►
Description
From Senator Sanders Office:
The Scoopers of Ben & Jerry’s Burlington Scoop Shop took their union campaign public on April 17th, announcing that they were organizing a union and asking Ben & Jerry’s to sign the Fair Election Principles, a code of corporate conduct for union elections. The Organizing Committee will announce major developments, accompanied by Senator Bernie Sanders and other guest speakers from the labor movement and the community.
4/28/2023
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A
A
A
This
is
an
exceptional
achievement
that
speaks
to
just
How
Deeply.
This
company
truly
cares
about
social
activism
and
we
are
incredibly
proud
of
them
for
working
with
us
in
this
manner.
Today,
I'm
also
incredibly
excited
to
introduce
Richard
Bessinger,
who
is
one
of
the
co-creators
of
the
fair
elections
Principle,
as
well
as
just
a
general
campaigning
extraordinaire,
as
well
as
four
scoopers
from
scoopers
United,
who
will
speaking
on
our
behalf.
B
C
Would
just
like
to
congratulate
these
amazing
workers
who
have
all
just
about
unanimous
support
at
their
shop
and
I'd
like
to
recognize
Ben
and
Jerry's,
because
it's
certainly
an
unusual
thing
in
this
day
and
age
to
have
a
corporation
like
Unilever,
Ben
and
Jerry's
actually
take
a
different
stand
than
we've
seen
from
Starbucks
and
REI
and
Trader
Joe's.
Those
are
companies
that
signal
their
virtue
about
climate
Justice
or
racial
Justice
or
whatever
justice,
but
then
they
violate
Justice
when
they
fire
workers
and
fight
their
workers
efforts
organized.
We
can't
pick
our
justices
in
life.
C
We
can't
pick
them.
These
principals
were
developed
a
few
years
back
by
myself
and
a
group
of
the
former
president
Bethlehem
Steel
dick
Schubert,
and
we're
really
proud
to
say
that
Ben
and
Jerry's
is
one
of
the
first
corporations
to
say.
Yes,
Starbucks's
workers
have
asked
over
300
times
Howard
sales
in
the
Starbucks
Corporation
assigned
they've
said
no.
So
congratulations
to
the
workers
and
congratulations
to
the
employer,
there's
still
a
contract
in
negotiating.
That's
what
we're
really
after,
and
so
we
all
have
the
workers
back
in
those
negotiations.
Thank
you.
E
This
down,
I,
don't
think
you
have
to
I
think:
okay,
hi
everyone,
my
name
is
Tate
Fallon
I
use
any
pronouns
and
I'm
a
scooper
here,
Ben
and
Jerry's,
as
well
as
a
catering,
lead,
a
caker
shift
manager
and
also
the
change
maker
for
the
shop
Ben
and
Jerry's
to
me
means
Community.
As
a
change
maker,
I've
worked
with
my
manager,
Jake
on
a
variety
of
projects
and
efforts
to
improve
mental
health
at
the
shop,
as
well
as
creating
a
more
inviting
work.
E
Environment
back
in
New,
Jersey
I
helped
start
my
Town's
mental
health
Council,
and
we
had
a
cake
mindset
which
stood
for
compassion
acceptance,
kindness
and
empathy.
I
wanted
to
bring
a
piece
of
the
cake
mindset
when
working
with
Ben
and
Jerry's
our
amazing
scoopers
and
the
community.
We've
held
a
clothing
drive
and
coordinated
events
with
Community
Partners
to
come
table.
We
are
really
just
getting
started.
We
try
to
embody
the
peace,
love
and
ice
cream
experience
as
a
change
maker
in
the
shop
I've
always
wanted
to
have.
E
F
F
I
think
that
we
can
do
a
better
job
of
embodying
our
company's
values,
specifically
in
sustaining
and
uplifting
the
community,
as
that,
we
as
scoopers
are
also
a
part
of
I'm
excited
to
have
more
of
a
say
in
some
shop
policies
and
procedures
that
directly
affect
us
on
shift
and
to
do
it
with
the
assured
protection
from
the
union
and
I
think
creating
this
Union
is
a
great
first
step
towards
sustaining
a
collective
and
communal,
Ben
and
Jerry's
model.
Thank
you.
G
If
we
have
a
line
out
the
door
all
day,
one
of
the
dip
cases
broken
or
if
we
run
out
of
ice
cream,
This
Crew
can
keep,
can
problem
solve
and
keep
slinging
ice
cream
with
smiles
on
their
faces.
The
progressive
nature
of
Ben
and
Jerry's
as
a
company
attracts
workers
of
the
same
ideologies.
People
who
just
like
Ben
and
Jerry,
are
change
makers
and
I'm
excited
to
use
this
Union
to
shape
the
workplace,
to
meet
the
needs
of
the
workers
and
to
collaborate
with
management
to
promote
the
employee's
well-being
and
safety.
