Abraham Wangnoo

Articles by Abraham Wangnoo

The Wedge Workers Ratify Union Contract

April 6th, 2016

wedgecommittee.jpg

Tuesday April 5, 2016 workers at the The Wedge Co-op on Lyndale Avenue in Minneapolis voted to ratify their first Union contract with 76% of the votes being cast to approve the Agreement.This makes The Wedge the first co-op in the state to have a Union contract.Back in November, workers at the co-op overwhelmingly voted in favor of unionizing. The issues ranged widely from just and fair wages to maintaining the co-op values in an environment that many workers believed was becoming more corporate.The process was fairly smooth and both sides came to the bargaining table with the goal of a fa

Contract Ratification Scheduled for Wedge Co-op Workers

March 24th, 2016

wedge lyndale.jpg

The Union and the Employer reached an agreement on a proposed first contract for the Wedge Co-op (Lyndale Ave. Minneapolis). Proposed contracts were delivered to the retail location today (3/24/16) to allow time for workers to review the documents and ask questions. The proposed Agreement can also be accessed online: Wedge lyndale draft contract 032116.pdf Voting is scheduled for Tuesday April 5, 2016
12:00 Noon to 3:00pm in The Wedge Classroom at the Lyndale location

The Wedge Bargaining Update

February 12th, 2016

Abraham Wangnoo

wedge lyndale.jpg

Local 1189 and the negotiating committee has met with the Employer twice so far to discuss initial proposals submitted by members and explain their intent. Although nothing has been agreed to yet, there are six bargaining dates scheduled between now and the end of March. We hope to see some tentative agreements soon. Major issues discussed include classification of employees, pay, scheduling, benefits, seniority, just cause, grievance and arbitration, attendance policy, board representation and issues specific to the retail store.

Wedge Community Co-Op Workers Vote Union YES!

November 16th, 2015

Abraham Wangnoo

wedge_victory.jpg

Congratulations to the workers at the Wedge Co-op on their successful drive to become a union workplace! On Monday, November 16, 2015 workers at the Wedge Community Co-Op voted overwhelmingly, 76-31, in favor of joining UFCW Local 1189. Over 70 percent of voters cast their ballot in favor of becoming Union members. Many of the workers involved in the representation election believe that unionizing and having a collective voice in the workplace fit into the core values and principles of the co-op community. Many co-op shareholder/member consumers identify as “values” shoppers, not value

Lyndale Wedge Workers File for Union Election

October 30th, 2015

Abraham Wangnoo

wedge lyndale.jpg

On October 22, 2015 the workers at the Wedge served management with a copy of the petition and filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) requesting that they conduct a Union Election. The petition was filed after a significant number of Wedge workers signed authorization cards expressing interest in Union representation by UFCW Local 1189. The Union represents workers at the Wedge’s Co-Op Partners Warehouse. Employees organized around a number of issues including a major rise in “corporate culture,” lack of equal opportunity, and favoritism.