsettling to hear of 
the way employees are being treated at Open Harvest, “From what I've 
heard the employees at Open Harvest aren't treated any differently 
than they would at Russ's. I am a member of the co-op because I want 
to buy organic food for my family and because I believe in sustainable 
agricultural practices. I just always assumed that as a co-op, worker 
treatment would not be an issue, but after hearing about how Andrew 
was treated and the low wages the employees are paid, I think 
something should be done by the board (of directors) to correct this 
immediately.”

According to IWW member Corey Randone, the union is going to keep 
putting pressure on Open Harvest until Losh is reinstated and workers' 
treatment and wages are dealt with. “I joined the IWW because I wanted 
to help my fellow workers organize for better wages, better benefits, 
and respect on the job. I never thought I'd have to support a worker 
at an organic food co-op. Then when I heard about the low wages, 
inconsistent scheduling, and lack of benefits I was slightly shocked,” 
Randone stated.

IWW member Brian Ellis added, "While the Nebraska Chapter of the IWW supports the efforts of Open Harvest to provide a retail outlet for local farmers, promote healthy eating, and organize along cooperative principles, there is no excuse for a cooperative organization to embrace the exploitative employment procedures of for-profit retail businesses. It seem ironic that Open Harvest openly touts itself for selling "fair trade" products, but it does not itself adhere to "fair" employment practices such as paying living wages, giving workers a more direct role in running the store, or following open and just procedures for terminating employment. The local IWW chapter is not hostile to Open Harvest's stated goals; in fact, it supports cooperative movements of all kinds. But "cooperative" must not become a feel-good term that covers up the usual forms of worker exploitation we face in the private sector."

Andrew Losh summed up, “There are issues with management which I think 
can be fairly dealt with in the future because I believe that everyone 
involved with Open Harvest, employees, management, customers, and the 
board of directors want to do the right thing and I want to be a part 
of that future. I want my job back.”

You can contact Open Harvest general manager Jim Nelson at 402-475-9069

The Industrial Workers of the World, gaining prominence in recent 
years for organizing Starbucks and Jimmy Johns workers, is a global 
union founded over a century ago for all working people.