PARK SLOPE, NY – Reginald Ferguson was removed from his un-paid position as Squad Leader at the Park Slope Food Co-op for playing music and not giving priority to a shift swapper.
See the interview with Reginald here.
NY Post reports that Ferguson was “slapped with an 18-month suspension prohibiting him from shopping from the co-op’s stores.” Ferguson tells the post he “managed workers on Saturdays for two hours and 45 minutes and always played a mix of rock, R&B, world music and salsa.”
In 2017, Ferguson had a dispute with a make-up shift worker who wanted preferential treatment. When denied, Ferguson tells us the worker “whined” because he did not get his way. The member filed a complaint with the Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) about the alleged incident.
In October 2017, the DRC telephoned Reginald Ferguson to advise of a suspension of squad leader and ban of shopping in the food coop. Reginald’s request for a hearing, arbitration and mediation was denied by “Curtis” of the DRC.
Several of Reginald’s squad members wrote to the DRC to advocate for Reginald’s character. All inquires and submissions were ignored as the DRC wrote in an October 23 letter “Neither I nor any member of the DRC, can engage in any specific conversation with your squad members. While you are certainly entitled to, for me to do so would violate confidentiality.”
Per 2017, the Park Slope Food Coop had no language in the bylaws to allow any members to defend claims made by others. The DRC appeared to maintain decisioning power over complaints raised towards members by members.
At a 2018 general meeting, Ferguson submitted an agenda item co-signed by 19 members to allow for the Coop’s 17,000 members to be allowed due process in the event of a DRC investigation allowing them to defend themselves.
The agenda item was eventually passed and Reginald tells #EyesOnNJ News when the item was approved, “the DRC stormed out of the General Meeting.”
When Reginald attempted to make-use of this new rule, he was advised the rule took affect in 2018. Since Reginald’s claim was made in 2017, he was ineligible.
Since 2018, Reginald has protested the Coop outside their headquarters on the city sidewalk on a monthly basis. On Oct 7, 2019, Reginald received a noticed from the Coop’s general manager, Joe Holtz, that Reg was “barred from the premises.”
Reginald Ferguson will speak with John Edmunds IV & Jordan Kalmowitz of #EyesOnNJ News Tuesday, October 15, 2019 at 8:00PM to tell us about his ordeal. The interview will be simulcasted on our Facebook, Youtube, Periscope & more.
[…] Reg explains how his October 2017 case was not thoroughly investigated, key witnesses not interviewed and disciplinary action taken without rebuttal from the accused. Reg was telephoned by a gentleman only known as “Curtis” representing the DRC. Curtis advised Reginald that he was relieved of duties for 18-months. […]