Weaver Street Geoff: Meatloaf Doesn't Lie

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Meatloaf Doesn't Lie

Personally, I like the meatloaf. I can't get enough of it. Which is a good thing, because we're getting a lot of it at the moment.

I had a funny thought about that. Well, not hilarious. But, worth a giggle.

But first, please don't blame the workers at the Food House for the problems with food supply in our stores. They're working as hard as they can. I know a couple of them from the Hot Bar at Southern Village. And they're good people.

We've got problems at the moment. For sure. But, are we going to get through them by snipping? Or by sharing, listening, understanding, and pulling together as a team?

But I digress. The funny about the meatloaf...

You know, the problems at the Food House aren't with the staff we have. They're with the staff we don't have.

First, the machinery wouldn't work properly. We fall behind schedule. We go over budget. Then, we lose staff. Now, we're looking for more cooks. Bingo. Problems with the food supply. But, you can read all about it in this month's Customer Newsletter.

Anyways, the meatloaf...

That's weird. The Newsletter just says the Food House will be up and running by the end of September. Hmm. I thought we were already 'up and running'?

Look, this meatloaf thing was a blast...

Another two months? Aren't we in danger of losing customers? Maybe it was a good thing I suggested to the Board that they might like to have a look? After all, that's why they're there. To keep a watchful eye. Maybe they'll pull us together, and get us all on the same page?

But, the MEATLOAF...

Another thing. Maybe we'll get the full picture at the Annual Co-op Employees' Meeting, which is due to be held soon?

But wait, I'm hearing a rumor that meeting will now be broken up, and different ones will be held in each store. I sure hope not. I think it's better when we're all together. Plus, I had a couple of ideas to make the meeting a bit more inclusive.

Like having a vote on another rumor - should the stores stay open until 10.00pm? And letting the Worker-Owner Candidates for the Board address their fellow workers for about 3 minutes each. Boom. More democracy in 15 minutes than we've had in 15 years?

I mean, doesn't having different meetings sound a bit like 'divide and distract,' rather than an opportunity to pull together as a team?

Ok, ok. What about the meatloaf?!

You know what I like as much as meatloaf? The truth. I don't have a problem with it. And I really don't have a problem with facing the truth about me.

I know there are those who think my being...hmm...blunt?...well, it might push people away, and mean that we get even less done.

What can I say? I'm straight-forward, because sometimes it's the only way to get peoples' attention. Is there any other approach which, at the moment, is getting our co-op leaders to pay attention to the questions we have?

Besides, once I'm sitting down with people who are - at last - listening, I am always consensual, and we get things done. Not least because the air has been cleared, and we all understand each other.

And every time I do sit down with people, I look forward to what I learn from them. It's not just about me getting my message over. It's about my paying attention and listening, too.

Believe me, I've been doing this for 30 years, with activist organizations and non-profits on both sides of the Atlantic.

I did it with the WSM Elections Task Force earlier this year. And I'm doing it now with the Development Committee of our Community Radio Station (WCOM 103.5 LPFM).

I don't push these people away. Far from it. They've told me: they genuinely like knowing exactly where I stand, and truly appreciate learning things they might otherwise not know, because other people are sometimes a little nervous about raising the issues with them.

So, breathe easy. But, don't take my word for it. Feel free to ask them yourselves. And then, if you still have questions, why not ask me - geoffgilson@hotmail.com?

One last thing, while we're here. This isn't about my personal ambition. I'm 52. I gave up personal ambition when I stopped being a lawyer, started composing, and joined a co-op. This is about me helping some of my mates, because I know how to pull some levers they don't.

And now I've completely lost my train of thought...oh yes...the meatloaf!

So, I was thinking. Staff shortage. More meatloaf.

You know. More meatloaf. Staff shortage?

Grinding? Yes? No?

Fine! I'll change to the Chicken Stir Fry...!!

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"be the co-op!" - Why?

Hi, I'm Geoff. I work in Southern Village, on the Hot Bar.

I'm standing as a Worker-Owner Candidate for the WSM Board of Directors because I love "The Weave," and I truly believe our co-op can be so much better than it is - as a real co-op!

Whole Foods has organic food. The Farmers Market sells local. Harris Teeter has a suggestions box. Even Wal-Mart makes community donations.

Surely, as a co-op, we should be better than all of them? But, are we?

Do we really pay attention to our workers and owners?

Do we all get a vote on the big decisions that change the very nature of our co-op?

