Report from Pikesville, Maryland on a recent strike by Target workers against an abusive boss. For more info check out Target Workers Unite.
Pikesville, MD: Target team members at store #1541 have returned to work after a two-day strike over abusive treatment perpetrated by Store Team Lead (store manager) Kate Harley. Since Harley has taken over as the new store manager she has created a hostile work environment where team members (TMs) live in fear of intimidation, spying, and retaliation.
Please keep the calls up! Let management know the community stands with Pikesville Target workers as they struggle to remove their abusive boss Kate Harley! Call (410) 486-4141 and tell management we stand behind the workers and demand Harley be removed from their store!#target pic.twitter.com/mYGqUEx0yO
— Target Workers Unite (@TGTWorkersUnite) April 19, 2019
Because of the collective action of Pikesville Target team members and their workers committee an investigation has been launched and has resulted in the removal of STL Kate Harley. Team members (TMs) await Target Corporation’s decision to fire STL Harley for her abusive actions towards Pikesville Target team members. TMs still demand respect on the job and the right to a workplace that is hostility-free. TMs also demand zero retaliation on TMs who’ve written testimonies, gone on strike, and united together to form an independent workers committee as protected by the National Labor Relations Act.
Over the past two days team members have witnessed a tremendous outpouring of community support. Many community members refused to cross the picket line and honored our strike and call for a community boycott. Striking Pikesville Target team members also gained new testimonials from current and former team members recounting instances of abuse and labor violations. This included current team members who are pregnant. These team members HAVE NOT been properly accommodated, even having their chairs taken away which they used to take breaks as needed. Another former team member came forward sharing her and other TMs experiences who had been abused, unjustly disciplined, and fired by STL Harley at her last Target store in Colombia, Maryland. The community has also shown solidarity by helping raise funds to recover lost wages for striking Target team members.
PIKESVILLE TARGET WORKERS RETURN TO WORK AFTER A TWO-DAY STRIKE AGAINST ABUSIVE BOSS KATE HARLEY https://t.co/B0Tzzgxxta#target #strike pic.twitter.com/Hevd6eISm3
— Target Workers Unite (@TGTWorkersUnite) April 17, 2019
Pikesville Target team members and community supporters are ready to take further action to ensure abusive boss Kate Harley is removed from the Pikesville Target store and will remain on standby if Target Corporation does not comply with TMs and the community’s demand to fire Kate Harley and ensure a hostility-free workplace.