August 21, 2018

Marian Meszaro

My Name is Marian Meszaro.

I have worked in the meat department as a wrapper at Best Market in Franklin Square for 10 years. My life has been hard in many respects; surviving cancer is just one of the many obstacles that I have had to face. I am now trying to make Best Market a better place to work.

It was not until last year that I finally began to get paid about  $14 per hour. This only happened after many calls to Human Resources.  While this increase is welcomed, living in Long Island is very expensive and I still live with my mother. My mother, at almost 80 years of age, has to work to help sustain our household.  I wish I would be in a much better place at this point in my life, but I am only one of many people in similar situations.

Having a safe workplace is very important to me and my fellow coworkers. In the meat department, we use dollies to move around the product, many of these are broken. I write my name on a dolly because it is the only one that I can use comfortably. I have gotten used to working with it, even if it needs to be fixed.  I do this to avoid being hurt. I do not need to have one more health problem due to my job.

My mother, at almost 80 years of age, has to work to help sustain our household.

I love our customers and my co-workers and I want a Better Best Market for us. I want Best Market to pay fair wages and give us better equipment.  I believe that Best Market can do Better.