Union talk at Valley Stream Target

The target is retail giant Target.

Workers at the Valley Stream store say its time for change, and United Food and Commercials Workers Local 1500 have heard the call. The nation’s largest union for retail workers have taken aim at Target.

Following Local 1500 reaching a brief settlement with Target last month, several dozen employees at the Valley Stream store will be allowed to vote on whether to unionize during a federal election on June 17.

But now, the union and the employees have filed a dozen charges against the retail giant on May 27 for what they describe as “violating the law and a fair election process.”

“Workers at the store do not dislike the company,” said Pat Purcell, a Local 1500 spokesman. “They are not a disgruntled group. They like the company, but just feel they should get more respect in return.”

The union turned its attention to the retail giant after hearing employee complaints in mid-February, Purcell said. Employees said that their main issue was a lack of hours, working as little as five to 15 hours a week. Concerns also arose over wage increases, which were eight cents per hour on average. “No matter what they pay people, they are not giving them hours, and employees can’t afford to live,” Purcell added.

The reduction in hours, they said, is the reason why they are denied benefits and entitlements, including health care.

Target responded that the company places a priority on providing a comprehensive pay and benefits plan that aligns with, and often exceeds the external market, according to spokeswoman Molly Snyder. The company’s policy is for employees to set their work hours, and based on availability, the company customizes a weekly schedule. There has been no reduction in hours or payroll at the Valley Stream store, and employees that average as little as two and a half days a week are eligible for health care coverage after six months, Synder added.

A “sizeable” number of employees felt their concerns were falling on deaf ears, and they approached the union for help, said union organizer Aly Waddy. “They are very willing to speak because nobody has been willing to listen to them,” she said.

The union filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board, and wrote a letter to Target pushing the election in April. Following a public hearing, an election date was set for this month. All hourly full-time and regular part-time team members hired on or before May 7, except for certain specialized departments, can vote in the secret ballot election, which will be the first one in Long Island.

The last vote was around 1990 in the Detroit area, Synder noted.

“We believe it is important to provide our team members with the time and opportunity to gather all the information they need to make this important decision in private,” Synder said about the vote.

However, employees disagreed. They said that Target has been very aggressive in campaigning, and giving out literature about the company, and even threatening to close the store if the workers organize. “The impression is that if the union comes in, the store may close,” Waddy said.

Union members fear that Target is “poisoning” the vote, inhibiting the employees’ right to a fair election. Purcell said the union meets with the employees almost everyday, and they were a part of the decision to file charges.

Company officials responded that they want to create the type of workplace where employees do not want or need union representation. “Target’s emphasis is on creating an environment of mutual trust between Target and our team members — an environment that promotes listening, responding to concerns of team members and always giving honest feedback,” Snyder said.

The union maintains that employees want the company to allow a “fair and free” election, fix payroll and benefits issues, increase employee hours, and bargain for a fair contract.