Last Updated on May 10, 2024, 2:11 PM | Published: May 9, 2024
NORMAN, Okla. – Workers at Natural Grocers in Norman won their union election on May 9th in a close call vote of 11-9. Now they have become members of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1000.
This victory comes after a long hard-fought battle of picketing and union-busting at the hands of Natural Grocers management.
According to UFCW Local 1000 President Ricky Burris, the employees of the store have been working toward this day since 2021 and were concerned from the beginning about the termination of long-term employees for minor infractions and new hardships placed on them.
Bridget Burns is an employee at the Norman Natural Grocers who advocated for the employees to organize into a union.
“I want a union because I care deeply for my coworkers, my store, my community, and the future of the company,” said Burns. “I believe that a union provides a more accessible feedback representation system for workers and that this would enable the company to better uphold their founding principles.”
Union’s response to the win
UFCW Local 1000 leadership was ready with a statement once the vote was in.
“The employees of Natural Grocers – with support of customers and the community – believe that establishing a union to represent them is the best way to protect themselves and their families,” said UFCW Local 1000 President Ricky Burris. “We demand Natural Grocers respect their democratic choice to form a union and come to the bargaining table prepared to give these essential workers what they deserve.”
Burris said that employees endured “increased workplace harassment for minor policy violations and the holding of forced captive audience meetings” with an infamous union-busting consultant from Crossroads Group. This anti-union consulting firm coaches businesses on resisting employees’ efforts to form unions.
He said that Miko Penn of the Crossroads group, “has been contracted by Natural Grocers at $450 per hour to hold anti-union meetings at the Norman and Tulsa stores.”
Penn is featured on the ‘Union Busting’ episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, said Burris.
The UFCW press release quoted Carrie Leslie, a customer of the Norman Natural Grocers who had noticed some changes in the company. She said, “The thing I love about Natural Grocers is that it’s a small store. But it seems the company is growing, and not really taking care of its workers in the same way that a small business would. I hope a union helps them!”
Company’s reaction
“Since 1955 Natural Grocers has been a family-operated company committed to our Five Founding Principles, including ‘Commitment to Community’ and ‘Commitment to Crew,’” said a company statement issued after the vote.
“We respect that 11 out of 20 eligible Crew Members at our store in Norman, Oklahoma voted in favor of the UFCW acting as their bargaining agent. Natural Grocers will bargain in good faith with the UFCW in support of all Norman Crew members and continue to foster a culture of open communication and mutual respect.”
However, Natural Grocers remained committed to making the employees’ chosen union seem like a third party. “We continue to believe that having a direct working relationship with our Crew members better serves their interests, without an intermediary in the middle.”
Alex Gatley covers labor activities in the state of Oklahoma.
