Union Meat Workers at Trade Fair Supermarkets in Queens Locked Out Amid Unfair Labor Practices

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - March 19, 2013 - PRLog -- Queens, New York- Nearly 100 United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 342 meat department members who work at 9 Trade Fair Supermarket locations throughout Queens, New York, have been locked out of their jobs since Wednesday, March 13th.  UFCW Local 342, a labor organization that represents nearly 10,000 members working in supermarkets, as well as a variety of other food industries in the area, has filed several Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against the company.  These charges have included intimidation, threats of termination, harassment, assault, and coercing of Union workers and representatives for exercising their rights as union members.  Local 342, with the help of New York City District #25 Council Member Daniel Dromm, who recently visited a Trade Fair store in his Jackson Heights district to show support, is working to stop the company from committing these Unfair Labor Practices.  

Last Wednesday morning, in a show of unity and strength, meat workers at the stores conducted a ULP strike for a few hours to let Trade Fair ownership know that they were serious about being treated fairly in the workplace.  After making the point that they would not tolerate Trade Fair ignoring labor laws, the meat workers offered to unconditionally return to work.  Management refused to take them back, quickly turning the brief strike into a lockout.          

Since the lockout began, many customers have supported Local 342’s picket line, refusing to shop at Trade Fair stores until the meat workers are brought back.  However, for those who have continued to shop there, they have told locked out workers that they are disappointed with the quality of meat products they have purchased in the stores.  Additionally, locked out workers also witnessed the company unloading goat and lamb carcasses from the floor of a trailer into a dirty shopping cart.  This act can be seen on the Local 342’s social media pages.  

“We believe Trade Fair’s behavior, including actions related to possible unacceptable food practices, disrespectful treatment of union members, and harassment of locked out workers on the picket line, are not only unacceptable, but an embarrassment to the Queens community,” a Union spokesperson from their Communications Department said.  “We will continue to explore every legal venue to ensure that these members are returned to work, and treated fairly under the law,” the spokesperson concluded.