Episode 72: Labor Day Series: Brandworkers- Good Jobs, Local Food
Brandworkers is a worker-led organization doing some incredible food system organizing with manufacturing workers in New York City.
Brandworkers members are forging a new kind of organization to restore power to workers. Workers themselves are best-positioned and uniquely capable to liberate themselves and transform our local food system. Local food workers face long hours with low pay and 40% of workers report an injury on the job. Undocumented workers are paid $7.52 an hour less than their coworkers and women are paid 60 cents on the dollar compared to men. The vision of Brandworkers is: One dignified, family supporting employment standard for workers in the local food industry, maintained and enhanced by the agency of rank and file workers.
Support The Food Worker Power Fund and help Brandworkers organizing expand to New Jersey: https://brandworkers.org/newjersey/
Brandworkers is uniquely positioned to build a sustainable and deeply rooted foundation for food factory workers in New Jersey to achieve dignified union jobs through worker-led organizing and community building with allies. The New York metro area spans both states—worker communities are interconnected.
Follow The Checkout on Facebook - Instagram - Twitter.
Stream The Checkout on Apple Podcasts - Spotify - Stitcher - Google Podcast
Episode #72 Notes
1:00 - How did Brandworkers come about?
2:00 - How is Brandworkers structured?
4:00 - What are some of the issues affecting food system workers in NY?
6:30 - What is labor organizing like in facilities?
9:00 - What sectors and businesses are you working in currently?
13:30 - What are some major victories you’ve had?
17:00 - On collective bargaining and unionizing.
24:30 - How has COVID impacted campaign strategies?
29:30 - How have priorities changed with a new administration in the White House?
31:00 - What do you hope to accomplish in the next few years?
34:00 - What does a fair and just food system look like to you?
