Submitted on Thu, 02/05/2009 - 6:19pm
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.
Submitted on Thu, 02/05/2009 - 5:54pm
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.
Submitted on Thu, 01/22/2009 - 4:33pm
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.
Submitted on Tue, 01/06/2009 - 10:50am
It’s that time of year again…
MLK Day March Against Wage Slavery!
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a tireless fighter for social justice. Every year, the IWW marches on MLK Day to honor his legacy.
We march on the workplaces in which we are organizing to show solidarity with our fellow workers and send a clear message to the bosses that we stand united against all forms of slavery!
We are calling on Starbucks to pay the holiday premium on MLK Day.
We are calling on Wild Edibles owner Richard Martin to stop union-busting, rehire fired workers, and settle his ongoing labor dispute with the workers.
Mon, Jan 19th
Submitted on Thu, 12/04/2008 - 8:36pm
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.