G
H
Hey
my
name
is
Adam
Franz
and
I'm.
A
barista
with
Starbucks
Workers
United
America
today
is
at
a
Crossroads.
Inequality
is
higher
than
it's
been
for
decades,
with
skyrocketing
prices
and
stagnant,
real
wages,
coinciding
with
ever
increasing
profits
for
the
rich
and
Powerful.
However
Across
the
Nation
workers
have
not
taken
this
challenge
lying
down
from
Amazon
to
Starbucks
to
this
store
right
here.
H
Workers
know
that
they
have
the
power
that
we
can
meet
the
challenge
and
fight
back
and,
as
we
know
that
when
we
come
together
around
a
shared
interest
and
shared
problems,
we
can
win
real
change
in
the
place
we
spend
so
much
of
our
time.
The
workplace
on
the
surface,
Ben
and
Jerry's
and
Starbucks
are
not
so
different
from
each
other.
Both
started
in
small
shops,
one
in
Washington
and
one
here
in
Vermont
That
Grew
into
International
Brands.
Both
have
been
helped
along
the
way
by
a
strong
Progressive
image.
H
In
the
case
of
Starbucks,
this
Progressive
veneer
crumbles
in
the
face
of
workers
coming
together
to
stand
up
for
ourselves
in
stores
across
the
country.
Workers
have
been
wrongfully
terminated
for
organizing
their
co-workers,
had
hours
cut
for
Union
activity
and
had
benefits
denied
for
the
audacity
to
vote
to
form
a
union.
Starbucks
has
so
far
refused
to
bargain
in
good
faith
and
even
walked
away
from
my
own
stores
bargaining
session.
H
I
am
thrilled
that
Ben
and
Jerry's
has
agreed
to
the
fair
election
principles,
but
this
is
not
just
come
as
a
favor
from
the
company.
It
is
a
testament
to
the
power
of
these
people
standing
behind
me,
but
even
so,
I
hope
that
Ben
and
Jerry's
agreement
to
these
principles
can
be
a
model
for
companies
across
the
country,
recognizing
that
it
does.
They
do
not
have
to
fight
against
the
union.
They
will,
if
they
fight
against
the
union.
You
know
they
are
going
against
their
own
best
interest
and
they
will
lose.
So.
D
Thank
you.
My
name
is
jazz
pressac
I'm,
the
organizing
director
for
Workers
United,
Upstate,
New,
York
and
Vermont,
and
I
like
saying
that.
There's
no
such
thing
as
an
unorganizable
workplace,
there's
only
workplaces
that
haven't
been
organized
yet
and
I
think
that
Church
Street
is
the
perfect
place
to
make
that
a
reality.
With
that
I'd
love
to
bring
up
Coloma
from
black
cap.
I
I
I
I
worked
at
black
cap
for
just
over
six
months
and
the
environment,
our
managers
and
co-workers
cultivate
is
truly
amazing.
I've
grown
much
as
an
individual
and
I
believe.
Many
of
my
peers
could
and
would
say
the
same.
We
organized
to
secure
our
future
as
black
cap
employees
to
ensure
our
workplace
is
an
equitable,
safe
and
sustainable
place
for
all
of
us.
We
deserve
a
say
in
the
in
matters
that
directly
impact
us
as
employees
of
the
company
and
through
this
effort
we
hope
to
create
a
more
collaborative
partnership
between
us
and
our
management.
I
J
When
Rebecca
Mendelson,
Jessica,
shank
and
Parker
Kimberly
came
to
us
over
a
month
ago,
we
were
so
excited
to
help
them,
despite
really
difficult
working
conditions,
school
and
other
responsibilities
in
broken
labor
laws.
They
rapidly
overcame
each
and
every
obstacle,
and
we
couldn't
be
happier
for
scoopers
United.
J
We
congratulate
Ben
and
Jerry's
for
being
a
model
employer
and
signing
the
fair
election
principles
which
are
based
on
Democracy
neutrality
and
respect,
and
we
hope
that
other
Employers
in
Vermont
and
Beyond
will
follow
suit,
because
the
truth
is
unions
are
a
great
benefit
to
business
and
to
the
economy.
When
workers
break
isolation,
talk
to
each
other
and
build
solidarity,
there's
a
real
communication
and
real
relationship
between
employers
and
employees
and
when
there's
real
communication,
a
real
relationship,
they
can
work
better
together.
J
They
can
learn
and
grow
together
and
they
can
share
in
their
prosperity
and
I'm,
not
going
to
bore
you
with
all
kinds
of
facts
and
statistics,
but
there's
plenty
to
back
up
what
I'm
about
to
say.
But
when
we
have
more
unions,
there's
less
poverty
when
we
have
more
unions,
there's
more
democracy.
When
we
have
more
unions,
we
have
safer
workplaces
and
more
social
justice.
J
So
we
should
all
Embrace
workers
forming
unions,
so
I'll
end
with
we
stand
with
scoopers
united.
