2012 is the United Nations International Year of the Co-operative - http://nfca.coop/iyc. Weaver Street Market Co-operative, in celebration, is stocking take-out soup cups, with a quote from the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon. The problem is that WSM doesn't live up to the quote it so proudly displays:“Co-operatives are a reminder to the international community that it is possible to pursue both economic viability and social responsibility.”
The corporate office management team at WSM are past masters at talking the talk, and then not walking the walk. Frankly, I've seen toddlers who do a better job of walking when they take their first steps.
The fact is that WSM comes nowhere close to being socially responsible with regards to its workers, whom the WSM General Manager has said (in another instance of Weave-speak) half-own their co-op.
We are overworked, underpaid, over-stressed and under-staffed. And each and every year since the disastrous expansion project in 2008, we have been asked to work harder for less - http://tinyurl.com/879h2o9.
I'm not asking that you stop shopping at WSM - we workers need your dollars! But I am asking you please, in this Year of the Co-operative, to take notice, to thank your workers, and to start attending meetings, to speak up and speak out for your workforce.
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