New York Times Reports on Key Food Fight

By on December 7, 2008 12:28 pm in News

As mentioned in a few comments earlier this week on BHB, the New York Times has picked up on the plight of Mamodou “Mohammed” Doucoure, the popular Montague Street Key Food employee.  On November 6, BHB broke the story of Doucoure’s dispute with store management which resulted in him being accused of sexual harassment and demoted to an overnight shift.

New York Times: Key Food Employee… : In late October, however, Mr. Doucoure, 38, was moved from his daytime job as an assistant manager to a nighttime shift cleaning and stocking shelves. He is still paid $26.75 per hour. But Mr. Doucoure’s move, which might ordinarily go unnoticed among nonemployees, has grown into a matter of concern and outrage among neighbors and frequent shoppers. Since the Brooklyn Heights Blog reported on Mr. Doucoure’s predicament early last month, neighbors have threatened to boycott the store; they have also refrained from picketing only at Mr. Doucoure’s request, said Bonnie Burke, a longtime customer.

Share this Story:

, , ,

  • AEB

    Great piece, fingers crossed.

    Does look like Key Food got in over its head with this one, though.

  • Jacko

    It’s really great to see people standing up for a worker who is getting the shaft. However, why is this blog only championing this guy’s plight? Our community is rife with injustice and poor behavior on the part of employers is endemic in our society. With all of the insanity going on around us, can’t we spread the love in our community?

  • Jazz

    Jacko cut down on the caffeine.

  • http://selfabsorbedboomer.blogspot.com Claude Scales

    Jacko: simply railing against “injustice” or “poor behavior on the part of employers” doesn’t have the impact of a specific case involving a real person people in the community know. If you can provide us with other instances of injustice or bad behavior in this community that you think we should cover, please tell us.

  • Alex

    I’ll be curious to see how all this attention affects Mohammed’s plight. I hope to see him triumph, obviously, but I fear this might just upset Key Food’s owners even more.

  • AEB

    Alex, I believe that “upsetting” Key Food’s owners, in the sense of making them realize the consequences of their actions in light of public exposure and scrutiny is PRECISELY what this story SHOULD do.

    The heat is now on Key Food management. And so it should remain until fairness prevails.

    And even after.

  • Alex

    AEB, maybe upsetting wasn’t the right word. You’re right, I’m sure Key Foods will do things to look good publicly, such as giving him Mohammed his old job back, etc. But will they make it a pleasant work environment for him? Will they ignore the fact that he brought them this negative attention? I doubt it.

  • http://BrooklynHeightsBlog Bonnie Burke

    Thanks to all for your comments on Mohammed. I personally do believe in fighting injustice — but one case at a time. Mohammed is tremendously courageous and talks about making life better for fellow and future employees. He’s been very greatful for all of our efforts and happy to be interviewed, etc. I’m especially grateful to this blog without which the NYTimes article would not have happened.

    The more I hear about the owners and the union, the more concerned I am about the ultimate outcome. Recently, I spoke to a friend, a US attorney about where we might turn to get a government investigation going. He grew up here and when he found out I was talking about Mohammed, he vowed to try to help find the right person to talk to. He grew up here and Mohammed used to deliver groceries to their house. The family absolutely loved him — he always used to take time to speak French with his father. His whole family is up in arms about what has befallen Mohammed.

    If you want to be on an email group to be kept up to date on Mohammed, contact me: bonburke@joimail.com

  • Jacko

    Jazz, aren’t you the funniest person in the room.