Eight workers fired from Mrs. Green”™s Natural Market in Mount Kisco got their jobs back last week, after months of picketing and calls to boycott the store.
Joe Fedele, of United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500, confirmed the workers had been rehired with back pay. The union had claimed the firings were part of a union-busting effort by the store”™s owners. Mrs. Green”™s was previously accused of unfair labor practices by employees who were trying to unionize.
The employees were put back to work just ahead of a scheduled hearing with the National Labor Relations Board.
“We”™re happy to return to serve the community that stood with us during the struggle,” said David Ramirez, one of the reinstated workers. “We want respect, protection and security at work once we return.”
The Mount Kisco store, one of about 20 locations in the U.S. and Canada, was tagged as needing improvement after a nationwide analysis of the performance of locations. Ten employees were let go during the reviews.  The store said the views of the employees had nothing to do with their firing.
John Collins, spokesman for Mrs. Green’s, said that the store offers bonuses and discounts to hourly employees, offers profit sharing and promotional opportunities for its staff.
“Store leadership embrace these values and core principles and has stepped forward to do the right thing for its associates,” he said. “Now we are moving forward with a shared commitment to provide Mt. Kisco families with organic, local and all-natural products and access to a healthier lifestyle.”
Mrs. Green”™s, an organic and sustainable product market, opened its first location in Briarcliff Manor in 1990. The company, originally owned by Harold and June Hochberger, grew to 11 locations by 2007, when it was bought by Planet Organic Health Corp., a Canadian company and owner of several supermarket chains looking to establish a foothold in the U.S. organic market.
Planet Organic declared bankruptcy in 2010, according to a November 2013 Chicago Tribune report on Mrs. Green”™s expansion into the Midwest. After the bankruptcy, Planet was acquired by a private equity group called Catalyst Capital Group, the Tribune said.
According to the labor union, new management took over at the Mount Kisco location in December 2012, after a former manager had been fired. The union said employees filed for a union election in May 2013 but lost by three votes. Accusations were made that ownership had illegally met with employees prior to the vote.
Charges were filed with the labor board and employees met with local elected officials and state Assemblywoman Sandy Galef about their treatment, according to a blog posting from Tony Speelman, secretary-treasurer of Local 1500. In a settlement in November, Mrs. Green”™s agreed to post for 60 days a notice of employees”™ federal labor rights. During that posting period, according to protest organizers, the employees were fired.
“The fired workers were not only leading supporters of the union in the election, but were the same workers who met with politicians in the Mount Kisco area for help,” Speelman wrote in his blog posting.
Local 1500 represents workers at Pathmark, D”™Agostino”™s, Fairway and Stop & Shop grocery stores.
What happens to workers who are unlawfully fired that don’t have a Union to represent them?