Foodstuff Workers Industrial Union 460

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

Warehouse bosses' Christmas gift: illegal retaliation against immigrant union members

Posted Thu, 12/28/2006 - 2:31pm by x344543

Brooklyn, New York – On January 2nd 2007 at 5:00AM workers from the Food Industry and Allied Workers Union (Industrial Workers of the World, I.U. 460/640) and supporters will bring in the New Year with a march and picket line.

This week owners from four different warehouses illegally threatened to call immigration or terminate union workers due to their immigration status in clear retaliation for the workers' union activities. Tuesday's march and picket will target Amersino Marketing Group, 161 Gardner Ave, Brooklyn, NY.

Over the last year and half, food distribution warehouse workers in northern Brooklyn and Queens have organized a union with the IWW. The campaign has met with resounding success: workers have organized in five different warehouses, several of which have been certified in National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) elections, they have forced their bosses towards full compliance with wage and hour laws, and they have won several major wage and hour violation cases while still other complaints totaling more than $100,000 have been filed with the Department of Labor.

Underpaid Workers to Serve Boss with Class-Action Lawsuit

Posted Tue, 12/26/2006 - 3:57pm by x344543

Who:
Current and former employees of Giant Big Apple Beer, Ltd., all Latino immigrants.

Where:
Giant Big Apple Beer Ltd.
32-31 57th St.
Woodside, New York, 11377
Phone: (718) 545-9400
CEO Sunny Paek

What:
Protest and press conference; service of lawsuit papers

When:
Tuesday, 26 December 2006

8:00 a.m. - Protest and service of lawsuit papers
8:30 a.m. - Press conference

Why:
Workers at Giant Big Apple work long hours for less than the legal minimum wage, without overtime pay. Fed up with this exploitation, they approached the Industrial Workers of the World and Make the Road By Walking, a Latino community organization based in Bushwick, Brooklyn. With the help of the IWW and Make the Road, they filed a wage & hour complaint with the U. S. Department of Labor in fall of 2005. As far as the workers know, this complaint has not resulted in any action by the DOL and they allege that their boss continues to violate State and federal wage laws. As a result, the workers consulted labor attorney Stuart Lichten of Schwartz, Lichten & Bright, P.C., with whose help they have filed a class action against Giant Big Apple on behalf of all present and former employees of the company.

The Industrial Workers of the World, a democratic, member-run labor union, is supporting the Giant Big Apple workers, and will stage a protest rally in front of Giant Big Apple when the suit papers are served. A number of Giant Big Apple's workers have joined the union and organizing efforts at the beer distributorship are continuing.

Giant Big Apple employs approximately 19 workers. Seven current employees and nine former employees have joined the class-action lawsuit.

Ez-Supply reneges on agreement with the union

Posted Tue, 12/26/2006 - 1:39pm by IWW.org Editor

Throughout the Fall of 2006 the IWW has been putting pressure on EZ supply to sit and negotiate. Finally the boss came to his sense and negotiated an agreement.  The agreement included recognition of the union, wage increases, a grievance procedure, paid time off and more. 

On December 26th on the heels of workers at 2 more shops announcing their membership in the IWW and demanding their rights the boss at EZ-supply reneged his agreement.  The previous lawyer who did the negotiations no longer works for EZ-supply and a new lawyer showed up.  Workers returned to work knowing that the boss was once again showing his unwillingness to obey the law and respect the rights of workers.  We all see a vicious fight in front of us. 

UPDATE - Top City Pay your workers!

Posted Mon, 12/18/2006 - 1:20pm by IWW.org Editor

As of this afternoon workers at top city are going back to work. The boss agreed to pay min wage and overtime and open to further discussions.

Thanks to everyone for the support; we know that a lot of people called and that scared the s@$+! out of the boss.  The workers at Top City want to send a strong message of solidarity back to everyone who took action. 

More to come - no picket tomorrow morning!

Original Alert

At 5:00 AM Monday December 18, 2006 IWW members from Top produce, Handy Fat, Ez-Supply and Starbucks along with members of SDS marched on Top City Produce to demand justice.  

Workers at Top City refused to go to work until the boss agreed to obey the law.  For too long workers have been working 72 hour weeks with no overtime, wages less than minimum wage, no benefits and no respect.  

IWW EZ Supply Workers Win Huge Victory!

Posted Mon, 11/27/2006 - 6:24pm by x344543

The IWW had an amazing victory last week. A contract was negotiated between the Boss at ez-supply and the workers. After a year long fight workers made the big wins in improving their working conditions. This is amazing!

This next part is from Benjamin who has worked on the campaign and was at the negotiations.

the boss acknowledged that he was hurt very bad by our cutting into his business! our flyering in park slope has paid off for the EZ supply workers, who scored well in their bargaining session.

  • the boss has agreed to recognize the union, & workers spoke to their boss from the 1st time w/out fear.
  • wage increases $1.70 - $2.45/hr. over 24 months
  • a grievance procedure
  • premium pay for certain types of routine work
  • 3 paid sick days
  • an additional holiday in 2nd yr. of contract
  • across the board second week vacation
  • the company will sponsor the workers' green cards, & no worker will be fired for their immigration status
  • their files will be purged of all union activities
  • and they've received some of the back pay, & have retained an attorney to pursue the rest in federal court.

All of this is still yet to be voted on, & isn't of course as good as was wanted, so its certainly not over yet. we began working on this campaign exactly 1 year ago!