Trade Fair grocery workers and community allies delivered a petition to the new store owner stating that they will boycott the store until workers are rehired.
Last week, elected officials joined Trade Fair grocery workers from UFCW Locals 342 and 338, to deliver a petition to the new owner of the small grocery chain. The petition has more than 500 area residents’ signatures who are pledging to boycott the store until the workers are rehired. Now, pressure is mounting on the new owner of the supermarket to hire back the 50 workers at the newly-named Global Market.
On December 10, 2013, dozens of union workers reported to work at the Trade Fair Supermarket in Jackson Heights, New York. When they arrived, management informed the employees that the store had been sold and that they were terminated effective immediately. Over 50 employees found themselves suddenly out of work two weeks before Christmas.
Trade Fair’s action violates the collective bargaining agreements with the two local unions. The company’s action is also a potential violation of the Warn Act, which in New York State may require employers to provide their workers with at least 90 days notice of a closure.
The Trade Fair Supermarkets consist of nine store locations across Queens, New York. UFCW Local 338 members work in the “front end” (all departments, except meat) of all nine stores while UFCW Local 342 members work in the meat departments.