“We’ve always had an open dialogue, and we’ve always been able to deal with and resolve any issues or questions that our teammates have.”īut the demonstrators said that’s just not the reality on the ground. They never have before and we don’t think that they do now,” she said. “We don’t believe that our teammates need a union to have a voice in this company. She added that any complaints workers have can be addressed in-house. And this will be good for our teammates and for the community that we serve,” Golub said. “The truth of the matter is that no one is in danger of losing their job, that this company in converting its brand from Price Chopper to Market 32 is healthy and growing and investing in its brand. As Price Chopper makes that transition, company spokeswoman Mona Golub said the union is telling “a blatant untruth” about people being fired in Malone. The grocery chain hopes to adopt a more modern, upscale atmosphere with in-store dining. This push to unionize comes as Price Chopper is rebranding itself in its 130 stores, including about 30 here in the North Country. One retired employee said the pension the company offered him is too low, and the union might be able to change that for other workers. Other workers said the health insurance plan Price Chopper offers is too expensive, and doesn’t cover very much. “With a union, and I want these people to have that, somebody is at least present with you if you have a problem, where right now you have nobody to go with you,” Carley said. But on Friday, she wanted to support her former coworkers. Now Carley usually comes to Malone only when she is job hunting. She was fired last year, she said, for petty reasons. She was the customer service manager for 16 years. Human resources works for Price Chopper,” said Robin Carley from Burke. “They say human resources are there to help you. They’re pretty standard labor laws, but if you do it once you could get fired,” he said. “We could get fired for little things, as much as not putting a cutting glove on when we slice bread. He said his coworkers’ hours keep getting cut, and he also worries he could lose his job at any moment. Rust has worked in the Malone grocery store’s bakery for 13 years. The union is headquartered in the Utica area. “If I get a little bit of frostbite on the tip of my finger it’s all worth it just to try to make things right,” said Roland Rust, who held a picket sign that said UFCW, short for the United Food and Commercial Workers District Union Local One. But the company said union officials are using scare tactics to recruit people.ĭespite dire warnings about the cold weather last Friday night, about 25 people rallied outside the Price Chopper store in Malone. They hope to join a union that could help protect them from potential layoffs, and win better wages and benefits. While that re-branding is underway, workers at one Price Chopper in Malone want a big change, too. The company said it will spend $300 million on the effort. One of the North Country's largest grocery store chains is re-inventing itself, changing its name from Price Chopper to Market 32.
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