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The following letter was addressed to Mayor Tom Bates and the Berkeley City Council: 

We, residents of Berkeley, and longtime customers of Berkeley Bowl, and ardent supporters of the basic rights of workers to organize themselves for better pay and working conditions, strongly urge you and the Berkeley City Council to speak out in support of the Berkeley Bowl workers who are attempting to unionize their South Berkeley store. 

At a time in our history where decent jobs with decent pay are fast disappearing from our economy and more of this state’s workers than ever have no health coverage, your unanimous backing of these workers and their families and the greater Berkeley community is indeed the right action to take. 

We are gratified to hear through recent news articles that you are supportive of the rights of workers to organize. We know that others on the council have also expressed their commitment to the aspirations of working people to organize themselves. We urge you to speak out on behalf of these workers and their efforts to unionize and to convey your support to the owners and management of the Berkeley Bowl. 

Members of the Strawberry Creek Affinity Group: Carol Thornton, Jane Kelly, Frances Berges, Dorothy Headley, Eric Roberts, Jane Eiseley, Tom Kelly, Patti Marsh, Chris Walter, Fran Rachel, Chris Kroll, Bob Marsh, Nina Falk