March 10, 11AM: Rally to Restore Friendliness at New Seasons

This is a non-G.A. endorsed worker solidarity event.

MEDIA CONTACT:          

Location: 1954 SE Division St., Portland, OR

“A group of workers, now called New Seasons Market Workers’ Voice, have been campaigning for a more democratic workplace for over 3 years now. When management made the decision to fire Ryan they weren’t just getting rid of a 9 and half year committed staff member, they were attempting to silence the voices of their workers.  New Seasons drew that line, now we are responding.“

-Noah Johnson-Greenough, Produce Service Manager for New Seasons Market

PORTLAND, OR — Workers and community supporters have been engaged in an intense week of preparation for tomorrow’s solidarity rally at New Seasons Market, to take place at the Seven Corners store location (1954 SE Division St., 11:00am)  Earlier this week, the New Seasons Market Workers’ Voice campaign received a full endorsement from the Portland chapter of Jobs with Justice, a large coalition of labor unions and pro-worker democracy advocates representing thousands of people in the Portland area.

An official announcement from JwJ states:

“Portland Jobs with Justice is committed to workers’ rights to collective action, democracy in the workplace, and due process. We have endorsed the campaign of New Seasons Market Workers’ Voice and call for the immediate reinstatement of Ryan Gaughan, who we believe was unjustly fired because of his efforts to promote workplace democracy. We encourage others to do likewise.”

Additionally, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) investigation continues into the circumstances surrounding the termination of employee Ryan Gaughan on February 7.  Ryan filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge with the NLRB several days after his termination and, with the support of co-organizers and workers from the company, the NLRB is examining evidence which supports the claim that he was involved in multiple occurrences of workplace concerted activity.  The NSM Workers’ Voice campaign maintains that Ryan was targeted by management and selectively terminated due to his participation in these efforts to address and improve working conditions.

A delegation of supporters will be on hand to deliver a community petition to management containing over 700 signatures which calls for the immediate reinstatement of Ryan Gaughan.  This petition also demands that management at NSM begin meeting with workers in the company to begin negotiations seeking to reform the company’s disciplinary practices.  The online portion of this petition can be found at: http://newseasonsmarketworkersvoice.org/petition/

The New Seasons Market Workers’ Voice campaign calls upon all workers, customers, and community allies to participate in this critical demonstration of solidarity.

More information about the New Seasons Market Workers’ Voice campaign can be found at: newseasonsmarketworkersvoice.org

This entry was posted on March 9, 2012 at 12:37 pm and is filed under Events, Media, Press Advisory. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.