Do we really have a bottom line that deals with our social health as a co-op as well as our financial health?

Do we really pay our workers a living wage?

Do we really 'own' our co-op - not just its capital; but the way it behaves? Do we really act like an 'authentic' co-op? Do we really treat 'co-operation' as a verb, that works both ways?

If you are are an owner or worker who feels that too often the answer is 'no,' and you'd like to start hearing 'yes,' then you might find some welcome solutions in this blog, and in my 'Tasty' candidacy for the Board of WSM.

If we want it, we can make it happen. Don't leave it to others. Get involved. Own. Vote. Reclaim. Be the co-op!

I really want to hear what you are thinking. So, please feel free to stop and chat, or post a comment on this blog.

If you have an issue or a question, which you want to raise in private, please feel free to contact me at: geoffgilson@hotmail.com.

We can be better than this!

[So, what the heck does all this reference to 'Tasty' mean, anyway?...ah ha!...you gotta read to find out!]

[Please Note: The views expressed on this blog are my own, and in no way represent the official position of Weaver Street Market Co-operative.]

"be the co-op!" - How?

Should we owners and workers be consulted about and have a vote on the big changes to our co-op?

Yes. It helps to smooth implementation of those big changes by workers, and their acceptance by owners and consumers. That's Business Management 101.

Plus, we're a co-op...we own it...we're supposed to be asked! We're supposed to have a say! That's Democracy 101.

And a suggestions box or a management presentation is not democracy!

Democracy is a two-way conversation. Democracy is a vote at the end of the debate. Democracy is when we treat 'co-operation' as a verb, working both ways.

Are you a worker or owner who feels a little left out of what is happening to our "Weave"?

Do you believe that we can be better than this?

Do you want to do something about it?

If your answer is 'yes,' then you've taken the first step - you've started thinking 'yes,' rather than hearing 'no.'

Next, become an owner by speaking with your unit manager, or by contacting board@weaverstreetmarket.coop - you have to be an owner to vote.

Then, make sure to vote in the Board Elections.

And if you want to reclaim your co-op, if you want "The Weave" to be a truly 'authentic' co-op, then I invite you to vote to make Co-operation a Verb.

"be the co-op!"

[Ok. Little explanation. This section was first written back in 2007. And has been added to over the course of the five WSM Board Elections in which I have presented myself as a Worker-Owner Candidate.

I thought of deleting it, since it doesn't really make any sense. But you know? It does make sense. It represents the frustration of highlighting the same lack of democracy in our co-op, over and over and over again.

It really IS time we worked together, to reclaim our co-op, and to make it and us all we can truly be.]

You can support the 'Tasty' ("Co-operation is a Verb!") Campaign for the Board of "The Weave" by wearing this 'Who Moved My Fish?' Of-fish-ial Campaign Button.

The point is not that there wasn't some reasonable rationale for moving the seafood and meat counter out of the Carrboro store [in 2007].

It's that there was no meaningful discussion with owners and workers beforehand.

Not about moving the meat and seafood.

Nor about implementing any other aspect of the huge expansion plans that have caused, and are still causing, so much agitation and financial distress throughout "The Weave" (what I call Expansion I: 'The Debt' [2007]).

Nor about the removal of the Consumer-Owner and Senior Discounts in 2009.

Nor about extending the opening hours in 2010.

Nor about demanding that workers work 15% harder in 2011 (what I call Expansion II: 'The Overload' - just when you thought it was safe ...).

Nor about current plans to build three more stores, at a cost of millions of dollars, in the decade leading up to 2020 (Expansion III: 'The Leap Too Far').

Of course, choosing The Fish as a symbol is a metaphor. But it is a powerful metaphor.

It is a metaphor that underlines the basic co-operative principle that is repeated on the front page of every one of our monthly newsletters, namely that owners are supposed to be the primary source of all authority in our co-op.

That principle can only have meaning in practice if owners are allowed democratically to control all strategic decision-making.

I believe passionately in the notion of the democratization of decision-making, and I think I proved this with my contributions to WSM's Elections Task Force in 2008.

Now I'd welcome your support in allowing me to take this a step further, and in ensuring that the Board has on it a Director who truly believes in democratically paying attention to the cares and concerns of owners and the workforce.

Who believes passionately that 'co-operation' is a verb that should work both ways.

If you feel we can be better than we are now, then together let's make the Board take notice of us. Let's reclaim our co-op. Let's make it a truly 'authentic' co-op.