Seafood Company Illegally Paid Anti-Union Protesters and Fired Another Union Supporter After Interrogation
October 23, 2008
New York, NY- The National Labor Relations Board has issued another
complaint against Wild Edibles, Inc., a once well-regarded seafood
wholesaler and retailer. Based on an investigation triggered by
charges from the Industrial Workers of the World, the federal labor
agency has accused Wild Edibles of interrogating and firing employee
Julio Carbonel for protected organizing activities and of paying
replacement workers to crash a labor rally.
The Board's complaint is the third in less than a year against Wild
Edibles. The company is also subject to a class action overtime and
retaliation lawsuit in federal court. Advocates hold that Wild
Edibles and its owner Richard Martin have fired or forced out twelve
workers for asserting their rights. The Labor Board trial against
Wild Edibles is set to begin on November 18, 2008 at 9:30am at Two
MetroTech Center North, 5th Floor, Brooklyn, New York.
Brandworkers is a New York-based non-profit protecting and advancing
the rights of retail and food employees. The Brandworkers Focus on
the Food Chain campaign is providing legal, advocacy, and organizing
support to the Wild Edibles employees. Workers have been campaigning
for over a year to reclaim unlawfully withheld overtime pay and win
respect on the job. Over forty of New York's most celebrated
restaurants have stopped serving Wild Edibles over labor abuse concerns.
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