For Immediate Release:
Brandworkers International
March 12, 2008
Sign the Petition Demanding Respect for CompUSA Workers!
New York, NY- A new workers' rights organization has called into question the conduct of restructuring firm Gordon Brothers Group LLC as it liquidates the assets of national electronics retailer, CompUSA. Brandworkers International, a New York-based non-profit for retail and food employees, says that internal company documents and reports it has received from employees reveal that thousands of CompUSA workers will be permanently laid off with little or no severance pay, no continuation of benefits, and without receiving a hiring preference at CompUSA locations which continue doing business under new ownership. The private equity-arm of Gordon Brothers purchased CompUSA last December from Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim Helu.
"Gordon Brothers has promised proper treatment for landlords, creditors, and consumers as it sells off CompUSA - but what about the workers being thrown into this very difficult job market?" said John Kane, a campaigner at Brandworkers.
In an open letter to Gordon Brothers, Brandworkers called on the company to increase the transparency of the dissolution process and to provide a fair severance package to minimize the adverse impact on the affected employees and their families. To raise awareness about the company's conduct, the group has alerted nearly 100 members of Congress with one or more CompUSA stores in their district to the lack of respect shown by Gordon Brothers to their constituents. Brandworkers has also launched an online petition at http://www.Brandworkers.org for citizens to express their concern regarding Gordon Brothers' treatment of employees.
"I could not believe that many CompUSA employees found out about the Gordon Brothers' buyout and store closings through an article on the Internet as the rest of the nation became aware," said John Mahan, a laid off CompUSA worker. "Being cut off so prematurely really hurt and left me with a lot to think about."
Brandworkers is dedicated to linking concerned citizens with retail and food employees to create positive change on the job and in the community. By empowering working families with legal, advocacy, and organizing tools, Brandworkers seeks to hold the big brand retailers accountable for their actions throughout the supply chain.
"Gordon Brothers had escaped public scrutiny of their misconduct toward employees," said Brandworkers Campaigner Kathleen Salmon. "But now contrary to the company's hopes, their irresponsible acts won't just be swept under the rug."