THURSDAY, DEC. 4, 2014
IDS INDIANA DAILY STUDENT | IDSNEWS.COM
Best of Bloomington results are here, page 7
State joins in Obama lawsuit From IDS reports
PHOTOS BY ADAM KIEFER | IDS
Dakota Walker, a Bloomingfoods employee who works in the produce department, leads a pro-unionization march from the Bloomingfoods store on Sixth Street to the Bloomingfoods Administrative Office on South Gentry Street on Oct. 7. “What do we want?” he said into the megaphone. The protesters responded, “A union.”“When do we want it?”“Now.”
Fighting to be heard
Gov. Mike Pence joined 17 other states in a lawsuit seeking to have President Obama’s executive action ruled unconstitutional. The president’s action grants undocumented immigrants who meet certain criteria a temporary stay from Pence deportation. The suit was filed Wednesday, according to a news release from Pence’s office. In a letter to Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller, Pence said the president’s decision to act without input from Congress circumvented the democratic process. “While reasonable people can differ on ways to improve our nation’s broken immigration system, the President’s unilateral action was an unacceptable end run around the democratic process and joining other states in pursuing legal recourse to challenge this action is the right thing SEE LAWSUIT, PAGE 6
Bloomingfoods workers seek change to preserve co-op values By Kathryn Moody kammoody@indiana.edu | @katmmoody
It seems like a normal November day at Bloomingfoods East. Employees wheel boxes of produce past lines of chatty customers during a fairly busy midmorning rush. But change is coming, and no one is quite sure where the chips will fall. In five days, Kaisa Goodman, a Bloomingfoods employee, will know whether the union spirit she’s tried to foster since September will take hold. The workers will vote. Bloomingfoods, a cooperative, prides itself on being a socially conscious bastion of organic produce and community values, but some of its workers feel slighted and unheard. Unanswered grievances came to light, much to the confusion of a city that cherishes Bloomingfoods as one of its most progressive institutions. Kaisa said she wonders if they’ll finally have a voice. Someone was cut from the schedule this week without much warning. Kaisa, 21, is a full-time employee, but managers have been trying to convince her to drop down to 34 hours a week, two hours less than full-time. She’s defended her managers because they’ve done right by her and the unionization effort, but now she’s being told she’s uncooperative.
She sits down with potato soup from the commissary during her break from cashiering and pulls her long, springy hair back. She has too many things to do and a long list of things to say. She’s not afraid to talk about the unionization effort in a booth right by the cashier lanes. She thinks the union will protect employees and restore the communal spirit of the store they all love. “I’m trying to get a response from the managers,” she said. “I mean, isn’t this weird?” Take one for the team, they say. “No,” she said. “Take one for the workers.” She thinks she’s taken enough for the team. A manager walks by. She suddenly falls silent, looking at the table. * * * Tension skyrocketed when the workers announced their intent to unionize in September. Rumors broke that the store met with Nathan Baker, a union-busting lawyer from Indianapolis — and at a bad time. Competition had been creeping in. Lucky’s Market, another natural food store, will open in spring 2015, and Whole Foods is rumored to arrive in 2016.
Tim Clougher, president of the Bloomingfoods Board, speaks to member-owners about the successes and failures of Bloomingfoods stores during the past year during the annual meeting Oct. 16 at the WonderLab Museum. George Huntington, general manager of Bloomingfoods, standing behind Clougher, later announced that Bloomingfoods administration would remain “neutral” throughout the remainder of the unionization process.
Kaisa, her husband, Dakota Walker, 24, and their rallying troop of friends believe if Bloomingfoods is to survive, everyone will have to see how the sausage is made. At the annual meeting in October, the board announced no grievances had been filed in the past year. However, many workers felt the grievance system was broken. They provided a laundry list of alleged issues to the United Food and Commercial Workers Union — verbal abuse, inappropriate behavior, poor standardization of raises — and said they felt they had “hit a brick wall” when they tried to report anything. The grievance process requires employees to speak with the person who wronged them and then work their way up the managerial hierarchy until the issue is resolved. Human Resources is considered an option at all times. But if you have a grievance with HR or any members of the hierarchy, where do you go? George Huntington, general manager of Bloomingfoods, said issues might have been exacerbated by failures of communication on both sides. “As our organization has grown, we’ve made efforts to strengthen our resources,” he said. Jeff Jewel, branding and communications director, said he felt the system in place would be effective if given the chance.
More coverage online Hear their voices, see photos and read the extended story. See more at idsnews.com. Process of unionization Workers contact and meet local union. Show proof that 30 percent of the workers are interested with a petition or filling out authorization cards. Petition the National Labor Relations Board to conduct an election. An election occurs. A simple majority is required for worker and union partnerships. “People didn’t give the procedure a chance to operate,” Jeff said. “They’re making a judgment that it doesn’t work without trying it.” Kaisa and Dakota decided to approach UFCW in August. Dakota, an IU alumnus who studied social work, is deeply centered and thoughtful. He usually defers to Kaisa when they talk. But he’s not afraid to speak up when the time is right. He also happens to have a wife who was raised on the bread and butter of unions. Kaisa has SEE UNION, PAGE 6
Kaisa Goodman restocks apples at the Bloomingfoods store on Third Street three days before the representation vote Nov. 10. Workers decided at the meeting to be represented by the UFCW union as they sought a contract with the cooperative grocery store chain. She said she had been having trouble sleeping in anticipation of the vote.
Protesting the order, page 3 A local group of grassroots conservatives rallied against the immigration order Wednesday.
Ferrell named to Naismith watch list By Alden Woods aldwoods@indiana.edu | @acw9293
Junior guard Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell has been named to the 50-player Naismith Trophy Watch List, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Wednesday. Ferrell The Naismith Trophy is given annually to the country’s most outstanding player. It is named after Dr. James Naismith, the inventor of basketball. Ferrell, who in October was named to the Preseason All-Big Ten first team, has averaged 17.1 points, 5.6 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game this season. He has continued his role as the focal point of IU’s game plan on both ends of the floor despite a lowered usage rate, which is how often he’s involved in the play, this season. Before the season, Ferrell and IU Coach Tom Crean both spoke of a slight transformation of the guard’s role. A season after attempting a program-record 220 3-pointers, Ferrell needed to become more of a facilitator. Too often last season, the ball stuck in Ferrell’s hands. For IU to work in its new shooters, ball movement was key. “Coach is going to make you do it, or you won’t even be in the game,” Ferrell said at Big Ten Media Day on Oct. 16. “Coach is always talking about moving the ball.” Crean said his star guard needed to keep his teammates involved while maintaining his own production. SEE FERRELL, PAGE 6
DEC 11 IUAUDITORIUM.COM