or, "What I'm Looking Forward To ~"
Plans in the future can make all the difference.
Something to hold onto. To look forward to.
The mouth waters.
Memories come forth, rise to the surface like cream.
Years ago, when I was pursuing a BFA in photography at CCAC, I worked at Whole Foods Market. I know, I know-- I'm not proud. But if one day you have about an hour to spend, and want to buy me a tall glass of tea, I'll tell you about the details of my interesting time there:
1. I used their ridiculous "team member process" to its fullest extent by taking a team vote and "firing" our out-of-control "team leader,"
2. Was subpoenaed on site by a Union Lawyer when one of my co-workers was being denied her unemployment, only to be her witness against the VP of operations,
3. Was "blacklisted" inside a store with over 300 employees,
4. Was fired illegally (WF broke a Federal Labor Law that's been in existence since the 1920's),
5. Took them to the NLRB,
6. Won when they settled with me out of court,
7. Was reinstated with back pay,
8. And took great pleasure in telling each customer who had missed me, the whole story when I went back.
9. After going to all the correct managers with the complaint that there was no ventilation system in the bakery, I reported the store to OSHA. After the threat from OSHA for a $10,000 fine, Whole Foods installed a ventilation system. (Flour is considered as dangerous as asbestos by OSHA, BTW...),
So you can imagine my pleasure at seeing this headline at Life Begins @ Thirty:
John Mackey & Michael Pollan on the Same Stage!
Read the rest of the news at The Ethicurian.
Who wants to bring a picnic to the line we'll need to stand on/in to get the free tickets February 1st?
Oh my goodness. I have been following links from many of my favorite foody kind og blogs. I see you that you are a rights fighting machine. I am glad you found favor. Love your recipe section, great list of wonderful food blogs to.
Posted by: Dori | 13 January 2007 at 02:36 PM
Sheesh! That's quite a list. I'll bet the full story would sway me from shopping there, despite the fact that I've shopped there for 10+ years, everywhere I've lived, and know many folks who have worked for them.
So, maybe I don't _want_ to know the whole story. Crap. Ethical dilemma!
Posted by: JM | 13 January 2007 at 02:42 PM
Oh lord I would die to see that. I may be one of the crazies in line with a tent the night before!
I'd also love to hear about Shuna's adventures at Whole Foods...I'm more than willing to buy a tall glass of tea...and maybe even a little nible as well :)
Posted by: Aaron | 13 January 2007 at 09:36 PM
I really admire your courage to fight back at unethical employers.
Kudos to you.
Posted by: Malini | 13 January 2007 at 11:15 PM
Holy crud. That should be interesting. I'll be watching for the webcast if possible from SoCal.
I swear we've lived parallel lives. Your words over the past weeks have resonated with me so much. I've often asked the same questions and wondered if passion could pay a dentist someday.
Thank you for you.
Posted by: chronicler | 14 January 2007 at 12:31 AM
Whoa! I didn't realize you were such a rabblerouser. More than that, I didn't realize WF was such a scofflaw. We don't have one here in my corner of the world, yet, but when they do come, I may not be a customer.
I do hope you get tix to the lecture. I'm anxious to read your review.
Posted by: Alto2 | 15 January 2007 at 03:40 PM
Shuna: I'm really looking forward to this and sincerely hope I can get tickets. I am almost finished with TOD and I love it so much. I can't believe how much I am learning. I have an unrelated (sort of) question though: Eatwell farms is spraying their citrus with a constant flow of water to protect from the frost. This seems counterintuitive to me and
Posted by: Melissa | 16 January 2007 at 01:42 PM