Trader Joe’s United demands “Sanctuary Store”

Workers at a Trader Joe’s store in Minneapolis, one of the few in the country with a union, are prioritizing one demand: “Make Trader Joe’s a Sanctuary Store.”

In a Jan. 17 email to supporters, Trader Joe’s United explained: “The ask is simple. The bar is low. Don’t allow ICE in our stores without a valid warrant.

“But even that modest commitment is too much for Trader Joe’s. Even with worker safety on the line, they refuse to take a stand. When we meet again at the bargaining table, we will make sure it’s understood. Worker safety will come first.

“Our Minneapolis local is on the front lines. The threat of violence and kidnapping looms over everyday life.

“We believe Trader Joe’s has an obligation to keep their workers safe. And we will continue to hold them to that standard.”

However, on Jan. 20 an email update reported that Trader Joe’s had just canceled the scheduled bargaining session! The union has asked supporters to wear buttons reading: “TJU stands against ICE.”

Clearly, even after ICE had murdered Renee Good and was terrorizing the entire city of Minneapolis, the grocery chain would rather postpone bargaining with the union than deal with a just political demand: “ICE out of our store!” Four days after Trader Joe’s canceled bargaining, ICE murdered Alex Pretti, again in Minneapolis. 

But Trader Joe’s United is sticking to its position, one that goes beyond worker and customer safety and expresses solidarity with the growing mass movement against ICE.