| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 12, 2002 |
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Judge Backs Workers at Whole Foods A Labor Board hearing officer affirmed the worker vote at Whole Foods Market in Madison, Wisconsin and dismissed the company's effort to overturn the results of the election on July 12, 2002. The workers' union, the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Local 1444 is hopeful that Whole Foods will commit to begin bargaining with the workers without further delay. "Workers in the store are focused on bringing everyone together and working together to make sure workers finally have a real voice in creating our work environment, "said Brendan O'Sullivan, a Whole Foods worker and organizing committee member. The Labor Board rejected Whole Foods' objections that workers had come to work at the store for the sole purpose of voting for a union, then quitting after the election. The company also attempted to overturn the election due to the fact that one worker took a job as a union organizer. "Whole Foods should accept the results from our election and begin to bargain with us in good faith so that we can begin to work together for a fair contract," said Debbie Rasmussen, a Whole Foods worker and organizing committee member. During the hearing, Whole Foods attempted to subpoena Yahoo! for email communications that took place over an email list by organizing committee members along with the identities of the workers on the list serv. The members of the worker organizing committee signed up for a group email list through Yahoo! to facilitate communication during the union campaign. Whole Foods tried to get the actual messages that were sent back and forth over this email list. The Judge refused to order Yahoo! to turn over the messages "The workers have the law on their side. It's time for Whole Foods to embrace the workers' choice for a voice at work and begin to bargain in good faith," said Daniel Welch, President of UFCW Local 1444. Whole Foods workers across the country are coming together for a voice on the job with the UFCW. The Judge's decision demonstrates to Whole Foods workers that they do have rights under the law that must be respected. The Whole Foods worker website is: http://www.wholeworkersunite.org |
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