The management team has finally committed to the external training and hiring structural reforms we requested. This outcome reflects the persistence of every person who spoke up when it was difficult to do so. We will remain observant as these changes are put into practice to ensure the environment at …
August 31, 2020
Final supporters
- To the Open Harvest Management Team, General Manager, and Board of Directors,
We live in a highly politicized and polarized time. Just as much as we can no longer maintain silence, we cannot affect change everywhere. We must focus our efforts on places and people that matter to us. Open Harvest matters to us. The Cooperative Principles matter to us. We care deeply about this place and its people, and that is the place from where we speak to you today. We are invested in making change, and we invite you, as Managers, to join us.
Change is rarely easy, comfortable, or palatable. You have made yourselves available to hear concerns and to support staff through words only. When we take your collective actions into consideration, the culture you have nurtured is one of toxicity. Through investigation, we have uncovered and documented a long cycle of misconduct, abuse, and neglect. Your policy does not protect us. Your power and hierarchy do not enable us to use our voices, but instead snuff them out. Therefore, we demand:
1) Anti-Bias training take place as soon as possible. This training must address the topics of gender, race, class, and sexuality. Training must NOT be led by Management or the Board, but by a 3rd party expert.
2) Our hiring process be restructured to grow and nurture a diverse staff. Equal opportunity must be honored when considering any open positions, and all staff, including those of non cis-white identities, must be celebrated publicly, with consent.
3) Our marketing and advertising must be accessible to people of all identities.
4) Open Harvest must intentionally create access to affordable products through participation in WIC and price reduction.
5) An immediate reform, with active representation of non-management staff, of the following documents and processes:
● Employee Handbook
● Incident Reporting
● Training Curriculum
● Communication Strategy
6) Reinstatement of the Community Outreach position.
7) Major changes to the store or store policies must be approved with staff representation, in addition to Management. The Board, and Management, must engage and collaborate with non-management employees when making decisions regarding said changes.
8) Immediate creation of a Management accountability process to prevent further abuse of power, and to explicitly include the development of and hire for an HR position.
9) A thorough consideration of National Co-op Grocers as an institution, their relationship withOpen Harvest, and an examination of how Open Harvest's impact in the community may change in their absence.
While Open Harvest preaches 'everyone welcome' we do not practice it. We do not truly welcome all people, we are not a diverse or inclusive space, and we, who have brought these demands forward, can no longer participate in cultivating this space as something it merely claims to be. If Open Harvest is truly concerned for its community, we must take action to dismantle this institution and rebuild anew.
With questions, contact [email protected].
{Statements by former & current OH employees: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EDyqJIQ6ZUedRISEuLS6BJ4ANBvjnrMn/view?usp=sharing }
{Demand statement and amended demands}
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-1st2P2R2JlPBDOgi...
In cooperation,
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
July 23, 2020
48 Comments
I watched a manager and an employee both put their hands on a peaceful protester in their store in an attempt to silence their protests. They attempted to take her personal property only moments after giving everyone in the store 15 minutes to leave because they would rather shut the store down than be held accountable.
These are reasonable demands. As a member/owner i stand with the workers who are calling for change. We can and must do better.
As a former employee, I understand, and agree wholeheartedly. Love to the people who truly believe and embody the stated values and principals. Many who apply to work there do so because they hold those values. Many have tried to hold to those values and were abused in the process. As an employer and as an active part of the community, this place lacks integrity.
I read through the 15 pages of comments and an hired HR representative would be a great addition to better mitigate the daily stressors of life at Open Harvest.
I’ve been a customer at the co-op for years because I think it is one of the best places to get produce in Lincoln outside of growing it yourself. I am saddened and disappointed to see such malfunctioning in its organization, inclusiveness, and equity that I previously perceived to be just fine. OH has a lot of work to do and they need to listen to their employees on how to do it.
They overpriced themselves by leasing in a high priced shopping mall. Its all run for the benefit of the middle management now.
It transitioned from a true cooperative to an overpriced for profit business. If you are poor, don t shop there you cannot afford it. Extreme self serving and cliquish. Joined decades ago but decided not to support it anymore. Hyvee has more reasonable "healthy and organic" products and they peddle a bunch of neutraceuticals that have questionable efficacy. Now only the well off can afford to shop there, because they have gone to all this prepackaged crap instead of basic bulk staples. I have been in a few coops from the 70s. This store violates the intention of a cooperative where each shareholder works for cheaper alternatives to the big chain stores. You cannot even volunteer there anymore. Niche for the rich now.
