Ahold "Not Living Up to Promises," Martin's, Giant Food Workers Tell Shareholders in Amsterdam

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)Three supermarket workers from Virginia visited Amsterdam last week to share their stories at annual meeting of the Dutch company that owns the stores where they work. The Giant and Martin’s workers alerted shareholders that Ahold's operations in the United States are failing to live up to the high standards set by their Dutch parent company. In October 2010, Royal Ahold pledged to implement the United Nations Global Compact, which requires management to respect workers' basic rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining without interference. The workers from Ahold's Giant Carlisle division made clear to shareholders in Amsterdam that Ahold is violating this pledge. Click here to see Michele Hepner, UFCW Local 400 member and Giant Food employee for 37 years, stand up for her co-workers and share her first-hand experiences with Ahold CEO Dick Boer and Chairman Rene Dahan. - photo: Ahold Workers Shaquana Battle, Michele Hepner and Tracey Barrentine with Ahold CEO Dick Boer after the conclusion of the Ahold General Meeting in Amsterdam; photo by Jantien Oving