Re: [Marxism] Fresh Direct

[Jon Flanders <jonflanders@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hoffa Condemns Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Suppression of
Worker Rights



Official Statement of Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa



    WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Workers at FreshDirect
in Queens, New York are in a fight for their families' futures as the
company has staged an aggressive antiunion campaign against their 900
employees who are seeking to organize. To compound an already tense
organizing campaign, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
agency has now launched an internal audit at FreshDirect which has led to
the dismissal or suspension of more than 100 employees.



    ICE's investigation comes at a critical stage of an organizing campaign
that has stretched over the course of six months. The workers are scheduled
to vote for union representation on December 22 & 23, however many now fear
they may be wrongly persecuted during the agency's investigation.



    Questions and irregularities surround the launch of the ICE
investigation into FreshDirect's employee records. ICE has seemingly
violated its own internal policies by initiating FreshDirect's audit during
an ongoing labor dispute.



    To quote its own policy, ICE will reserve immediate action on any
information received concerning employment of undocumented or unauthorized
aliens "...where it appears that information may have been provided in
order to interfere with or to retaliate against employees for exercising
their rights" to form a union.



    With a union election just over a week away, I do not see how any
official at ICE could in good conscience proceed with any internal audit
and believe it would have no impact on the outcome of the vote. I am sure
the ICE representatives will find a loophole to justify the timing of its
investigation, but that does not change the fact that the internal audit
and the additional lost jobs that will result, only help the company
continue to intimidate the workforce.



    Early in this campaign, FreshDirect boasted to the workers that they
had retained the services of an antiunion law firm. And now, with all
indications pointing to even more firings, the ICE has only helped spread a
culture of intimidation and fear.



    The series of events that led to the current situation just highlights
the flawed nature of our immigration policies. When the actions by an
agency that was established to protect our national security could
compromise the pursuit of workers' rights, we as a country must reevaluate
our priorities and fix this broken system.



    A person's right to form a union is not only their right as a worker,
but it is their civil, human and moral right. I urge all workers who are
seeking a voice in the workplace at FreshDirect to stand strong and vote
with your conscience. The Teamsters stand ready to fight for your rights.







SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters


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