Bed, Bath and Beyond workers organizing in New Jersey
Photo by Cynthia McCarthy, APR, Communications Director, UFCW Local 1262
(May 23rd, 2012) Perth Amboy, NJ - JLC Executive Director Martin Schwartz at a press conference in support of workers at a Bed Bath and Beyond distribution center in Carteret, New Jersey, just south of Newark. They've been trying to secure a union election since February, so that they can join United Food and Commercial Workers Local 888. On May 23rd, the UFCW filed for a Labor Board-authorized election for the 800 workers at the Carteret center.
Also joining representatives of UFCW Local 888 at the press conference at Pert Amboy's City Hall were New Jersey AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech and Deputy Speaker of the NJ State Assembly John Wisneiwski, among others. The JLC will be monitoring the situation to make sure that B, B & B allows the election process to proceed fairly.
According to Labor Notes, "warehouse workers organizing in key logistics hubs across the country could get a shot in the arm from" this union vote at the Bed Bath and Beyond distribution center in Carteret.
LN reports that Betania Valdez, who started work in the warehouse in 2008, a year after it opened, said workers sought out the UFCW to address low wages, favoritism in raises, rampant safety issues, and unaffordable and unattainable health care.
See Bed, Bath warehouse workers seek union and also Bed, Bath and Broke: Warehouse Workers Go for Election and