(NEW YORK CITY) – A delegation of Workers representing nearly 200 Employees at around 70 GrowNYC Greenmarkets, farm stands and CSA pick-up locations, and who work across GrowNYC’s operations in hundreds of schools in their distribution hubs and in nutrition education and composting, have announced they are in talks with their employer over voluntary recognition of their Union.

The Workers also filed for a Union Election with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and are seeking representation with the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU).

This comes amid a flurry of election filings with the RWDSU this month around the country, including workers at Barnes & Noble Education and REI stores.

Workers are seeking voluntary recognition of their Union from the large-scale non-profit.

In advance of the GrowNYC Board Meeting, a delegation of Workers from across the five boroughs shared with the organization’s Executive Director, Marcel Van Ooyen, that a strong majority of Workers had signed RWDSU Authorization Cards.

If voluntary recognition is made, Workers at GrowNYC will begin bargaining their first contract.

Companies - at any time, can voluntarily recognize a Worker Union and doing so expedites the process of Union Representation and the pathway to a Union contract. 

Workers across the GrowNYC locations in the five boroughs face continued safety issues amid the rebound of New York City post-COVID-19 Pandemic, workplace harassment - including 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 Union contract would begin to alleviate some of these issues.

“I’m entering my fifth season managing GrowNYC Food Access Sites, which are essential gathering spaces for communities.  But it’s incredibly disheartening that we are not compensated fairly for the emotional and physical labor needed for a public-facing role.  From enduring hazardous weather conditions to the amount of harassment we tolerate on-site, GrowNYC’s neglect of its Workers is a hindrance to the communities they allegedly serve,” said Kevin Capuno, GrowNYC Greenmarket Site Lead/Brooklyn Borough Hall. 

When successful, the RWDSU will represent during its peak season 250-plus NLRA eligible Workers across New York City.

The Workers in the proposed Bargaining Unit include all full- and part-time GrowNYC Workers, including Greenmarket, Farmstand, Food Distribution, Composting and Nutrition and Farming Education Workers across the City.

Pending the parties’ ability to come to a Voluntary Recognition Agreement, collective bargaining could begin this Summer, RWDSU Representatives said.

The RWDSU, which is affiliated with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, represents 100,000 Members throughout the United States, including 45,000 in New York State.

Photo Courtesy OF RWDSU’s Facebook Page.