(Source: Teamsters Local 117, February 19, 2013)
SEATTLE — The “fair” in fair trade has a shallow meaning when it comes to Theo Chocolate, a Seattle-based chocolatier, that despite its “fair trade” certification, engaged in a vicious anti-union campaign during a Local 117 organizing drive in 2010.
Once it heard that a majority of its workers wanted to join the Teamsters, Theo hired a union-busting consulting firm, terminated a union leader, held workers in captive audience meetings that lasted up to four hours, and said that they would rather shut down the Fremont-neighborhood factory than sign a union contract.
Typical stuff from a company without a conscience, but from “fair trade” Theo’s?
Full story: Teamsters Local 117