by Anya Firszt, General Manager
Hello April! Hello Dear Owners!
April generally means warmer days (although we’ve been fooled), more daylight, along with a few days to celebrate including April Fool’s Day, Earth Day, and hard to forget, tax day.
Earth Day
First celebrated on April 22, 1970; this year we will observe 53 years of Earth Day with a few in-store events: all bulk grocery products on sale at 15% off (excluding prepackaged loose teas and herbs and bulk water) for the week of April 22-28, no better time to restock the pantry!
You can see ways the Co-op has engaged in sustainable practices to positively contribute to the environment, visit willystreet.coop/sustainability to learn more. What will you do to celebrate Earth Day?
UE Contract Negotiations
The last week of February, we began contract negotiations with the United Electrical, Radio, and Machines Workers of America (UE) for our third contract.
I am pleased to report that we successfully negotiated and reached an agreement regarding our third contract. The UE 1186 membership voted to ratify the temporary agreement, and the new contract is effective March 16. This new contract offers additional benefits and wages for our hourly employees while being mindful of our fiscal responsibility for our Owners and the Co-op’s long-term success. The new contract increases the minimum starting pay to $18.15 per hour and raises the overall wages of hourly employees 21% over the three-year term of the contract. The new contract also offers seniority increases for years of service, an additional paid holiday, more flexibility in access to unpaid time off, and additional bereavement leave.
I would like to thank the members of both the UE bargaining team and the Co-op management bargaining team for their caring and thoughtful contributions to the final contract. I am thankful for the collaboration that we engaged in to reach agreement on this new contract, and I am optimistic for our partnership going forward.
Online Shopping Improvements
We’ve added some improvements to our online store! Owners will now have their online purchases tracked in their Owner accounts so they can be included when we calculate patronage refunds in profitable years. Shoppers may now also shop online using EBT. Visit shop.willystreet.coop if you want to learn more about this service or to place an order.
FY23 Patronage
If you have not yet claimed your FY23 patronage, there is still time. You have until June 16, 2024 to use it as a store credit (on purchases), receive cash back, or donate to Double Dollars. Don’t miss out on this perk of cooperative ownership.
Co-op Governance
Is this going to be the year you decide to run for the Board of Directors?
Here’s a reminder that our Board Elections and the Annual Meeting are now held in October. Look for candidate instructions, application deadline, as well as tabling and voting dates in the coming few months.
Aubergine
If you have not visited Aubergine, our new community space which is located across the street from our Eastside store, make a point to stop in and view the space and artwork by local artist and musician, Roscoe Mitchell. You can see his pieces until April 23rd. Our next local artist to show their work at Aubergine, May 3 through late June, is Jessica M. Gutiérrez, a Nicaraguan-American Watercolor and Mixed Media Artist who resides in Madison. The artist reception is on Friday, May 3, from 5-9pm as part of Madison Museum of Contemporary Art’s Gallery Night. If you are interested in continuing the fun that evening, stop by Cafe CODA for their scheduled entertainment, programming and happy hour. Cheers!
In closing, before you know it, it will be time to push up your sleeves and start digging in the dirt, making the soil ready for planting seeds and seedlings. I can’t wait!
PS: Several people asked that we print in the Reader the recipes for the Bean Dip and Vegan Cheese Ball that were served at the Grand Opening of Aubergine; if you want either or both recipes, send me an email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), and I will happily share with you.