this post was submitted on 16 Sep 2023
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Whole Foods argues it can ban BLM masks because the Supreme Court let a Christian business owner refuse same-sex couples (fortune.com)
submitted 1 year ago by Grayox@lemmy.ml to c/worldnews@lemmy.ml
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Amazon.com’s Whole Foods Market doesn’t want to be forced to let workers wear “Black Lives Matter” masks and is pointing to the recent US Supreme Court ruling permitting a business owner to refuse services to same-sex couples to get federal regulators to back off.

National Labor Relations Board prosecutors have accused the grocer of stifling worker rights by banning staff from wearing BLM masks or pins on the job. The company countered in a filing that its own rights are being violated if it’s forced to allow BLM slogans to be worn with Whole Foods uniforms.

Amazon is the most prominent company to use the high court’s June ruling that a Christian web designer was free to refuse to design sites for gay weddings, saying the case “provides a clear roadmap” to throw out the NLRB’s complaint.

The dispute is one of several in which labor board officials are considering what counts as legally-protected, work-related communication and activism on the job.

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[–] SpaceCowboy@lemmy.ca 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

BLM is not trademarked (people have tried and failed though!) so it's not a brand. It's three letters so it doesn't qualify as a logo. If it were consistently stylized then maybe it could be considered a logo. But there's not consistency in the stylization, only thing that's consistent is it's the same three letters from the alphabet in the same order.

LOL <- do you think that's a logo too? If so then, LOL at your silly rationalization. Oh noes, someone might sue me for infringing on the "LOL" brand/logo!

[–] Saik0Shinigami@lemmy.saik0.com 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Now you're assuming what the actual design of the pin and mask were... Do you know it was just "BLM"... and why wouldn't that count as a brand/logo? Just because it's not trademarked it's not a logo? That's silly and certainly not a consideration for what is and isn't a logo. There are many masks and pins that are absolutely stylized. But I have no idea which these people were wearing so I won't speak to that.

LOL <- do you think that’s a logo too?

LOL can be a logo. But I find myself again pointing to the rules that Whole Foods have in place...

You must wear plain tshirts (no pattern or multiple colors, only plaid) pants must be one color and in good shape (no holes) you can wear shorts in grocery and front end and produce but must wear pants in prep foods. Close toed shoes. Hats must only be whole foods logo and if u wear leggings you have to wear a shirt that is long to cover the butt. No pins on your apron and no logos or sports teams or bands.

"plain", "one color", and NO pins... These things are obvious and clear words that don't leave imagination to the intention of management. Even if it was just the letters BLM put together in a neutral font... it's still a violation of the contract you would have agreed to in order to work there. If you have no intention of following the rules, then don't work there... and certainly don't "surprise pikachu" when you get fired.

But even to just the point of what a logo is...

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/logo

2: an identifying symbol (as for use in advertising) 3: an identifying statement : motto

We could argue that BLM meets or doesn't meet requirement for definition 2... But it DEFINITELY meets definition 3. BLM just on it's own is 1 of 2 things... Bureau of Land Management, or "Black Lives Matter" (whether the non-profit or the movement). It's definitely identifying because nobody is wearing a Bureau of Land Management mask or pin.

[–] SpaceCowboy@lemmy.ca 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Jesus you're down to the third definition in one dictionary. I've seen some weak ass internet lawyering in my time but holy shit.

Why not just be honest about things? You've gotten convinced by right wing political narratives about what BLM is and because of culture war politics you want to repress this cultural artifact?

So this is just a political faction using fear and intimidation to repress culture. Go ahead with your silly "the rules are the rules" bullshit, but it's obvious that many cultural adornments are considered acceptable by Amazon except this particular one because they're afraid of a violent political faction or are perhaps in agreement with that political faction. Either way it's a political faction repressing culture, ie. Culture War. It's not even like anyone's subtle about their motives in all of this. Why are you trying so hard to be?

[–] Saik0Shinigami@lemmy.saik0.com 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

If you believe that the rule is being applied unfairly, then you might want to reach out to the lawyers that took the case to court... You know since the case was readily dismissed they might want your legal insight. Maybe they'll sign you on as partner!

Or... It's as simple as it seems. The employee broke the policy... and was fired for cause after failing to remedy.

You’ve gotten convinced by right wing political narratives

Ah yes.. the MAGA losers turned me! That must be it. Not that I know how to read policies before I start working for a company... or actively participate in my job in a meaningful way.

it’s obvious that many cultural adornments

Sigh... I swear this was already covered... Nothing with logos/branding. Just because you find value in it doesn't make it appropriate.

Either way it’s a political faction repressing culture, ie. Culture War.

The workplace isn't the place to have your "culture war". If you want to "war" at work... don't be surprised when you get fired.

Edit: The sad part about all of this... I fucking HATE Bezos/Amazon. But you're all so fucking stuck on this shit that you think I'm defending them. I'm not. I wish them to fail in the most spectacular way possible. But really? We're all up and arms about a fucking dress code? Seriously? fucking 20 years ago I was bussing tables at a steakhouse and guess what... There was a fucking dress code. This isn't something new.