December, 13 2012, 10:10am EDT
Organic Consumers Assoc. Calls for Boycott of Woodstock Foods
Boycott of UNFI Private Label is Show of Solidarity with Striking UNFI Workers
FINLAND, Minn.
The OCA today called on its 800,000 members and supporters to boycott Woodstock Foods, the private label owned by United Natural Foods (UNFI), the largest wholesale distributor of natural and organic foods in the U.S. The boycott is intended to show solidarity with UNFI workers who went on strike in Washington State on December 10, after months of complaints by truck drivers and warehouse workers about numerous violations of labor rights by UNFI management officials.
The National Labor Relations Board is currently investigating UNFI for 45 violations of federal labor law. The charges include allegations that UNFI engaged in worker surveillance, intimidation and retaliation, that it refused to bargain in good faith, and that it illegally reassigned bargaining unit work.
"Organic consumers believe that health, sustainability, and justice must go hand-in-hand," said Ronnie Cummins, National Director of the OCA. "We must refuse to give our hard-earned consumer dollars to companies, even those producing organic and natural foods, who are exploiting workers in the food chain. Workers include farmers, farm workers, processing workers, truck drivers, warehouse workers and retail clerks. OCA will not tolerate industry giant UNFI's continued acts of worker intimidation, exploitation, and refusals to bargain in good faith," Cummins said.
In addition to boycotting Woodstock Foods, consumers are encouraged to:
Sign the online petition in support of Teamsters at UNFI. https://www.unfidrivenbygreed.com/petition
Call UNFI Manager Hank Heatherly at (253) 333-6769. Tell him to return to the bargaining table immediately.
If you live in Washington State, come down to the strike line (22 30th St. NE Auburn, WA) and stand with picketing workers!
Read the detailed report on labor rights violations by UNFI management.
Find more information at https://www.UNFIDrivenByGreed.com
The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) is an online and grassroots 501(c)3 nonprofit public interest organization, and the only organization in the U.S. focused exclusively on promoting the views and interests of the nation's estimated 50 million consumers of organically and socially responsibly produced food and other products. OCA educates and advocates on behalf of organic consumers, engages consumers in marketplace pressure campaigns, and works to advance sound food and farming policy through grassroots lobbying. We address crucial issues around food safety, industrial agriculture, genetic engineering, children's health, corporate accountability, Fair Trade, environmental sustainability, including pesticide use, and other food- and agriculture-related topics.
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