Tory Scordato ’13
Staff Writer
Reporting contributed by Victor Hollenberg ’10, Editor-in-Chief, and Brittany Healy ’13, Staff Writer.
The grand opening of The Fresh Market, Westport’s newest supermarket, on Oct. 14 was met with hundreds of shoppers, traffic police, and protestors from the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union’s Local 371.
The protesters, citing the non-unionized conditions at the store, were located at the entrances to The Fresh Market’s parking lot on the Post Road. In order to attract attention from passersby, they stood beside a giant inflatable rat, named “Jimmy.”
“We’re here to level the playing field,” said UFCW Local 371 leader Peter J. Sena. “The Fresh Market’s benefits are substandard.”
Unlike other supermarkets in the area, The Fresh Market does not offer its 90 employees health insurance or a pension plan.
Officials at The Fresh Market saw no need for a union protest at the store, however.
“Until [employees] have that interest, there’s no need for [a union],” said Fresh Market public relations officer Sean Crane. “However, we respect their right to protest, and we hope they don’t harass customers.”
Crane emphasized that Fresh Market employees have shown no interest in forming a union, and that the option to do so is available to them.
Shoppers from various parts of Fairfield County agreed with The Fresh Market’s position.
“I have no problem [shopping at a store] with no union,” said Sheri, a shopper from Westport who did not want her last name used.
Others at the store felt the same way.
“I think they shouldn’t be protesting [at the store,]” said Fred, who also refused to provide his last name, from Fairfield. “It’s horrible.”
The protesters plan to station themselves outside the store for the rest of the month, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, and the entire month of February.
PETE • Jan 15, 2010 at 10:48 pm
I love unions they level the playing field They provide good wages and benefits for working families I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD REMEMBER that without unions there wouldn't be social security medicare WE FIGHT FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE for a working men and women Sometimes it a long battle but i will keep fighting till men and women have their dignity and respect in the work place PROUD TO BE A UNION MEMBER
My recent post NYE
I HATE UNIONS! • Dec 8, 2009 at 5:05 pm
unions are no good man! they ain't dun nuthin! hoffa! mobs! communists! they hate america they aint a patriot like me! watch Glen Bec, the uniosn stole the ecltion for obama!
Leo • Oct 15, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Are the employees at Fresh Market forced to work there? Am I missing something? If they are not happy with their benefits package, compensation, working conditions, then they have the choice to work elsewhere.
C • Oct 15, 2009 at 9:31 am
Quite the effective photograph! Also, fantastic reporting; I send my commendations.
Stephen Rexford • Oct 14, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Great story, team. As a union public school teacher, I wonder if I will shop at a store that does not offer its employees health care coverage. Is this a further proof that we need universal health care coverage? I Wonder what people think. Also think its interesting how few people would put their last names to their admission that union protesting would not deter them from uisng the store. Makes me wonder what other stores in the area are not unionized. More articles coming? How do students feel?
Rebekah • Oct 14, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Fresh Market’s website says that it offers health benefits and disability to all their full time employees. How would this one store be different? In addition, they also offer discounted health insurance benefits to part-time employees, something you don’t find very often in corporate America. I welcome them to the area and look forward to shopping there.