FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
[Portland, OR] — December 24, 2024 — New Seasons Labor Union demands the immediate reinstatement of Jasper Brynes, a union member who was unjustly terminated on December 18. Jasper was fired from the Grant Park store for exercising their legally protected union rights, having taken part in strike action on November 27, 2024, during which they faced a threatening attack on the picket line.
During the strike, an Uber driver drove into the picket line, endangering picketers with his car before getting out and attacking picketers. “He exited his vehicle and physically assaulted a community volunteer before spitting in my face. Despite enduring this direct and dehumanizing attack, I refrained from any retaliation, maintaining my composure throughout the entire ordeal,” Jasper stated.
Eyewitness testimony from several union members who were on the picket line support the reasonableness of Jasper’s response to the attack. New Seasons Market has denied the union’s requests to provide unedited video footage of the incident.
“This termination is not only a betrayal of Jasper’s rights as a worker but also a gross violation of the company’s stated values. This is a clear-cut case of retaliation against an employee engaged in protected union activity. We will not stand by while our members face violence, discrimination, and unjust termination,” said NSLU co-chair Janet Shek, who works at the Grant Park store.
Union members have raised over $2,000 for Jasper since the firing last week. The Union also continues to call a boycott of New Seasons Market until a collective bargaining agreement is reached.
New Seasons Labor Union calls on New Seasons Market to:
Reinstate Jasper immediately.
Issue a public apology for siding with the assailant.
Release the unedited footage to the Union for transparency.
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