Demand Dignity & Respect!
Demand A Competitive Living Wage and Substantial & Consistent Pay Raises For Workers at Ellwood Thompson’s Local Market!
One of our fellow worker’s, Kenneth Yates was wrongfully terminated from Richmond, Virginia’s Ellwood Thompson’s Local Market after 5 ½ years of committed service on Tuesday February 15th.
“When you go to work you ordinarily leave your constitutional rights as a citizen in the glove compartment of your car…” -Staughton Lynd & Daniel Gross
Kenneth was well aware of this and as a committed member of the community in which he lives and works, did not allow that to come between him and the injustices he found in the workplace. In December, after being courted by management to become a part of their team, then respectfully refusing the offer, he was threatened with a statement that he should reconsider and either “move up, or move out”.
Fast-forward to January 30th & 31st, 2011. Kenneth, in a concerted effort with his fellow workers, challenged a new and unwarranted decision by management to force workers in their department who regularly work early morning shifts to close one shift a week and take a mandatory following day off, and for those who close to do the same. The schedules were not changed. However, we feel that after refusing to submit to the schedule changes that would bring undue stress on our minds and bodies, Kenneth was singled out as a problem, a wrench in the machine, the organizer. (more…)