OUR EXPERIENCES

Anonymous Testimonials

"Joining Foodlink United was a critical decision I made in order to try and be the change I want to see. I realize I work at an organization that needs some serious structural revisions. It breaks my heart to see the conditions employees must work in every day, and not being able to feel safe and protected while doing so. The changes I wish to see are fair and equal opportunities for all workers."

"I watched as upper management put a tight hold on the development of the cafe, oftentimes without taking advice from the talented and experienced staff--executive chef, kitchen team, marketing department, all very competent and knowledgable in their fields. MIDDLE MANAGEMENT AND WORKERS NEED TO BE EMPOWERED! This is a common thread throughout Foodlink."

"I joined Foodlink United because I work in an environment that is not 100% safe or sanitary for the workers. The changes I want to see are intentional efforts put towards fixing damages and making the work places safe for all people."

"Nepotism: our COO and Human Resources Director are sisters. Many of them went to high school together. They vacation together. This alliance leads to bias, partisanship, favoritism...this doesn't feel safe or fair."

"I joined Foodlink United because I want to see our good intentions for anti-racist and person-first work happen for real. That means creating a timeline for diversifying the people at the top of the organization. That means investing money in educating our donors on things like the Black Lives Matter movement and why that is a hunger issue as well."

"I want to see racial equity in the workplace FOR REAL not just for show or fundraising or “trends”."

"I am afraid that the warehouse roof is about to come down and kill someone! Would it get fixed faster if the landlord wasn't one of our large donors and sponsors? Is money put before the safety of our people?"

"I am joining this union because I believe in Foodlink, and I believe in the power of a Strategic Plan. I want to see us succeed in all ways possible and right now, a union is the best way that can happen because it will ensure that ALL voices are heard, all members are represented at the "table", and that we are safe and treated well. I understand change is hard and can feel like a personal failure, but on the other side of that feeling is the fact of growth and improvement."

"We need separate sick time from PTO. People who get sick frequently still deserve paid time off!"

“I love working at Foodlink. My first day on the job I was very hopeful that Foodlink would be like no other place I’ve worked. I figured we all have the same mission, we have common goals, this is going to be so collaborative and there will be so much community! Right from day one it was clear, you stick to your department and don’t ask too many questions. Know your “place”. Some managers are WONDERFUL. I’ve had one of the best managers of my career at Foodlink! But some managers and directors act more corporate than nonprofit and think collaborative work mean sending out updates of things to come. I think a union would be a healthy move for Foodlink. Power needs to be shared. Employees deserve a bigger sense of community. Employees deserve JUST hiring and firing practices. Currently, anyone can be fired or let go for any reason that just one manager/director sees fit. Or as Foodlink management currently likes to call it “staff updates” when sending out emails to inform employees of the “change”. We need more people at that table. We’ve lost so many amazing people who have amazing ideas and are so hard working! We can’t lose anymore amazing people. Foodlink United is FOODLINK’S chance to restore Rochester’s hope in Foodlink.”

“I support Foodlink United because while I am comfortable having conversations with management about dislikes and concerns in the workplace a lot of my colleagues don’t out of fear of retaliation. I want that to change."

“The benefits package is amazing. I want to retain them.”

“When I communicate with the CEO’s brother he doesn’t respond. I thought it was me. Apparently, he does this to others too. I’m pretty sure if I ignored my texts and emails from my co-workers I’d be disciplined or fired.”

“Our strategic framework needs to be applied internally as well as externally. That has been missing in the past.”

"I want a union at Foodlink so we can make our words and valuables actionable and so we can hold leadership accountable when it comes to practicing what they preach. I want to see Foodlink clients and people who experience food apartheid on the board of directors. I want to see a joint-equity statement with material and achievable benchmarks around ending workplace segregation and accepting the guidance of organizations like Soul Fire Farm and other food justice organizations that we currently only associate ourselves with for clout. I want to see improved rights, opportunities, and protections for our workers including but not limited to the following:

- Strengthened language around nepotism in the workplace

- Development of clear pathways to professional licensing for kitchen, warehouse, and driving staff (ex. forklift, CDL licensing, manager-level ServSafe)

- Mandatory exit interviews, even if fired, and an end to NDAs which silence accountability during wrongful terminations

- A reduction in exploitative temporary worker arrangements, and a limit to the amount of time someone can temp in low-paying jobs with no work protections

- Mandatory minimum staffing levels in departments like the kitchen

Finally, I want to see everyone at Foodlink, leadership included, working together to maximize our impact in fighting hunger in our community because at the end of the day, that's what we're all here for."