City Market Details Plan to Support Diverse Workplace

Co-op works toward collaborative resolution

November 22, 2013

City Market offers the following update to its November 21, 2013, press release detailing recent discussions and allegations related to the support of workplace diversity at the Co-op.

Today, representatives from various community groups, Alyssa Brown and Jeanine Bunzigiye of the Vermont Change Committee, David Shiman of the Peace & Justice Center, and Matt McGrath of the Vermont Workers’ Center, reached out to Pat Burns, General Manager at City Market. During this collaborative meeting, the entire group was able to share thoughts and concerns regarding how the Co-op supports diversity in its workplace and in the greater community.

"This is the start of an ongoing conversation about supporting diversity; an opportunity brought about by a misstep in how we shared information about language expectations in the Co-op. We will be seeking the advice of The Consortium for Inclusion & Equity to work on ongoing staff training and creating more community engagement around these issues. Cultural competency is more than one training session or a yearlong commitment. For the Co-op this will be a longstanding effort to ensure that our actions and intentions are in alignment and that the Co-op's culture reflects these expectations," states Burns.

City Market has shared an internal memo with staff committing to offer appropriate and ongoing training and to create a written policy that clearly values diversity and clarifies the fact that it does not have an English only policy. As a Co-op, we will continue to reiterate our values and put them into practice, and ensure that our staff is trained appropriately and regularly on these important issues.

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About City Market, Onion River Co-op

The Onion River Co-op is a consumer cooperative, with over 9,500 Members, selling wholesome food and other products while building a vibrant, empowered community and a healthier world, all in a sustainable manner. Located in downtown Burlington, Vermont, City Market provides a large selection of local, organic and conventional foods, and thousands of local and Vermont-made products. Visit City Market, Onion River Co-op online at www.CityMarket.coop or call 802-861-9700.

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