The Honest Weight Food Co-Op is trying to discourage its employees from forming a union, using terms more commonly associated with corporate campaigns.

As some workers have begun circulating a petition to affiliate with the United Food and Commercial Workers union, the co-op’s board has sent employees multiple letters telling employees it’s not necessary. The letter repeats typical arguments against a union: that workers would surrender their right to represent themselves, that the union can’t guarantee improvements and that a union would be “an external third party” who would take their money without being able to guarantee benefits.

Dan Morrissey, an employee in the produce department, said he is concerned to see the co-op using antiunion language usually reserved to corporations. The employees were sent two different letters opposing the effort.

“We want to be able to talk freely about this in the workplace without retribution and without any kind of intimidation,” he said. “Both letters were very paternalistic. The message was ‘We are so hurt.’ I don’t think staff appreciated that. A lot of people viewed it as anti-union propaganda, and that’s not very cooperative.

In a March 6 letter obtained by the Times Union , co-op leaders Lily Bartels, Duke Bouchard and Lexa Juhre wrote to workers to say they had a right to form a union but shouldn’t. Reached at the store, Bartels said Monday she was going into a meeting. She asked for any questions to be emailed to her.

In the letter, the three leaders said employees had a right to join a union but offered arguments against doing so.

“Honest Weight will not coerce or retaliate against employees who sign a card, or join or assist a union, nor will it ‘reward employees who oppose unionization,” the leaders wrote. “But we reserve our right to tell you some FACTS concerning unionization.”

The letter goes on to say employees don’t have to sign a card authorizing the union.

“If a union obtains a sufficient number of these cards, it is possible under present labor board rulings for the union to become your representative without giving you the opportunity to vote in a confidential election,” the letter says, adding in boldfaced type: “Your decision to sign or not sign a card may be your last opportunity to express your choice.”

The letter says that Honest Weight is committed to treating employees with respect and offers pay and benefits equal to or better than competitors.

“Regular employees enjoy all these benefits without having to engage an external third party,” the letter says. “Be aware that if the co-op becomes unionized, bargaining on your behalf will be conducted by a representative picked for you by the union, you will have forfeited the opportunity to represent yourself, and you will be bound by whatever terms have been negotiated.”

The letter also argues that an employer is only required to bargain in good faith with a union, not agree to any of its “demands.”

The letter concludes: “As much as you expect us to be fair with you, we hope that you will be fair with us. Before you make a decision, before you sign an authorization card, ask the union what it can do for you, what it will cost you in dues to have a union, and what they can guarantee will change for the better.”

Morrissey said he likes his job but believes a union would help.

“I love the co-op,” he said. “I don’t want to see management spend the time and money to hurt something that will benefit the workers.”

Read the letter here: