A Paramount-based supermarket chain was ordered to remedy alleged violations of workers’ rights, including the reinstatement of a fired union supporter, under a court order sought by the National Labor Relations Board and announced Friday.
An NLRB complaint filed in April against the El Super chain accused the company of “interfering with, restraining and coercing” its employees from working toward a contract with United Food and Commercial Workers Local 770 — including the suspension and termination of cashier/shop steward Fermin Rodriguez.
An El Super representative could not immediately be reached for comment.
U.S. District Judge George H. King issued the injunction Thursday in Los Angeles.
The NLRB had initially accused the company of refusing to bargain with the union, but the company subsequently agreed to return to the bargaining table this weekend, the union said.
King’s ruling “is a tremendous victory,” said Rick Icaza, president of UFCW Local 770.
“We hope that El Super will finally, after two years of stalling and flouting labor laws, get serious about negotiating a fair contract that addresses our members longstanding concerns,” he said.
The injunction requires El Super to immediately reinstate Rodriguez, who was fired for speaking out on behalf of his union, according to Icaza.
“I want to thank the board for their decision to hold El Super accountable for violating my rights,” Rodriguez said. “I am incredibly excited to be returning to my job where I can continue to fight for dignity and respect for all El Super workers.”
The UFCW represents about 600 El Super workers at seven stores in the Southland. The chain’s employees have been working without a contract since September 2013, according to the union.
—City News Service