Wild Edibles

Celebrated Italian Restaurants Choose Not to Serve Seafood from Wild Edibles or its Front Companies

Contact: press (at) brandworkers.org

September 16, 2008

New York, NY- Centro Vinoteca and Gusto, the popular Village restaurants sought after for their creative Italian specialties, have stopped serving seafood from wholesaler and retailer, Wild Edibles, Inc. over concern for workers' rights. Employees have been campaigning for over a year to win respect for work and family at Wild Edibles.

"Gusto and Cento Vinoteca are proud to support the hard working employees of Wild Edibles who are striving for change," said George Elkins, Vice President & Managing Director of Mangia Hospitality Group. "To honor the principles of dignity and fairness, the restaurants are no longer serving seafood from Wild Edibles, Inc. or any of its associated companies."

UPDATE: Wild Edibles outed on influential food blogs including photos-

http://eater.com/archives/2008/09/eaterwire_119.php

http://nymag.com/daily/food/2008/09/brandworkers_spies_on_wild_edi.html

Statement of Brandworkers on Wild Edibles' Deceptive Use of Corporate Fronts

August 26, 2008

"In their continuing bid to avoid accountability for their illegal employment practices, Wild Edibles and owner Richard Martin have begun using different company names to deceive restaurant owners into buying seafood from Wild Edibles.

On the heels of filing a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition, Wild Edibles is deploying at least eight trucks under various company names and is billing restaurants using invoices from front companies. Wild Edibles and these front companies are one and the same and are therefore all subject to the current labor dispute.

The fish from the front companies is processed, packed, and delivered by Wild Edibles workers in the Wild Edibles warehouse. The same warehouse which received a warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for selling adulterated tuna that had been, "prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby they may have been rendered injurious to health."

Beloved Nolita Restaurant Lends a Hand to Workers' Movement for a Better Future

August 19, 2008

New York, NY- The Kitchen Club, the popular Nolita restaurant known for its unique dumplings, has stopped serving seafood from wholesaler and retailer, Wild Edibles, Inc. over concern for employee rights. Wild Edibles workers have been campaigning for almost a year to stake out a brighter future for their families.

"A holistic view of wholesome food, including respect for those who create and serve it, is one of our core values," said Marja Samsom, the owner and head chef of The Kitchen Club. "It is my view that Wild Edibles' business practices are currently incompatible with our values and we are no longer serving its products."

Celebrated Thai restaurant is the latest to drop Wild Edibles until it settles a year-long dispute with workers

August 7, 2008

New York, NY- Kittichai, the popular Thai restaurant in Soho, has stopped serving seafood from wholesaler and retailer, Wild Edibles, Inc. over concern for employee rights. Wild Edibles workers and their allies have been campaigning for almost a year to reclaim stolen overtime pay; to compel compliance with workplace laws including the right to support a labor union; and to win a more livable wage as well as a health care and retirement plan.

"With Kittichai, thirty-four of New York's most well-regarded restaurants have stopped serving Wild Edibles seafood," said Raymundo Lara Molina, one of eleven Wild Edibles employees fired or forced out in retaliation for asserting their rights. "When will Wild Edibles see the writing on the wall and accept a just resolution of this dispute?"

July 29, 2008

"The Chapter 11 Bankruptcy petition filed by Wild Edibles, Inc. is the latest in a year-long series of foot-dragging maneuvers by owner Richard Martin to avoid accountability for years of illegal employment practices.

It is important to note that Wild Edibles continues to operate as a going concern as it did not file a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy petition to liquidate its operations. Legal counsel for Wild Edibles workers are currently assessing all options to respond to the Chapter 11 filing including a motion to dismiss the petition as a misuse of the Bankruptcy Code designed to evade the class-action overtime lawsuit that the company faces.

The Wild Edibles workers remain amenable to a reasonable resolution of their outstanding claims to bring the company into compliance with all applicable workplace laws. Inexplicably, Wild Edibles owner Richard Martin has thus far opted for a protracted and costly battle rather than a settlement fair to both sides.

