Focus on the Food Chain

For Immediate Release:

Brandworkers

January 20, 2010

Workers Reach Comprehensive Settlement with Prominent Seafood Company

Noted Italian Eateries in the East Village Stop Serving Wild Edibles Seafood Over Workers' Rights Concerns

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.

New Voices Add Support to the Campaign for Worker Dignity at Wild Edibles, Inc.

October 13, 2008

New York, NY- Reverend Billy, a nationally-known advocate for responsible consumption and Pastor Jeff Mansfield, a leading voice for food justice at Judson Memorial Church, joined with Wild Edibles workers and their supporters this weekend to protest chef and restaurant owner Terrance Brennan at the New York City Wine & Food Festival. Brennan's Artisanal Bistro lied in writing by stating that it was no longer serving seafood processed by the Wild Edibles sweatshop when it in fact did continue to serve Wild Edibles products.

"Mr. Brennan, honor your word," exclaimed Rev. Billy into a megaphone during a sidewalk sermon in front of the food festival panel featuring Terrance Brennan. "[The Wild Edibles workers] don't want to work in a sweatshop. Even celebrity chefs have to do the right thing."

 

Wild Edibles workers and supporters handed out leaflets to festival attendees featuring Terrance Brennan's portrait and an explanation of the deception carried out by his restaurant company. Protesters were also treated to a champagne toast, just like the guests at the event, with the message that working families deserve the best.

"We've been fighting for overtime pay for over a year and we've been abused on the job and harassed," explained fired Wild Edibles employee Lino Martinez to the assembled crowd. "We will continue to struggle for as long as it takes." Mr. Martinez is one of several workers that the federal Labor Board says was fired by Wild Edibles owner Richard Martin in retaliation for participating in an overtime lawsuit and for supporting the Industrial Workers of the World labor union.

The awareness event was sponsored by the Brandworkers Focus on the Food Chain campaign. Focus on the Food Chain promotes a sustainable food system which incorporates respect for workers' human rights.

www.Brandworkers.org

www.revbilly.com

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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."

Kittichai has broken its written commitment and gone back to the Wild Edibles sweatshop. Please take action now: http://www.brandworkers.org/en/node/57071

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.