HUNDREDS OF NYC GREENMARKET, FOOD DISTRIBUTION, COMPOSTING, AND NUTRITION & FARMING EDUCATION WORKERS AT GROWNYC LOCATIONS IN TALKS WITH COMPANY FOR VOLUNTARY UNION RECOGNITION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 26, 2023

Contact: Chelsea Connor | cconnor@rwdsu.org | 347-866-6259

- WIN WOULD BRING FIRST UNION TO THE INDUSTRY IN NYC -

News Follows a String of Union Election Filings by Workers with RWDSU Around the Country

(NEW YORK, NY) – Today, a delegation of workers representing nearly two-hundred employees at around 70 GrowNYC Greenmarkets, farm stands, and CSA pick-up locations, and who work across GrowNYC’s operations in hundreds of schools in their distribution hubs and in nutrition education and composting announced they’re in talks with their employer over voluntary recognition. The workers also filed for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and are seeking representation with the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU). This comes amid a flurry of election filings with the RWDSU this month around the country including workers at Barnes & Noble Education and REI stores.

On Monday, workers sought voluntary recognition of their union from the large-scale non-profit. In advance of the GrowNYC Board Meeting, a delegation of workers from across the five boroughs shared with the organization’s Executive Director, Marcel Van Ooyen, that a strong majority of workers had signed RWDSU authorization cards. GrowNYC is currently in talks with the union and we hope to report an agreement this week. If voluntary recognition is made, workers at GrowNYC will begin bargaining their first contract swiftly as a result. Companies at any time can voluntarily recognize a worker union, doing so expedites the process of union representation and the pathway to a union contract.

Workers across the GrowNYC locations in the five boroughs face continued safety issues amid the rebound of New York City post-pandemic; workplace harassment including sexual harassment, unstable scheduling practices, seasonal layoffs with no call-back structure, a lack of structure when it comes to job duties and tasks at work, and favoritism by management.A union contract would begin to alleviate some of these issues.

“I’m entering my fifth season managing GrowNYC food access sites, which are essential gathering spaces for communities. But it’s incredibly disheartening that we are not compensated fairly for the emotional and physical labor needed for a public-facing role. From enduring hazardous weather conditions to the amount of harassment we tolerate on-site, GrowNYC’s neglect of its workers is a hindrance to the communities they allegedly serve,” said Kevin Capuno (He/Him), GrowNYC Greenmarket Site Lead, Brooklyn Borough Hall.

“For Grow NYC education workers one of our biggest concerns is our high workload, and in particular the number of schools we work with. Most of us juggle 13-15 schools per semester, seeing some of them only once every three weeks for only three to four months. I love my job, helping kids learn about composting and living a zero-waste life that helps our communities thrive, but it’s challenging when I know that we only have a short time to create change in these buildings. Working for an environmental sustainability organization like GrowNYC we know our work is valuable, but in order to do it successfully we need the support of our employer. We’re filing for our union election because we know that the only way to make real lasting change and build stability at work is by unionizing. Together we’re united across our many jobs and workplaces to ensure GrowNYC lives up to its mission and treats all workers the way we fight to treat our environment – sustainably and to last for generations to come,”said Taige Rambarran (She/They), GrowNYC Zero-Waste Schools Education and Engagement Lead.

“I stand in solidarity with my fellow GrowNYC staff and support unionizing because if the workplace does not work for one of us, then it does not work for any of us. As someone who has my fair share of grievances, although not nearly as significant as my fellow coworkers, it is only natural that I play my part in ensuring that we are collectively empowered in our work environment. I ask that GrowNYC voluntarily recognize our union; by better supporting us, it would illustrate their commitment towards truly achieving their mission of community empowerment,” said Christopher Arias (He/Him), Compost Coordinator and Compost Driver Assistant at various locations in Brooklyn and Queens.

“We are organizing to help fulfill GrowNYC's mission by making sure the needs of the employees are actually addressed and included in the discussion. As frontline workers, we are exposed to the elements and we need adequate supplies, protocols, and compensation for dangerous weather and safety conditions. We believe that our union can help GrowNYC employees to be on an equal level in demanding transparency and accountability in management systems,” said Erik Menjivar (He/Him), GrowNYC Greenmarket Manager and Compost Coordinator.

When successful, the RWDSU will represent during its peak season 250+ NLRA eligible workers across New York City. The workers in the proposed bargaining unit include all full- and part-time GrowNYC workers including Greenmarket, farmstand, food distribution, composting, and nutrition and farming education workers across the city.

Pending the parties’ ability to come to a voluntary recognition agreement collective bargaining could begin this summer.

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The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) represents 100,000 members throughout the United States. The RWDSU is affiliated with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW). For more information, please visit our website at www.rwdsu.org, Facebook:/RWDSU.UFCW Twitter:@RWDSU.