NYC iu460

by Diane Krauthamer / January 22, 2009

On a chilly Monday morning in midtown Manhattan, demonstrators displayed powerful messages of solidarity with food and retail workers, demanding fair wages and treatment while sending a prominent message to bosses: “You can’t keep the workers down, New York is a union town!”

On January 19, 2009, approximately 50 people braved the winter weather for the Industrial Workers of the World’s (IWW) annual “March Against Wage Slavery” in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Starting at 11 AM outside the Starbucks Regional Office on 5th Avenue in the shadows of the Empire State Building, a radical marching band joined by union members and supporters rallied alongside Starbucks baristas to demand that workers be paid a holiday premium of time and a half for working on MLK Day—the only national holiday in which workers do not receive premium pay.

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.

Disclaimer - The opinions of the author do not necessarily match those of the IWW. This article is reposted in accordance to Fair Use guidelines.