Union Activists Expose Exploitation at C-Town in New Jersey (4/1/10)

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RWDSU Local 108 members gathered in front of the C-Town Supermarket on Maple Street in Perth Amboy today to expose the supermarket owner’s unfair labor practices and their exploitation of workers, specifically Latino workers. According to the union, C-town is engaged in irregular pay practices, including paying employees cash at the end of the week and not providing a pay stub.  These types of pay practices raise many questions about payroll taxes on a state and federal level, not to mention worker state mandated insurances, Unemployment Insurance, Disability Insurance, Workers’ Compensation, Social Security and Medicare.

RWDSU Local 108 filed unfair labor practice charges at the National Labor Relations Board against C-Town for violating its employees’ rights to join a union without threats, intimidation, and coercion.  The retail union also notified the Department of Labor and the Internal Revenue Service of their irregular pay practices.

The exploited workers of C-Town receive no sick days, no holiday premium, or medical benefits.  Many of the employees are paid under the table and never receive a pay check or pay stub from C-Town.  These illegal labor practices are against the law and subject to federal and state prosecution.

“As the President of the Local 108, RWDSU, one of my responsibilities is helping workers that are employed in smaller, inner city supermarkets to be unionized,” said Local 108 President Charles N. Hall, Jr. (above, with Local 108 Recorder Kathy Campbell).  “We must help these workers who are often exploited because their immigration status, language and limited education. On the other hand, we must expose these types of owners who beat the system and let the community pick up the tab for workers’ medical care through taxes and surcharges.”

“As an organized labor movement, we must send C-Town and other irresponsible employers a message that everyone has to play by the basic rules and worker exploitation will be met with community resistance.”