After working for a month without a contract, UFCW Local 663 workers at Seward Community Coop have authorized an unfair labor practice strike. They charge that the coop has engaged in "unilateral changes in the contract, retaliation, and bargaining in bad faith" and further that it "has engaged in unfair labor practices meant to stop us from exercising our rights despite our dedicated efforts to serve member-owners every day."
They'll be at the bargaining table today to try and head things off, but it seems unlikely a strike will be averted currently. According to Fight Back! News management at the coop has walked out of the previous two bargaining sessions—notably "including one where a federal mediator was present". Management has also allegedly pushed several workers at the coop out in between bargaining sessions and sought to portray a potential strike as bad for the community. Workers ultimately staged a walkout on September 15th in protest of these actions—nearly all employees between the coop's two stores participated.
