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Foodstuff Workers Industrial Union 460

All workers except agricultural and fishery workers, engaged in producing and processing food, beverages, and tobacco products.

Workers Rights' Group Files Class Action Lawsuit Against Beverage Distributor Over Alleged Labor Violations

Submitted by intexile on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 8:23pm.
For Immediate Release:
Brandworkers

February 1, 2010

Contact: press (at) brandworkers.org

Workers Rights' Group Files Class Action Lawsuit Against Beverage Distributor Over Alleged Labor Violations

Immigrant Workers Take a Stand for Minimum Wage and Overtime Pay

New York, NY-  A non-profit workers' rights organization filed a class action lawsuit on Friday alleging that a Queens-based drink distributor,
Beverage-Plus, is violating the rights of its immigrant workforce.
The lawsuit was filed in New York federal court on behalf of current and former delivery drivers and warehouse assistants who were allegedly denied minimum wage and overtime by Beverage-Plus, in addition to other rights violations.  The case is an effort of the Brandworkers Focus on the Food Chain initiative which is exposing abuses in NYC's food processing sector and was brought in association with law firm Vladeck, Waldman, Elias & Engelhard, P.C.

"My co-workers and I work hard and now we are demanding to be paid according to the law," said Richard Merino, a member of Brandworkers who has been a driver at Beverage-Plus for six years.  "Wage theft is very damaging and we have chosen to tackle the problem by organizing together and taking collective action."

Lawyers for the workers will seek class certification to recover allegedly withheld compensation for current and former Beverage-Plus workers who have worked at the company in the last six years.  Maia Goodell and Anand Swaminathan of Vladeck Waldman are serving as lead counsel.

"Tens of thousands of recent immigrant workers labor out-of-sight in exploitative conditions processing and distributing food to New York's markets and restaurants," said Daniel Gross, the director of Brandworkers.  "Wage theft, abusive treatment, non-existent benefits, and hostility to organizing are endemic in the sector but workers' resolve to assert their rights is strong and growing.  Brandworkers Focus on the Food Chain will press on until New York's food processing employees win respect for their human rights and just recognition for their important contribution to our economy and our community."

Brandworkers is a New York-based non-profit organization protecting and advancing the rights of retail and food employees.  By providing workers with legal, advocacy, and organizing tools, Brandworkers ensures employer compliance with the law and challenges corporate misconduct in the community.  The Brandworkers Focus on the Food Chain initiative promotes a sustainable food system where workers' human rights are respected.


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After Hard-Fought Campaign, Workers Achieve Victory at Wild Edibles!

Submitted by intexile on Wed, 01/20/2010 - 5:07pm.

For Immediate Release:
Brandworkers

January 20, 2010

Contact: press (at) brandworkers.org

Workers Reach Comprehensive Settlement with Prominent Seafood Company

Protracted Grassroots Campaign Saw Over 75 Leading Restaurants Stop Serving Wild Edibles Products

New York, NY- Lawyers filed with a federal bankruptcy judge a global settlement agreement totaling over $340,000 and containing strong workplace protections in a high-profile set of litigation brought by workers against one of New York's leading seafood companies, Wild Edibles, Inc.

The comprehensive settlement comes after a bitterly-contested campaign in which some two-dozen recent immigrant workers and their non-profit organization, Brandworkers, used grassroots actions, media advocacy, and community organizing in an effort to win legal accountability at Wild Edibles, which supplies seafood to some of NYC's most famed restaurants in addition to operating retail seafood outlets.

"We're on top of the world today because more than anything we showed that ordinary workers can get organized, take action together, and win," said Raymundo Lara Molina, a former Wild Edibles employee and member of Brandworkers.


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Flaum Workers Attempt to Return to Work

Submitted by Steph on Thu, 11/26/2009 - 1:29am.
November 25, 8am: Workers along with members of the NYC-GMB march to Flaum, a kosher food distributor in Brooklyn, after a Labor Board ruling which ordered the boss to reinstate the workers with back pay. Instead, the boss wrongfully demanded that the workers reauthorize their immigration status and denied them their right to return to work.

The workers had been illegally fired for engaging in a work stoppage over the right to form a labor union and payment in accordance with the law.