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The management team has finally committed to the external training and hiring structural reforms we requested. This outcome reflects the persistence of every person who spoke up when it was difficult to do so. We will remain observant as these changes are put into practice to ensure the environment at …
August 31, 2020
Final supporters
- To the Open Harvest Management Team, General Manager, and Board of Directors,
We live in a highly politicized and polarized time. Just as much as we can no longer maintain silence, we cannot affect change everywhere. We must focus our efforts on places and people that matter to us. Open Harvest matters to us. The Cooperative Principles matter to us. We care deeply about this place and its people, and that is the place from where we speak to you today. We are invested in making change, and we invite you, as Managers, to join us.
Change is rarely easy, comfortable, or palatable. You have made yourselves available to hear concerns and to support staff through words only. When we take your collective actions into consideration, the culture you have nurtured is one of toxicity. Through investigation, we have uncovered and documented a long cycle of misconduct, abuse, and neglect. Your policy does not protect us. Your power and hierarchy do not enable us to use our voices, but instead snuff them out. Therefore, we demand:
1) Anti-Bias training take place as soon as possible. This training must address the topics of gender, race, class, and sexuality. Training must NOT be led by Management or the Board, but by a 3rd party expert.
2) Our hiring process be restructured to grow and nurture a diverse staff. Equal opportunity must be honored when considering any open positions, and all staff, including those of non cis-white identities, must be celebrated publicly, with consent.
3) Our marketing and advertising must be accessible to people of all identities.
4) Open Harvest must intentionally create access to affordable products through participation in WIC and price reduction.
5) An immediate reform, with active representation of non-management staff, of the following documents and processes:
● Employee Handbook
● Incident Reporting
● Training Curriculum
● Communication Strategy
6) Reinstatement of the Community Outreach position.
7) Major changes to the store or store policies must be approved with staff representation, in addition to Management. The Board, and Management, must engage and collaborate with non-management employees when making decisions regarding said changes.
8) Immediate creation of a Management accountability process to prevent further abuse of power, and to explicitly include the development of and hire for an HR position.
9) A thorough consideration of National Co-op Grocers as an institution, their relationship withOpen Harvest, and an examination of how Open Harvest's impact in the community may change in their absence.
While Open Harvest preaches 'everyone welcome' we do not practice it. We do not truly welcome all people, we are not a diverse or inclusive space, and we, who have brought these demands forward, can no longer participate in cultivating this space as something it merely claims to be. If Open Harvest is truly concerned for its community, we must take action to dismantle this institution and rebuild anew.
With questions, contact [email protected].
{Statements by former & current OH employees: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EDyqJIQ6ZUedRISEuLS6BJ4ANBvjnrMn/view?usp=sharing }
{Demand statement and amended demands}
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-1st2P2R2JlPBDOgi...
In cooperation,
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
July 23, 2020
48 Comments
I stand in solidarity with current past employees. As a previous employee, I was wrongfully terminated and sexually harassed by my manager for months while working there.
I watched a manager and an employee both put their hands on a peaceful protester in their store in an attempt to silence their protests. They attempted to take her personal property only moments after giving everyone in the store 15 minutes to leave because they would rather shut the store down than be held accountable.
These are reasonable demands. As a member/owner i stand with the workers who are calling for change. We can and must do better.
As a former employee, I understand, and agree wholeheartedly. Love to the people who truly believe and embody the stated values and principals. Many who apply to work there do so because they hold those values. Many have tried to hold to those values and were abused in the process. As an employer and as an active part of the community, this place lacks integrity.
I read through the 15 pages of comments and an hired HR representative would be a great addition to better mitigate the daily stressors of life at Open Harvest.
I’ve been a customer at the co-op for years because I think it is one of the best places to get produce in Lincoln outside of growing it yourself. I am saddened and disappointed to see such malfunctioning in its organization, inclusiveness, and equity that I previously perceived to be just fine. OH has a lot of work to do and they need to listen to their employees on how to do it.
They overpriced themselves by leasing in a high priced shopping mall. Its all run for the benefit of the middle management now.
It transitioned from a true cooperative to an overpriced for profit business. If you are poor, don t shop there you cannot afford it. Extreme self serving and cliquish. Joined decades ago but decided not to support it anymore. Hyvee has more reasonable "healthy and organic" products and they peddle a bunch of neutraceuticals that have questionable efficacy. Now only the well off can afford to shop there, because they have gone to all this prepackaged crap instead of basic bulk staples. I have been in a few coops from the 70s. This store violates the intention of a cooperative where each shareholder works for cheaper alternatives to the big chain stores. You cannot even volunteer there anymore. Niche for the rich now.
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I stand in solidarity with current past employees. As a previous employee, I was wrongfully terminated and sexually harassed by my manager for months while working there.