HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016 115 CC RESO RESOLUTION NO. 2016-115
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF BALDWIN PARK SUPPORTING THE UFCW AND
ENDORSING THE EL SUPER BOYCOTT
WHEREAS, The City Council of the City of Baldwin Park is committed to
providing the best quality of life possible for all its residents; and
WHEREAS, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) represents
hundreds of employees at El Super stores throughout Southern California, including El
Super stores which one (1) is located in the City of Baldwin Park; and
WHEREAS, Residents of the City of Baldwin Park are UFCW members and are
employed by El Super markets; and
WHEREAS, El Super workers are fighting for good jobs in our community,
seeking adequate paid sick leave, seniority rights, guaranteed 40-hour work-weeks for
full-time employees, and a fair wage; and
WHEREAS, The employment practices of El Super affect the residents of the
City of Baldwin Park in terms of the their working conditions and the need for secure
and beneficial jobs in the community; and
WHEREAS, The UFCW has called a consumer boycott of El Super markets in
protest of El Super's refusal to negotiate a fair contract for these workers; and
WHEREAS, El Super employs low-wage and predominantly Latino workers from
this community who have been working without a fair union agreement Since
September 2013; and
WHEREAS, El Super implemented its "last, best, and final offer" after workers
told them it was unacceptable by voting overwhelmingly to reject it and authorizing their
union to call a strike if necessary; and
WHEREAS, On December 12, 2014, El Super workers voted — by a more than 3-
1 majority— in favor of continued UFCW representation; and
WHEREAS, El Super workers voted overwhelmingly in favor of union
representation in the face of an aggressive"Vote No" campaign by the company; and •
WHEREAS, After the recertification vote, the union promptly sent a letter to the
company asking for them to return to the bargaining table; and
WHEREAS, El Super outright rejected that request, and
Resolution No. 2016-115
Page 2
WHEREAS, Community Groups, including the East LA Community Corp, Pueblo
y Salud, Strategic Action for a Just Economy, and Strategic Concepts in Organizing and
Policy Education have endorsed the UFCW's boycott, as they found that El Super is not
only disrespectful to its workforce but to the community which it serves. They have
added their voice to highlight that County health inspectors identified and documented
over 1,170 violations of environmental health regulations established to protect
consumers and public health; and
WHEREAS, The U.S. consumer boycott completed its first year targeting
approximately half of the El Super stores, and surpassed 2 million customers engaged.
Of those, a little over 10% (212,000) were turned away; and
WHEREAS, The workers at all seven unionized El Super stores conducted
Unfair Labor Practice strikes on November 25 and December 16, 2015; and
WHEREAS, In November 2015, a coalition of US and Mexican labor and
consumer organizations filed simultaneous complaints under the NAFTA labor
agreement and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
guidelines. These complaints challenge workers' rights abuses in both countries by
Mexican retail giant Chedraui Commercial Group and El Super;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Baldwin Park City Council
hereby supports the UCFW and endorses the El Super boycott for the benefit of the
residents of the City of Baldwin Park.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 16th day of March, 2016.
MANUEL LOZANO
MAYOR
ATTEST:
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) SS.
CITY OF BALDWIN PARK )
Resolution No. 2016-115
Page 3
I, ALEJANDRA AVILA, City Clerk of the City of Baldwin Park, do hereby certify that
the foregoing resolution was duly and regularly approved and adopted by the City Council
of the City of Baldwin Park at a regular meeting of the City Council on March 16, 2016, by
the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: BACA, GARCIA, LOZANO, PACHECO, RUBIO
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ABSTAIN: ,/,COUNCILMEM ERS: NONE
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ALEJANCiRA ALA
CITY CLERK