As a ten-year active advocate for worker rights within our very favorite local grocery co-op, Weaver Street Market, I am making this appeal for help from any of the some 18,000 Weaver Street consumer-owners listening to this commentary.

Friday, October 16, Weaver Street employees received notice of proposed changes to the Weaver Street Board Policy ‘Treatment of Staff,’ which changes would remove the right of Weaver Street workers to be included in Weaver Street decision-making which affects our workplace. Objections need to be registered before October 26.

If you are a Weaver Street consumer-owner, please write now to the Weaver Street Board (board@weaverstreetmarket.coop) and the Weaver Street General Manager (ruffin@weaverstreetmarket.coop), and request that any proposed changes to the Weaver Street Board Policy ‘Treatment of Staff’ be delayed until all Weaver Street owners (consumer and worker) have been informed of the proposed changes, and their opinion has been sought.

Listen to Geoff Gilson’s commentary here.

Weaver Street Market is a worker-consumer hybrid co-op not because it sells local food and has dancing on its lawn, but because it is supposed to practice the principle that economic decisions are made inclusively and democratically.

An essential element of that economic democracy is that workers are included in decision-making that affects our workplace. Weaver Street management are now attempting to erase the Board Policy that enshrines and protects that right of workers to be included in decision-making.

Any and all progressive Weaver Street Market consumer-owners hearing this commentary should want to stop Weaver Street management diminishing any Weaver Street worker rights.

So again. Please write now to the Weaver Street Board (board@weaverstreetmarket.coop) and the Weaver Street General Manager (ruffin@weaverstreetmarket.coop) and request that any proposed changes to the Weaver Street Board Policy ‘Treatment of Staff’ be delayed until all Weaver Street owners (consumer and worker) have been informed of the proposed changes, and their opinion has been sought. My thanks in advance.

Well, that’s my take. And this is Geoff Gilson.