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Wild Edibles Offering Bribes to Evade Accountability

Submitted by intexile on Thu, 02/05/2009 - 7:19pm.
For Immediate Release:
Brandworkers International

Contact: press (at) brandworkers.org

Brandworkers Denounces Bribe Offers as Wild Edibles' Latest Attempt to Avoid Accountability to Employees

New York, NY (02/03/2009) - Brandworkers, a non-profit for retail and food employees, announced today that several of its members from Wild Edibles, Inc. have been offered bribes to end a 16-month workplace accountability campaign directed at the company.  While refusing to pay what is owed in ongoing federal court and Labor Board litigation, Wild Edibles owner Richard Martin and one of his lieutenants have been offering cash payments to workers if they revoke their membership in Brandworkers and repudiate a worker-led public education campaign regarding rights abuses at the seafood processor and retailer.


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Star Chef Drops Wild Edibles

Submitted by intexile on Thu, 02/05/2009 - 6:54pm.
For Immediate Release:
Brandworkers International

Star Chef Marcus Samuelsson's Restaurant Stops Serving Wild Edibles Seafood Over Workers' Rights Concerns

New York, NY (01/26/09)- Aquavit, a perennial winner of three stars from the New York Times, has stopped serving seafood from accused labor rights violator, Wild Edibles.  Workers at Wild Edibles have been campaigning for almost a year and a half to reclaim unlawfully withheld overtime pay and win respect on the job.  Aquavit joins over 50 other leading NYC eateries that have decided not to serve Wild Edibles seafood until the workers' human rights are honored there.

"I am pleased that in these tough economic times, Aquavit has heard our call for fairness and accountability from Wild Edibles," said Lino Martinez, a plaintiff in the class action overtime lawsuit against Wild Edibles.  The National Labor Relations Board has issued two complaints against Wild Edibles for retaliating against Martinez and several of his co-workers.


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BREAKING IWW NEWS - Gainesville IWW members file for Union Recognition at Ward's Supermarket

Submitted by intexile on Tue, 12/09/2008 - 4:43pm.
PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY

As of 8am Tuesday morning, workers in the Natural Foods Dept. at Ward's Supermarket (located in Gainesville, FL) have filed a petition for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board.  This petition is a step forward in a months-long campaign of the Gainesville IWW.  The coming days will be challenging and we are counting on the full support of the community to win.  We will provide updates re: the campaign as they develop.

If you have any questions about the campaign, feel free to call us at 352-246-2240 or email gainesvilleiww [at] riseup.net.


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Noted Italian Restaurant Group Drops Wild Edibles Over Workers' Rights Abuses

Submitted by intexile on Thu, 12/04/2008 - 9:36pm.

For Immediate Release: Brandworkers International

Contact: press (at) brandworkers.org

Frank Restaurants Demonstrate Support for Sustainable and Humane Food System

Noted Italian Eateries in the East Village Stop Serving Wild Edibles Seafood Over Workers' Rights Concerns

New York, NY (11/24/08)- Three of the most popular Italian dining destinations in the East Village of Manhattan have stopped serving seafood from embattled wholesaler, Wild Edibles, Inc.  Workers at Wild Edibles have been campaigning for over a year to reclaim unlawfully withheld overtime pay and win respect on the job.  Frank, Lil' Frankie's, and Supper restaurants join over 45 leading NYC eateries that have decided not to serve Wild Edibles seafood until the workers' human rights are honored there.

"During tough economic times, it's more important than ever for employers to pay what they owe under the law," said Carlos Molina, a plaintiff in the class action overtime lawsuit against Wild Edibles.  "We are very pleased that the Frank restaurants have heard our call for justice."

Instead of accepting a reasonable resolution of workers' concerns, Wild Edibles and its owner Richard Martin have embarked on a relentless and at times bizarre campaign of retaliation and evasion.  Twelve workers have been fired or forced out of Wild Edibles for asserting their rights.  The company painted various false names on many of its trucks to avoid accountability to the workers.  The Labor Board filed a complaint against Wild Edibles for unlawfully inducing replacements workers with cash, food, and beverages to protest against employees engaged in protected organizing activity with the Industrial Workers of the World labor union.


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Embattled Seafood Company Illegally Paid Anti-Union Protesters and Fired Another Union Supporter After Interrogation

Submitted by intexile on Thu, 10/23/2008 - 9:52pm.
For Immediate Release:
Brandworkers International

Contact: press (at) brandworkers.org

October 23, 2008

Embattled Seafood Company Illegally Paid Anti-Union Protesters and Fired Another Union Supporter After Interrogation

New York, NY- The National Labor Relations Board has issued another complaint against Wild Edibles, Inc., a once well-regarded seafood wholesaler and retailer.  Based on an investigation triggered by charges from the Industrial Workers of the World, the federal labor agency has accused Wild Edibles of interrogating and firing employee Julio Carbonel for organizing with the IWW and of paying replacement workers in an attempt to disrupt a labor rally.


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