New Seasons Market workers involved in a unionization effort are accusing the Portland grocer of retaliating against them and hiring a "union-busting" consulting firm.

Their complaints were outlined in a Thursday letter that was signed by "New Seasons Workers United," but not by any individuals so it is not clear how many workers have complained. New Seasons has disputed the claims.

Thursday's letter comes just over a month after workers announced they are attempting to organize a union. In a statement, the grocer denied any retaliation.

B Corp status

The letter was addressed to B Lab, the Pennsylvania nonprofit that awarded New Seasons its B Corp certification. The designation is awarded to businesses that "meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency," according to the B Corp website.

The New Seasons workers, backed by grocery union UFCW Local 555, says the company doesn't deserve B Corp status. The letter asks B Lab to investigate New Seasons' compliance with the B Corp principles and to decertify the grocer if found in violation.

The B Corp designation, like the LEED stamp for environmentally friendly buildings, is often used as a marketing tool. When New Seasons earned the B Corp certification in 2013 - the first grocer in the world to do so, it said - it sent out a press release, promising to "constantly (improve) business operations that benefit people and the planet." It touts its B Corp status on its website and in a YouTube video.

To earn the certification, B Lab assessed its practices, governance, environmental and community impacts, staff benefits and culture. According to B Lab's 2017 evaluation, New Seasons earned a score of 25 in the workers category. B Lab's scoring system is complex, a spokesman said, so it's hard to say what the possible category score was. But the median score in that category for other B Corp companies is 18.

The complaints

The unionization drive was largely sparked by a rollback of health care coverage. New Seasons has said it is working with employees to ensure they qualify for care if they need it.

But since workers began talking about unionization, two workers involved in the efforts say they have been fired. Terra Bosart and Adrian Mendoza said they have both filed formal complaints with the National Labor Relations Board. They say New Seasons fired them because of their involvement in the unionization efforts. Retaliation is prohibited under federal law.

The Oregonian/OregonLive has requested the complaints from the board but has not yet received them.

Adrian Mendoza, left, and Terra Bosart, right, are former New Seasons workers who say they were fired because they took part in union organizing efforts.

New Seasons declined to confirm Bosart or Mendoza were employees or say whether they were fired, saying personnel matters are confidential. But photos on the company's Instagram account show Mendoza with a nametag and apron. One even features them alongside the grocer's chief executive Wendy Collie.

In a statement provided through a spokeswoman, the grocer said it had a strict no-retaliation policy. "We would never penalize any staff member for expressing their point of view or engaging in legal activity," it said.

Thursday's letter also accuses New Seasons managers of interrogating employees about their involvement in the unionization effort, and of using an employee's involvement as a reason to block their promotion.

The grocer denies these claims. It says it respects workers' choices and has taken "extensive measures" to make sure workers have the ability to make up their own minds.

The letter also criticizes New Seasons' move to hire Cruz & Associates, a consulting firm specializing in labor relations.

In a statement, New Seasons employee Sean Lilly said he was disappointed that the grocer spent money to hire a "union-busting" firm.

As reported by Willamette Week, it's the same firm President Donald Trump's hotel company hired recently in an attempt to halt union organizing at his Las Vegas hotels.

New Seasons said it hired the firm to conduct "voluntary information sessions" to "objectively inform" its workers.

According to Cruz & Associates' website, its objective is to help its clients "achieve increased profits and higher levels of service, while ensuring that the goals of the employees and the organization remain aligned."

In Thursday's letter, workers complained that Collie and directors with majority owner Endeavour Capital have refused to meet with union organizers.

New Seasons said it has responded directly to staff members and continues its commitment to its "speak up culture."

The group has not been elected or certified by the National Labor Relations Board, and it is unclear how many of New Seasons' 3,500 workers are involved in the organizing effort.

-- Anna Marum

amarum@oregonian.com

503-294-5911

@annamarum