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NEWS & LETTERS,
January-February 2003
Boycott Fred's to gain union contract
Memphis, Tenn.--On the weekend of Martin Luther King,
Jr.'s birthday, Fred's workers and supporters held a rally and prayer vigil.
When it comes to unfair treatment, the Fred's workers are pretty much like the
sanitation workers at the time Dr. King got deeply involved--fighting for their
rights. He would want us to keep his dream alive. We can't just sit down and
take what he fought and died to stop. As usual, Mike Hayes, the head of Fred's Warehouse, is
bragging about the billion dollar sales he's reached. But instead of offering us
raises or bonuses, or even bargaining in good faith with us after we voted to
unionize last year, he spent money on sub sandwiches and cookies. The office
workers got treated all week to prizes to show how much they appreciated them.
The warehouse workers only got the sandwiches. Hayes said he won't give in to us. We are determined
that we'll fight until the end. He's making it look like it's the labor board
and the union that are prolonging the conflict, but he's not telling people that
it's up to him to call off the dogs. He's trying to look like he's treating us
so well. But all the time he treats us like crap, but we are the ones making him
the money. NEED HEAT If we can just get to people and let them know to stop
spending money at Fred's, it will help us a lot. We're not saying for a
lifetime, but until he starts treating us like people. If we can get more of the
warehouse workers to join us, it will help too; but most are afraid of losing
their jobs, and they won't stand up for themselves. We don't have sufficient heat. It's not much warmer than
outside. In the warehouse, we're dressed in coats, scarves, hats and gloves, and
we're still shivering. We are so bundled up we can't move comfortably. With the
money he's boasting about and paying for sub sandwiches, he could have gotten
the heaters fixed. The roof still leaks too. The warehouse management has started correcting a lot of
OSHA violations but after the inspection it's back to normal. They only look
good for OSHA when they come to inspect. They came once last year. We hope it's
a surprise visit, but most of the time they let them know in advance. GATHERING SUPPORT From our churches and the public, we are getting a good
response to the Fred's boycott. A lot of people don't understand because they
have never been in a union and don't know what the unions are about. We're
getting a good response from people that understand. Some of them jump in 100%
and help us out and they don't even work with us. One of the attorneys that Hayes hired made a remark that
as big as the company is, we can't hurt it. We want the people to know that we
can. Goliath was a big guy, a giant. David was just a little guy with a stone.
David brought Goliath down. I feel like we can bring him to his knees. We need
the understanding of people to help us. --Black woman warehouse worker |
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