China Grill Group of Restaurants Will Not Serve Seafood from Wild Edibles Until Workers' Rights are Respected
July 28, 2008
One of Nation's Leading Restaurant Groups Joins Effort for Positive Change at Large Seafood Company
New York, NY- China Grill Management, which owns industry-leading restaurant concepts including Asia de Cuba and China Grill, is the latest fine dining group to cut off purchases from embattled seafood wholesaler and retailer, Wild Edibles, Inc. Wild Edibles workers are campaigning to reclaim unlawfully withheld overtime pay and to gain a living wage and health care as union members. Wild Edibles owner, Richard Martin, has responded with a fierce campaign of retaliation including discharging eleven workers for asserting their rights.
"I'm glad that China Grill has shown concern for the well-being of our families, even if Wild Edibles is not yet able to do so," said Cesar Barturen, a ten year employee of Wild Edibles who was fired after filing a federal overtime lawsuit with twenty-three of his co-workers. "I can't understand why [Wild Edibles owner] Richard Martin has chosen a protracted fight rather than accepting a reasonable settlement."
A federal judge issued an injunction in December prohibiting Wild Edibles from further retaliating against employees. But the workers' lawyers recently had to file a motion asking the judge to find the company in contempt of court for continuing its retaliation campaign despite the injunction. After an independent investigation, the National Labor Relations Board issued two complaints against the company for interfering with the workers' efforts to form a union with the Industrial Workers of the World.
"Consumers expect restaurants to have zero-tolerance for suppliers who cheat workers out of wages," said Yuan Li, a campaigner with Brandworkers, a non-profit which is supporting the Wild Edibles workers as part of its Focus on the Food Chain initiative. "We look forward to Wild Edible's remaining restaurant customers following the positive example set by China Grill today."
The other restaurant groups which have disassociated from Wild Edibles over concern for workers' rights are those connected with Pastis, La Goulue, Union Square Cafe, Mermaid Inn, Giorgione, Sushi Samba, and One if by Land, Two if by Sea.
Brandworkers International is a non-profit organization protecting and advancing thevrights of retail and food employees across the supply chain. By connecting retail and food workers with concerned citizens, Brandworkers increases employer compliance with the law and challenges corporate misconduct. The Brandworkers Focus on the Food Chain initiative is providing comprehensive legal, advocacy, and organizing support to the Wild Edibles employees.
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