Boycott launched against Farmer Joe's Grocery Stores

 When Farmer Joe’s grocery store opened its second location in the space abandoned by Albertsons’ (Fruitvale & MacArthur), everyone in the neighborhood was relieved.  The Dimond neighborhood needed a good grocery store. 

But the Dimond District also needs responsible employers.  After workers began organizing to form a union last fall, Farmer Joe’s hired a consultant to advise them on how to keep the union out of the store.  Workers took the “wage and hour” violations to the State of California, and won back pay for these violations. The store managers soon began to discipline union supporters, including firing 15 of them.   

Because the union organizing committee’s repeated requests to meet with the employer have been ignored, the workers have now decided to call for a full fledged boycott of Farmer Joe’s.  The committee believes the best way to resolve disagreements is by talking, but both parties must be willing to do so.  Until there is a settlement, the workers’ organizing committee requests that patrons shop at other union stores like The Food Mill, Piedmont Grocery, Andronico’s, Village Market, Berkeley Bowl, Nob Hill, Encinal Market, Grocery Outlet, Safeway & Albertsons.

Let’s make sure Farmer Joe’s is as good a place to work as it is to shop! For more information contact, Susan McDonough, Community Services Director, Central Labor Council at 510-632-4242 ext 224.