Our campaign on Niemann Foods, Inc. is in full swing . This situation deserves a little history lesson.

In the late 1990’s Niemann decided to build a new County Market store using non-union carpenters. The Local union membership objected. They picketed and demonstrated at the project site. Rich Niemann Sr. did not care for this and since their corporate headquarters are located in Quincy, contacted the Business Representative Roger Schonekase to see what could be done.

A meeting was set and attended by Rich Niemann Sr., Local #189 Business Representative, Roger Schonekase, Local #183 Business Representative, Darrell Moody, and Don Gorman, representing the Regional Council office. The result was a gentlemen’s agreement that all future carpenter work will be performed by signatory contractors and union carpenters.

Fast forward to 2007, Rich Niemann Sr. has turned over the business operations to Rich Niemann Jr. Our problems began with a new store constructed in Pittsfield by a non-union general contractor. A former K’s Merchandise building in Quincy we hear is to be leased and remodeled   ($4 million) into a County Market. A meeting between Business Representatives Roger West, Local 904, Mike Martin, Local 189, myself, and Dave Taylor, the Director of Development for Niemann Food, Inc, (not attended by Rich Niemann Jr.) did not resolve the issue and again the work was performed by a non-union General Contractor, but opened 6 weeks later than planned.

In June I sent letters and e-mails to Rich Niemann Jr. because we had heard that store managers were wondering what it would take to end this. I heard nothing from Niemanns’ for weeks.

July 10^th the Organizers handed copies of the handbill to every County Market and Cub Foods store manager which Niemann Foods operate in our Regional Council area. I got a call the next day from Dave Taylor. He claimed to have not heard of my communications to his boss (Jr.) and cannot understand why we would think of hand billing stores where work was not performed non-union.

After comparing calendars the soonest he and I could get together was August 15^th. Rich Jr. would not attend “because it is my (Dave Taylors) job to handle this type of issue.”  At this meeting Mr. Taylor stated this was not a money decision but one employing “local” contractors and workers. When informed that local members work these projects no matter where the signatory General Contractor is from, Dave started talking about company names on vehicles (?). When I suggested a level playing field and have the non-union bid at the same wage and benefit amount it suddenly became a bottom dollar money issue.

I have heard nothing since sending Mr. Taylor, as requested at this meeting, my suggestions on resolving our issues. I guess Niemanns’ doesn’t think we are serious.

The postcards will come to the Council office so I can make copies to mail to every Niemann board member. The originals will be mailed to the corporate office. Almost every Local Union has stores (County Market, Cub Foods, Save-A-Lot) in their jurisdiction. They are now branching into Ace hardware  and pet supply stores using non-union carpenters for the majority of this work.

Every Local Union Business Representative and VOC Chairman has agreed to prove how serious we get about our jobs by hand billing stores in their jurisdiction.