Another interesting development out of New York City this week: hundreds of workers at GrowNYC are seeking to unionize as the GrowNYC Workers Collective, affiliated with the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU). They're seeking voluntary recognition currently, and as of yesterday at least were in talks with GrowNYC to that end, and allegedly GrowNYC has already committed to recognizing them. They have also filed for a union election if that falls through.
GrowNYC, for the unaware, is an environmental non-profit which currently operates the Greenmarket farmers market program and which builds urban farms and community gardens in the city. They employ about 200 people in roles that vary: farmstand workers, food distribution workers, composters, and nutrition and farming education teachers (all of which would be covered by this new union). As far as I can tell they do very good work for New York City's residents, so it would be unfortunate to see them attempt to union-bust—but it would also be unsurprising, as even "progressive" organizations often have a poor track record when it comes to unions.
A union is also desperately needed, according to workers. While GrowNYC workers generally report loving their jobs, RWDSU notes a wide array of problems they encounter in their work, including "workplace harassment [and] sexual harassment, unstable scheduling practices, seasonal layoffs with no call-back structure, a lack of structure when it comes to job duties and tasks at work, and favoritism by management."
A New York Times article corroborates many of these. Says the Times: "Most of the workers at the city’s farmers’ markets are hourly employees who make between $19 and $26 an hour. Some work year-round, but many are part time or work erratic schedules. Few receive benefits or have job security." The piece further notes that workers have needed to do essential first aid at the marketplaces; and as having "market patrons or passers-by [spit] on them, [call] them racial slurs or otherwise [lash] out." Shifts can last 12 or more hours, and individual workers often become responsible for entire portions of GrowNYC operations.