HomeMy Public PortalAbout2015.047 (03-30-15)RESOLUTION NO. 2015.047
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LYNWOOD
SUPPORTING THE BOYCOTT OF ALL EL SUPER MARKETS DUE TO
INADEQUATE WAGES AND BENEFITS AND POOR HEALTHY STANDARDS
WHEREAS, El Super is a food retailer that began operations in 1997. They have
49 stores in California, Nevada and Arizona,-: including 15 in Los Angeles County; and
WHEREAS, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) represents
hundreds of employees at El Super stores throughout Southern California, including El
Super stores 12 and 15, which are located in the-City of Los Angeles; 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 their 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 workers are
seeking adequate paid sick leave, seniority
full -time employees, and a fair wage; and
fighting for good jobs in our community,
rights, guaranteed 40 -hour work -weeks for
WHEREAS, El Super implemented its "last, best, and final offer" without fulfilling
its bargaining obligations, and 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- that
included captive audience meetings conducted by El Super CEO Carlos A. Smith; 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, refusing to meet its legal
bargaining obligations; and
WHEREAS, Fermin Rodriguez, a cashier with nine years of quality service with
the company who was an outspoken supporter of the El Super workers' both at the
bargaining table and on the picket line was recently terminated by the employer for his
statements in support of his fellow workers; and
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, over a seven -month period
in 2014, identified and documented over 340 violations of environmental health
regulations established to protect consumers and public health.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LYNWOOD DOES
HEREBY RESOLVE, DECLARE, DETERMINE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The Lynwood City Council endorses the call for a consumer boycott
of El Super markets.
Section 2. The Lynwood City Council supports the creation of good jobs in our
communities that provide living wages, adequate paid sick leave, seniority protections,
and enough guaranteed hours so full -time. workers can earn enough to support their
families.
Section 3. The Lynwood City Council calls upon El Super to return to the
bargaining table and enter into an agreement that meets those goals.
Section 4. The Lynwood City Council calls upon El Super markets to uphold
and maintain the highest standards with respect to the cleanliness and maintenance of
their facilities in the interest of this community's public health.
Section 5. The Lynwood City Council pledges to honor the boycott lines,
spread the work about the boycott within the community, and ask constituents to
support the boycott by joining workers on the boycott lines and visit
www.boycottelsuper.o[g and fill out the support letter to company CEO Carlos A. Smith.
Section 6. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its -,
adoption.
Section 7. The City Clerk shall certify as to the adoption of this City Council
Resolution.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this 30th day of March, 2015.
ATTEST:
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Qu-inonez, City Clerk /
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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David A. dircia, Ch Attorney
APPROVED AS TO CONTENT:
Arnoldo Beltran, City Manager
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
) SS.
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES )
I, the undersigned, City Clerk of the City of Lynwood, do hereby certify that the
foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of
Lynwood at a special meeting held on the 30th. day of March, 2015.
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS ALATORRE,
SANTILLAN -BEAS AND SOLACHE
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
Maria Quinonez, City Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
) SS.
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES )
CASTRO, HERNANDEZ,
I, the undersigned, City Clerk of the City of Lynwood, and the Clerk of the City Council
of said City, do hereby certify that the above foregoing is a full, true and correct copy of
Resolution No. 2015.047 on file in my office and that said Resolution was adopted on
the date and by the vote therein stated. Dated this 30th day of March, 2015.
i
aria Quinonez, City Clerk