It could be argued that seven of the most difficult words uttered in the English language are “I was wrong, and I am sorry.” These words also can be the most powerful, as they make the speaker accountable for offenses taken.
Such was the case on Jan. 21 when the Co-op’s Board of Directors made the difficult decision to remove the Eden Foods boycott question from the April ballot. The decision reverses a vote taken in September. After months of research, policy reviews, and deliberation, we became increasingly aware that the complexities of the issue outweighed our ability to agree on a single interpretation of the Co-op’s boycott policy or to decide whether the Board should take a collective position on the matter. During the meeting a Director suggested that the proposal be withdrawn. A motion was made, seconded, discussed, and passed. The final 3-2-2 vote reflects our conflicting views. While not unanimous, this vote was legitimately conducted and officially recorded.
Our decision only removes the Eden Foods boycott proposal from the spring ballot. It does not in any way prevent Member-Owners from petitioning for ballot access for this proposal or participating in PFC’s newly-formed ad hoc committee dedicated to organizing around the issue. Contact Rebecca Kanner, Board Secretary, at secretary@peoplesfood.coop for more information.
All of us on the Board strive to make the best decisions possible in the interest of a diverse Co-op community. Each Director has a unique perspective and understanding of the policies that guide our work. Our opinions or positions may change in the process, and those processes are far from perfect. Please know that events unfolded without any intent of undermining Member-Owners’ rights to petition the Co-op to participate in this or any other boycott.
The Board acknowledges that the process could have been handled with greater care. While we may not agree on what were the Board’s mistakes, we do agree that mistakes did occur and may have further complicated matters as a result.
We were wrong, and we are sorry. Though these seven words may not be adequate for Members who expected a different outcome this spring, we hope they are received in a spirit of goodwill.