Brandworkers International

Brandworkers International is the first non-profit advocacy organization for retail and food employees. Based in New York City, Brandworkers was founded in 2007 by a group of retail and food employees active on workers' rights issues. Brandworkers empowers workers with social change tools needed to achieve employer compliance with the law and improve working conditions. Their approach combines class-action lawsuits, union/community organizing and public education. A forward thinking organization, Brandworkers aims to win lasting change.

Infobox NPO
organization_name = Brandworkers International
organization_
organization_motto = Empowering retail and food employees with social change tools to win justice on the job and in the community
organization_type = Workers Rights, Non-profit
founded = 2007
location = New York City
key_people =
fields =
services = Legal Defense-Plus
num_members =
homepage = [http://www.brandworkers.org Brandworkers.org]

History

Campaigns

The Brandworkers "Focus on the Food Chain" initiative is currently involved in a campaign on behalf of immigrant workers at New York's #1 rated seafood wholesaler and retailer, Wild Edibles Inc. Brandworkers is facilitating a large Federal class action lawsuit against Wild Edibles for overtime pay and against alleged employer retaliation, Fickenscher, Lisa. "Seafood company employees sue for overtime." Crain's New York Business, 17 Sep. 2007. Accessed 26 Feb. 2008. [http://www.crainsnewyork.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070917/FREE/70917012] ] filed on September 17, 2007. The complaint stated that Wild Edibles violated New York Labor Law and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) by not compensating workers 1½ times the base wage for overtime, and by discriminating and retaliating for protected activity. Basile, Stephanie, Daniel Gross and Billy Randal contributors. IWW Organizing to Tame Wild Edibles." "Infoshop News," 14 Dec. 2007. Accessed 4 March 2008. [http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=2007iww-wild-edibles] ] Wild Edibles had allegedly retaliated by firing several workers in 2007. Ozersky, Josh and Daniel Maurer, eds. "Better Get to That Wild Edibles Party Early!" "New York Magazine - Grub Street Blog," 31 Dec. 2007. Accessed 4 March 2008. [http://nymag.com/daily/food/2007/12/better_get_to_that_wild_edible.html] ]

Judge Louis L. Stanton of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York entered a preliminary injunction against further retaliation from Wild Edibles.Bar, Beth. "Judge Enjoins Retaliation Against Plaintiffs Seeking Overtime." "New York Law Journal." 1 Jan. 2008. Accessed 26 Feb. 2008. via. [http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20080107073056761] ]

Brandworkers is coordinating outreach to prominent New York City restaurants who purchase seafood from Wild Edibles. Famed New York hot spots, including Keith McNally's Pastis,Zimmer, Amy. "High-end eateries dump distributor." "Metro New York" 8 Oct 2007.] Danny Meyer's Union Square Cafe, Danny Abrams' Mermaid Inn Fickenscher, Lisa. "Mermaid Inn Stops Fishing with Wild Edibles." "Crain's New York Business.com," 27 Feb. 2008. Accessed 28 Feb. 2008. [http://www.crainsnewyork.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080227/FREE/581621032] ] and Jean Denoyer's La Goulue, have agreed to refrain using Wild Edibles to supply their seafood until the employment dispute is resolved.Ozersky, Josh and Daniel Maurer, eds. "Danny Meyers Cuts Wild Edibles Free." "New York Magazine - Grub Street Blog," 28 Jan. 2008. Accessed 26 Feb. 2008. [http://nymag.com/daily/food/2008/01/danny_meyer_cuts_wild_edibles.html] ] Wild Edibles also services Tavern on the Green. Ozersky, Josh and Daniel Maurer, eds. "Better Get to That Wild Edibles Party Early!" "New York Magazine - Grub Street Blog," 31 Dec. 2007. Accessed 4 March 2008. [http://nymag.com/daily/food/2007/12/better_get_to_that_wild_edible.html] ]

ervices

In addition to comprehensive workplace campaigns, Brandworkers offers retail and food employees a service called Legal Defense-Plus. The Legal Defense-Plus program provides legal information and connects workers with lawyers interested in taking their case. The legal services are complemented by advocacy and organizing tools to achieve desired results. The program is serviced by a volunteer network of lawyers and grassroots campaigners.

Brandworkers also operates a website for retail and food employees as well as community members concerned about the practices of multinational retailers. A notable function of the website is the Brandworkers Blog which features original posts by workers as well as analysis of breaking news regarding the large retail and food brands.

References

External links

* [http://www.brandworkers.org/ Brandworkers International Website]

* Krauthamer, Diane. "Taming Wild Edibles." "Industrial Workers of the World," 3 Feb. 2008. Accessed 28 Feb. 2008. [http://www.iww.org/en/node/3937]

* "Workers Suing Large NYC Seafood Supplier." "On New York Turf," 17 Sep. 2007. Accessed 26 Feb. 2007. [http://www.onnyturf.com/articles/read.php?article_id=624]

* Gross, Daniel. "The Gap and Black Friday." "Counterpunch," 24/25 Nov. 2007. Accessed 24 Feb. 2008. [http://www.counterpunch.org/gross11242007.html]

* Link to NY1 Video: http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=8&aid=73703 17, Sep. 2007. Accessed 4 March 2008.