Work hours have been cut, effective tonight (Friday), for some of the stock workers at Golden Farm. The ones who are affected are the ones who participated in the appeal (which they won) to the Department of Labor for back wages and who participated in the effort to unionize the store (which they succeeded in doing).
Their struggle for dignity on the job, a fair union contract, paid sick days, and payment of back wages for the years they worked below minimum wage has been a difficult one, and it continues.
Some customers decided months ago to boycott Golden Farm after learning about the work conditions at the store. In April, the workers called a one-day boycott. Now, they've called for an official boycott that begins tomorrow (Saturday) at 8:00 a.m.
Tonight, the store's owner, Sonny Kim, told them that the boycott is slowing down business. However, at the same time, he's hired new workers, including one as recently as yesterday.
The workers' new union will, of course, be filing charges about the reduced hours, and the lawyer for the wage and hour case will be contacting Mr. Kim. It's illegal to cut work hours as retaliation.
The boycott that starts Saturday morning will be ongoing, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, until the workers have a fair contract that includes paid sick days.
In addition to the boycott, people will picket Golden Farm on Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The Rude Mechanical Orchestra will arrive at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday to keep the mood upbeat and lively.
On Saturday, August 25th, the New York Communities for Change Worker Committee will hold an immigrant workers solidarity picket from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at Golden Farm.
Pledge to boycott Golden Farm at http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/6245/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=6466.
Donate to the family of deceased worker Felix Trinidad Tzatzapotla at https://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/6245/p/salsa/donation/common/public/?donate_page_KEY=7880. He died of stomach cancer at the age of 34, leaving behind a wife and two young children. He had no paid sick days. Not wanting to lose any income, he even worked on days that he had chemotherapy.
Recent coverage of the Golden Farm campaign:
Daily News
- http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/golden-farm-worker-felix-trinidad-campaigned-unionize-kensington-grocer-mourned-article-1.1120868
- http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/streets-golden-farm-boycott-planned-aid-widow-worker-felix-trinidad-article-1.1136369
El Diario
99 Pickets
New York Times
- http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/16/nyregion/union-efforts-over-conditions-at-greengrocers-splits-2-immigrant-groups.html
- http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/19/nyregion/planning-a-march-and-envisioning-a-movement-to-unite-low-wage-workers.html