January 20, 2024 / By mobanmarket
NEW YORK CITY — Trader Joe’s beloved, controversially closed Union Square Wine Shop could reopen after federal officials popped the cork on a new complaint.
The 14th Street store’s restoration is one of several remedies for union-busting accusations leveled last week by National Labor Relations Board’s counsel, according to information provided by agency spokesperson Kayla Blado.
The complaint stems from an unfair labor practice charge by United Food and Commercial Workers International Union officials, who contended that Trader Joe’s higher-ups abruptly — and illegally — closed the store because its workers tried to unionize.
“These workers showed up every day, delivering the knowledge and service that Trader Joe’s is so famous for, only to wake up and find out that their store had been closed overnight,” a statement from the union states.
“Let’s make one thing clear: Trader Joe’s shamelessly and illegally engaged in union busting to scare Trader Joe’s workers across the region and stop these workers from having a voice on the job. We applaud the NLRB’s decision to move forward with the ULP charge filed by crew members and look forward to holding Trader Joe’s accountable for their egregious anti-worker behavior.”
Trader Joe’s representatives didn’t return Patch’s request for comment.
The Union Square store hawked wine to budget-minded oenophiles for more than 15 years.
But that changed Aug. 11, 2022, when New Yorkers learned they would be forever out of luck if they wanted “Four Buck Chuck.” Shoppers were greeted with a sheet of paper announcing the store’s closure.
“It is now time for us to explore another location that will allow us to optimize the potential of our one and only license to sell wine in the state of New York,” the sign read.
Despite the promise, New Yorkers have since been without Trader Joe’s wine.
The closure came because workers were close to organizing, union officials contended.
And the NLRB’s counsel agreed, leading to the complaint filed last week.
The complaint also accused Trader Joe’s of interrogating employees, threatening loss of benefits and telling employees that selecting a union would be futile, Blado said.
As remedies, the counsel seeks the Wine Shop’s restoration of operations, for its employees to be made whole, union access once operations are restored, a notice posting at all Trader Joe’s locations where Wine Shop employees were transferred, and a notice mailing to all employees working at the Wine Shop when it closed, Blado said
But those remedies, including reopening, are not a done deal so much as a first step.
Federal labor officials will seek a settlement between union and Trader Joe’s representatives. If that’s unsuccessful, the two sides are scheduled for a May 7 hearing with an NLRB administrative law judge, who will make a decision on the remedies, Blado said.
The judge’s decision can be fought all the way to a federal appeals court, Blado said.
Trader Joe’s faces 63 other unfair labor practice charges, according to NLRB information.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
Click Here: parramatta eels shirt
Categories: