Park Slope Greens to put pressure on Flaum Appetizing Corp. to return stolen wages
The Park Slope Greens has announced they are launching the Campaign for a Flaum Free Park Slope. The community based organization seeks to work with local retailers to suspend sales of Sonny & Joe’s hummus and avoid products from Flaum Appetizing, Tnuva and Bodek. Already the group has gotten the Park Slope Associated Supermarket to remove Sonny & Joe’s from their store due to workers’ rights concerns at the East Williamsburg food production and distribution facility, Flaum Appetizing Corp. Flaum and its owner Moshe Grunhut illegally fired seventeen of their Latino workers en masse after the employees stood up against over a decade of unlawfully withheld overtime pay, denial of benefits, and abusive treatment from management. Though Flaum’s retaliatory conduct was judged illegal in February 2009 after a full trial, the company is resisting compliance with the judge’s order including the payment of over $260,000 in lost wages.
“The Park Slope Greens actively support workers’ rights and will defend their rights not only in the political arena but also in the streets” said Daniella Liebling, member and coordinator of Park Slope Greens. “Sweatshop products have no place in Park Slope. We encourage neighborhood retailers to remove Sonny & Joe’s until Moshe Grunhut pays the workers the money he owes them.”
The Flaum workers are part of the Focus on the Food Chain campaign, a collaborative effort from non-profit organization Brandworkers International and the NYC Industrial Workers of the World labor union. To date 10 stores have stopped carrying Sonny & Joe’s including Food Emporium. Locally, the Park Slope Food Coop was the first store to pull the hummus brand off their shelves.
“We appreciate the continuing support of the Park Slope community” said Bulmaro Arenas, a Flaum worker whose firing was held to be illegal. “We know that together, with our growing base of supporters, we will see justice. Mr. Grunhut should realize that he cannot just sweep our wages under the rug.”
The Focus on the Food Chain campaign promotes a sustainable food system that incorporates respect for workers’ human rights. Through worker-led organizing, direct action, and litigation, the campaign challenges and overcomes sweatshop conditions in New York’s food processing and distribution warehouses. They are online at: http://tinyurl.com/focusonthefoodchain
The Park Slope Greens are a neighborhood organization that promotes the Green Party platform, issues and candidates, including living wages for all workers. Committed to environmentalism, non-violence, social justice and grassroots organizing, they are also organizing for a ban of hydro-fracking in New York State and a Green New Deal. Community members are encouraged to contact them if they find Sonny & Joe’s, Flaum, Tnuva or Bodek products in the area by e-mailing: psg@gpbk.org. They are online at: http://www.parkslopegreens.org
