The Member Owners, Council and Coop staff have JUST CAUSE to fire immediately and without further compensation (including future lawyer fees), Kari Bradley, Kevin O'Donnell and Jay Wisner for their dereliction of duties to the staff (minors!) and failure of leadership in carrying out Cooperative & Community values and principles. For Kari it may have been a direct violation of his contract. This is not out of malice or ill intent but accountability and justice for the FOUR minors and women who endured abuse under their charge and management of our beloved Coop.
I spent 4 years as a Union official on the opposite side of the table from these men (processing hundreds of grievances) who repeatedly dismissed their workers' complaints of bullying, harassment and poor staff morale. I have heard the direct words "we don't believe you" from these men. With these men in charge there is a culture and a history of corporate predatory management (targeting/favoritism). I have no doubt that over the years the alleged perpetrator heard stories of "do nothing" management regarding other staff complaints of harmful behavior often not falling into the legal definition of harassment but still harmful to workers. The privilege of men is to believe other men and dismiss the claims of women and children. It is this culture that prevails at our Coop with these managers that create fertile ground where a predator's behavior can grow. The fact that FOUR minors, not one, not two, not three but FOUR minors and two other women had to come forward before any protective measures were made for the other staff is outrageous. This lack of leadership needs to be held accountable in the highest manner not rewarded by offering them an opportunity to resign or even worse- retirement or legal packages. The burden of expense of lawsuits and Consultants should not fall on the current staff to bear.
I further believe all Council members that were aware of the first incident reported April 29th/30th and the additional incidents that occured in May but STILL renewed Kari's contract in June/July knowing he violated that said contract should be removed or voluntary resign or else a vote of NO CONFIDENCE by the members has to take place. Also, any council members that allowed Kari to change any language in his reports that would have further supported his position and not the protection of the staff if such a change occurred should resign or be asked to leave their positions and re-run to earn the trust of the community and its members.
These brave young women who came forward to report such egregious behavior should be given a lifetime membership with the coop so they always have a seat at the table to voice what happened to them. I am so very grateful to these courageous individuals who came forward with their abuse and tried to protect the other workers. Having their stories come to light is an important part of all of our healing as so many of us have come forward with our own surviving and thriving stories. Together we can heal and change our Coop back to its original cooperative principles and remove corporate managers out to protect the bottom line and not having the utmost value for staff and thus our community members.
Transparency is key to a thriving healthy environment. With open doors and windows to policies and communication we can rebuild the trust that was destroyed by Management and possibly Councils behavior any possible cover-ups and/or secret meetings or discussions that allowed such egregious actions to harm so many at our beloved Coop. We must demand transparency now and in the future with Bylaw changes to avoid any future incidences. A transparency clause that triggers proper investigations should be drafted as a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between management and the Union until an Article of Transparency can be drafted to the Local's Constitution. We must also create an avenue to directly fire the GM (and any Council members spoonfed their work by the GM) if such unlawful or heinous actions should ever come to light again. We need a safe and healthy Cooperative for all community members, especially those who work there.
Please join the meeting tonight and let your voice be heard:
https://zoom.us/j/97641441406?pwd=aDZGbHJtRnlETDY1VnZUOC9rWlVLdz09
May all those who have been harmed find healing.
Lisa Rochelle
17 years Member Owner
6 years Coop Staff
4 years Co-Chief Steward UE Local 255
Nov 9, 2024, 7:30 to 9:30 PM
Invasive Plant Day on Irish Hill Natural AreaNov 13, 2024, 9 AM to 3 PM
Family Center Playgroup at the United ChurchNov 14, 2024, 10 to 11 AM