Until Wild Edibles comports itself within the obligations prescribed by law, Brandworkers will continue to encourage high-road restaurant employers to refrain from serving Wild Edibles seafood.

In the last year, Wild Edibles has been hit with an injunction against retaliation from a federal judge; has been issued two complaints from the National Labor Relations Board; and has lost key customers over concern for its record on workers' rights. The time is long past due for Wild Edibles to accept a just settlement which honors the hard work of Wild Edibles employees through the night, six nights a week.

Brandworkers looks forward to the day when Wild Edibles can focus again on being the #1-rated seafood company in New York City."

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Background: Wild Edibles Files for Bankruptcy Protection- http://www.crainsnewyork.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080729/FREE/27...

China Grill’s owner becomes latest to kiss off seafood purveyor Wild Edibles over alleged labor violations.

by Lisa Fickenscher

Published: July 28, 2008 - 3:17 pm

A year-long campaign by workers’ advocacy group to put pressure on seafood purveyor Wild Edibles to settle a dispute over alleged labor law violations appears to be paying off.

Celebrity restaurateur, Jeffrey Chodorow is the latest heavy-weight to sever his company’s relationship with Long Island City-based purveyor, according to Brandworkers International, a worker-advocacy group representing some of the seafood company’s warehouse employees.

With some two dozen restaurants across the country, including its Midtown flagship, China Grill, Mr. Chodorow’s China Grill Management now ranks as the largest restaurant group to support the campaign.

Wild Edibles was accused in a September 2007 lawsuit of failing to pay its workers over-time wages and of firing some of them for union activities. The National Labor Relations Board has also filed two complaints against the company for retaliating against workers, who are trying to organize warehouse employees.

Brandworkers says 33 New York City restaurants, including those owned by prominent restaurateur Danny Meyer, have ceased buying seafood from Wild Edibles.

Wild Edibles’ owner, “Richard Martin has dug in his heels and has opted for a costly battle,” says Daniel Gross who heads up the worker advocacy group.

Mr. Martin is not the only one in the food service industry, however, who is fighting the group’s effort. Mr. Gross says City Bakery and its catering arm, owned by Maury Rubin, refuses to meet with representatives of Brandworkers. Other restaurateurs have reluctantly signed on to the campaign under pressure as was the case with Danny Abrams who, co-owns The Mermaid Inn.

Earlier this year, Mr. Abrams said in an interview with Crain’s “I find the whole thing murky regarding [Brandworkers International’s] desired resolution.”

Mr. Martin and his legal counsel as well as Mr. Chodorow could not be reached for comment.

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.

http://www.Brandworkers.org

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Immigrant Workers Seeking a Better Future for their Families Score Victory

July 8, 2008

New York, NY- One if by Land, Two if by Sea, the highly-regarded Greenwich Village restaurant, has joined several other fine dining companies in cutting 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.

"One if by Land has a long history of supporting workers' rights and we are proud to support the effort of the Wild Edibles workers making positive change," said Rosanne Martino, the general manager of the restaurant. "Cutting expenses by violating the law and cheating your own employees makes an unlevel playing field in the market and costs more down the road than it is worth."

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. The National Labor Relations Board has also issued two complaints against the company for interfering with the workers' efforts to form a union with the Industrial Workers of the World.

"We come to work at 2 a.m. six days a week and work hard through the night," said Carlos Molina, one of the eleven Wild Edibles employees fired or forced out of the job for asserting their rights. "We're just looking for our contribution to be respected and we appreciate One if By Land's support very much."

The other restaurant groups which have disassociated from Wild Edibles over concern for workers' rights are Pastis, La Goulue, Union Square Cafe, Mermaid Inn, Giorgione, and Sushi Samba.

Brandworkers International is a non-profit organization protecting and advancing the rights 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.

http://www.Brandworkers.org

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