Submitted on Fri, 01/04/2008 - 5:06pm
By Beth Bar - 01-02-2008, New York Law Journal
A Manhattan federal judge has ordered a New York City
seafood purveyor not to retaliate against workers who
are suing the company for allegedly violating state
and federal labor laws.
Southern District Judge Louis L. Stanton has issued a
preliminary injunction against Wild Edibles, a
wholesale and retail chain that has been featured on
"The Martha Stewart Show" and on the Food Network. The
judge prohibited the company from taking any "adverse
employment action against, or terminating the
employment of" any worker who decides to be part of
the suit.
Submitted on Thu, 12/20/2007 - 1:07pm
The NYC IWW has 4 major 460/640 events over the next 3 months. We are inviting fellow workers to New York to take part in these events. We can provide housing and any other needs you might have.
Too far and can't make it? Perhaps you'd like to do a solidarity event in your hometown!
We hope you can participate in some way.
PICKETS
Fri, Dec 28th, 7am - 5pm
at EZ Supply - this is the one-year anniversary of the firing massacres that took place at EZ Supply in which 15 workers were terminated for their IWW involvement - we will be turning trucks away
Sat, Jan 5th, 7am - 5pm
at Handyfat - this is the second shop to fire IWW workers in the massacre - one year ago, 9 workers were illegally terminated here - we will be turning trucks away
Submitted on Tue, 10/09/2007 - 4:41am
Five workers from Top City Produce were recently fired from their jobs. The “Gang of Five” – Osvaldo, Mario, Diego, Esau, and Carlos – have been some of the strongest and most active members of the IWW since they joined the union almost two years ago.
After one of the workers was suspended on Saturday, the other four approached the boss in an attempt to discuss the situation. On Monday morning, the boss told them all to wait outsede and then never allowed them back in. They continue to be locked out.
Before joining the union, Top City workers consistently pulled 72-hour weeks with no overtime and no benefits. Conditions improved once the shop went union. Workers filed a lawsuit against Top City for wage violations and negotiated a contract with the boss. They were waiting for the boss to sign the contract when they were fired without warning on Monday.
Submitted on Tue, 09/18/2007 - 3:23pm
Lisa Fickenscher - newyorkbusiness.com, September 17. 2007
Wild Edibles, one of the city's top seafood companies, boasting two retail stores in the city and a large wholesale business, was sued Monday in federal court by 16 employees who say they were not paid overtime wages.
A group of workers and supporters announced the lawsuit, which is seeking class action status, this afternoon in front of trendy Pastis restaurant on Manhattan's Ninth Ave. and 12th St., one of Wild Edibles' wholesale customers.
The group also alleges that Wild Edibles owner Richard Martin fired four workers who joined a labor union and tried to convince their colleagues to do the same. The union, Industrial Workers of the World, represents some 2,000 members, who work in warehouses, agriculture, construction and transportation.
Submitted on Tue, 09/18/2007 - 9:21am
by Amy Zimmer /
Metro New York
MEATPACKING DISTRICT. The workers who filed a class action lawsuit yesterday against Wild Edibles, a high-end seafood retail and wholesale company, didn’t hold their press conference at the company’s Long Island City warehouse or one of its three retail locations. Instead, they stood in front of Pastis — Keith McNally’s fashionable French restaurant.
Pastis, the workers say, is one of Wild Edibles’ big customers. They allege Wild Edibles systematically denied overtime pay and, when workers tried to assert their rights, they faced retaliation.
Pedro Hernandez, who cleans and weighs fish and oversees oysters, has worked at the warehouse for nearly a year and earns $450 a week for the 56 hours he puts in.
“They make us work a lot, at least three hours above the eight-hour day,” Henandez said through a translator. “We were told we would get a raise after three months, but that never happened.”
Brandworkers International, a new nonprofit workers’ rights group, along with Industrial Workers of the World IU460-640, organized yesterday’s rally to raise awareness for their campaign to improve conditions for the low-wage jobs held mainly by immigrant workers at warehouses in Brooklyn and Queens.
Workers at 10 city food warehouses have joined the IWW. Four from Wild Edibles who tried to unionize with IU460-640 were fired, workers alleged.
Representatives from Wild Edibles and Pastis declined comment.
Daniel Gross, co-founder of Brandworkers, hoped passers-by got the message.
“Focus on the food chain,” he said. “Consider what’s on your plate. One step before that tuna hits it, workers at Wild Edibles and elsewhere are working in shameful and deplorable conditions.”