We
have
been
there
from
day
one
and
we'll
be
there
for
your
election
for
your
first
contract,
your
second
contract
and
Beyond.
We
are
honored
to
stand
here
today
and
we
together
are
union
strong.
Let's
say
you
hear
it:
what
are
we
together?
L
My
name
is
Ave
Luna
I'm,
an
organizer
with
migrant
Justice
migrant
Justice.
It's
a
non-profit
human
rights
organization
here
in
the
state
of
Vermont
that
was
built
by
migrant
Farm
Workers
and
continues
to
be
led
by
migraine,
Farm,
Workers
and,
first
of
all,
in
behalf
of
the
migrant
community
of
Dairy
Farm,
Workers,
maintaining
and
sustaining
the
dairy
industry
in
the
state
of
Vermont.
L
M
M
There's
not
much
that
I
can
add
to
what
people
have
said,
but,
as
I
think
Richard
pointed
out
earlier,
you
can't
pick
and
choose
the
justice
that
you
believe
in
if
you
believe
in
fighting
for
racial
Justice.
That's
great!
If
you
believe
in
fighting
for
climate
Justice,
that's
great!
If
you
believe
in
fighting
for
gender
justice,
that's
great,
but
at
the
end
of
the
day,
if
you
believe
in
Justice,
you
have
to
believe
in
economic
Justice
and
the
right
of
workers
to
form
a
union
and
to
negotiate
decent
contracts.
M
And
all
across
this
country,
what
we
are
seeing
is
working
people
saying
we
need
an
economy
that
works
for
all,
not
just
the
few
and
in
order
to
create
that
economy.
As
you
have
heard,
it
is
absolutely
imperative
that
workers
come
together
form
unions
and
negotiate
decent
contracts,
and
we
are
seeing
that
all
across
the
country
in
Blue
Collar
jobs
in
White,
Collar
jobs
on
college
campuses.
M
M
M
That's
good,
and
these
guys
from
way
back
when,
when
they
first
had
their
first
shop
on
St
Paul
in
an
old
gas
station,
they
have
been
determined
to
spread
the
gospel
of
social
justice
and
I'm
very
proud
of
the
work
that
these
workers
have
done
in
coming
together
to
form
a
union
and
I'm
very
proud
that
we
have
here
in
Vermont,
a
company
like
Ben
and
Jerry's
that
has
long
stood
for
Progressive
principles.
Today,
saying
they
are
willing
to
sit
down
and
negotiate
a
good
contract
with
their
workers.
M
D
D
N
O
Hi
I'm,
Jessica,
shank
and
I
am
a
scooper
and
tip
manager
at
Ben
and
Jerry's
I
think
what
everyone
on
the
team
is
looking
for
is
just
more
Education
and
Training
so
that
we
can
keep
ourselves
our
team
and
the
other
community
of
Burlington
safe.
We
want
to
know
what
to
do
if
there
is
a
situation
in
the
shop
where
someone
is
using
drugs
and
we
want
to
make
sure
that
we're
able
to
get
them
the
help
that
they
need
in
the
fastest
way
possible,
and
we
want
to
put
in
our
contract.
O
A
All
right,
Ben
and
Jerry's
did
prepare
a
statement
and
they
asked
that
I
read
it
so
I
apologize
I
have
to
read
it
off
my
phone,
but
we
are
proud
to
share
this
statement
today,
reflecting
the
great
progress
that
has
been
made
as
a
result
of
the
collective
collaborative
work
of
the
scoopers
at
the
flagship,
benedary
scoop
shop
in
Burlington
in
the
shop
management.
From
the
outset,
we
have
worked
together
to
ensure
that
this
process
is
respectful
and
open.
A
We
appreciate
the
professionalism,
Candor
and
positivity
that
all
priorities
have
brought
to
this
process,
and
we
hope
that
this
can
serve
as
a
model
for
collaboration
in
the
workplace
and
in
the
future.
The
scoopers
have
shown
that
they
are
interested
in
our
future
together
and
that
they
regarded
it
as
an
incredibly
encouraging
that
they've
embraced
the
mission
and
values
that
are
deeply
held
at
Ben,
Jerry's,
Ben
and
Jerry's
is
a
mission
in
values-led
organization,
with
a
deep
commitment
to
a
progressive
social
Mission.
A
Ben
and
Jerry's
is
equally
committed
to
Innovation
and
constant
Improvement
and
finding
new
ways
of
working
reflects
these
commitments.
While
we
acknowledge
that
there's
a
significant
work
still
in
front
of
us,
we
are
committed
to
this
journey
together
and
together.
We
vow
to
remain
steadfast
with
openness
and
honesty.
In
our
upcoming
negotiations,
we
embrace
one
another
in
the
collective
effort
to
improve
the
experience
of
our
scoopers,
and
that
is
from
Ben
and
Jerry's.