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Posts Tagged: el super

Displaying 2 of 4 Total Records

December 8, 2015

U.S. Government Alleges El Super Violates Workers Rights

el super, nlrb

El Super Group SqEl Super grocery chain is facing further scrutiny from federal regulators after the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a new complaint against the Paramount-based market. The latest complaint – alleging El Super violated workers rights- comes less than one week after unionized workers at seven El Super stores in California staged a one-day strike over unfair labor practices (ULPs).

The NLRB alleges that El Super violated federal labor laws by refusing to honor the required grievance process for a number of workplace issues, including unsafe equipment and claims of underpayment. The company also “failed and refused” to supply the union with information critical to ongoing contract enforcement and bargaining. A hearing has been set for February 1, 2016.

“Our members have had enough of this company’s lawless, irresponsible treatment,” said UFCW Local 770 President Ricardo F. Icaza. “We believe the NLRB’s action is reflective of what the workers have been saying – the company is not honoring its obligations to them and is breaking the law.  We are glad El Super will be held accountable for violating the workers rights.”

In the face of Court Action and an NLRB trial, El Super returned to union contract negotiations in August of this year, after more than a year of refusal. However, workers and their union do not believe El Super management has lived up to its promise to negotiate in good faith – which is in violation of the National Labor Relations Act.

Fermin Rodriguez, a cashier at El Super #13 in South Los Angeles who won back his job with back pay after the NLRB agreed that he was unlawfully discharged for exercising his federally protected rights. “El Super would rather take on its workers and the U.S. Government than show us respect. The latest complaint underscores this company’s shameful commitment to disrespecting the people most responsible for its success,” he said.

Flora Castaneda, an El Super cashier and a single mother of three said, “All we want is for this multibillion dollar company to raise our wages and working conditions to what other supermarket workers have. We want basic protections including a 40-hour guarantee for full-time workers, fair wages, affordable health benefits, the right to organize without retaliation, and respect. El Super can easily afford these things, but they simply refuse to act responsibly.”

In addition to current and past NLRB complaints against El Super, labor organizations in the United States and Mexico have filed complaints with the labor compliance arm of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and under labor provisions in NAFTA.

About the Dispute

Southern California UFCW Locals 324, 770, 1428 and 1167 represent approximately 600 El Super workers employed at seven locations. These low-wage, predominantly Latino workers were covered under a collective bargaining agreement with El Super that expired on September 27, 2013.

El Super is managed by the Paramount, Calif., based Bodega Latina Corp. There are 51 El Super locations in California (43 stores), Arizona (five stores), and Nevada (three stores). El Super is focused on serving Mexican first, second and third-generation consumers. Bodega Latina Corp is 83.36% owned by Mexico-based Grupo Comercial Chedraui (Chedraui). Chedraui operates 221 markets in Mexico. It is Mexico’s third largest retailer.

December 1, 2015

UFCW Members at El Super Strike In Protest Against the Company’s Unfair Labor Practices

el super, strike, UFCW Local 770

El Super StrikeOn the day before Thanksgiving, El Super workers at seven unionized locations in Southern California decided to strike the company over unfair labor practices. Picket lines were established at 4 a.m. asking consumers to do their Thanksgiving shopping elsewhere.

El Super union members have been working without a new and fair contract since September 2013.

In the face of court action and a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) trial, the company returned to the table in August of this year, after more than a year and half absence. They returned, however, to engage in bad faith bargaining in violation of federal law.

El Super has refused to respond to repeated requests for information critical to “good faith” negotiations.  The company’s unfair labor practices include its failures to process grievances, to give information necessary to enforce standards such as sick leave, and to provide the union with information necessary to good faith bargaining over key issues, including healthcare.

In response to its unlawful behavior, UFCW members who work for El Super have elected to exercise their right to go on an unfair labor practice strike to protest this company’s deplorable behavior.

El Super Strike Olmos

Actor Edward James Olmos joined striking El Super workers, “I support the workers’ right to bargain a fair contract at El Super and will join in supporting their boycott of El Super until they get the respect that they deserve.”

“El Super’s Mexico-based parent company – Grupo Comercial Chedraui – made over $100 million in profits last year,” said UFCW Local 770 President Ricardo Icaza. “UFCW members contributed greatly to the company’s success and we authorized this unfair labor practice strike because it’s high time that El Super stopped its unlawful stalling tactics and sat down in good faith and negotiated a contract that rewards our members for their hard work.”

Wednesday’s strike occurred one week after a dozen people were arrested during a nonviolent civil disobedience in front of El Super’s East LA store. The day after the arrests, El Super resumed negotiations with UFCW for two days, but the company continued to unlawfully deprive the union of information key to bargaining progress and our union members’ core concerns.

Fermin Rodriguez, a cashier at El Super Store #13, who won back his job with back pay after the NLRB agreed that his termination violated federal law, said, “For more than two years, my coworkers and I have been fighting to win a 40-hour guarantee for full-time workers, adequate paid sick leave, seniority protections, fair wages, affordable health benefits, the right to organize without retaliation, and respect. We wanted to achieve a fair contract at the bargaining table without a strike, but this company persists in unlawful conduct denying us of our rights under federal law. El Super only responds to direct pressure. El Super workers will not tolerate any more of the company’s illegal behavior.”

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