Power in Unity - Fired Mi Pueblo Workers Go on Hunger Strike

Mi Pueblo Hunger Strike 4/21/11 from DE BUG on Vimeo.

Last April 21st, on the corner of Story and King Road in the city of San Jose four workers fired from the Mi Pueblo supermarket staged a 48 hour hunger strike. The workers, alongside the UFCW Local 5, local priests, and community activists came together to protest the "unjust firing" of approximately 200 workers in January 2011. The round of firing included truck drivers, warehouse workers and in-store employees.

La Oferta was present at this event, taking information from both sides. We interviewed the coordinator of UFCW Local 5, Gerardo Dominguez and asked if it was necessary to stage a hunger strike without first seeking a conciliatory approach with the administration of the "Mi Pueblo" supermarkets. He responded, "The UFCW Local 5 is present in the fight for the rights of workers and supports the religious leaders of the Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and Muslim communities, who have sent letters to the owner of this supermarket. Juvenal Chavez has until this moment made no response. We've continued sending letters without receiving responses, as we did on January 20th, March 13th, and recently in the month of April. Religious groups came together to ask [Mi Pueblo] to consider reinstating the workers to their former positions, which we believe would be the most just action."

The Mi Pueblo supermarket, established in 1991, currently has 17 outlets around the Bay Area, in San Francisco, the Central Valley and Central Coast. It is a powerful influence in the Latino community. The Mi Pueblo market recently and controversially, fired a part of its personnel. The controversy arose from the company's failure to explain to its now ex-workers the economic adjustments it was undertaking. They fired the workers while they continued to open new stores. Aware of this situation, we asked to interview a representative of the Mi Pueblo supermarket, located on Story Road. There our request was granted. We spoke with Perla Rodriguez, Vice-President of Public Relations. She gave us the following explanation: "What we are seeing today is an event organized by the union UFCW Local 5. Mr. Gerardo Dominguez has been trying for a year and a half to unionize here in Mi Pueblo supermarket. We represent a lucrative industry and unions are always looking to increase its total members, and collect its monthly quotas. For them, coming into Mi Pueblo would be a dream come true. We all know we are currently in the worst global economic crisis and we have had to make certain adjustments to keep our doors open."

When we asked about specific firing cases, among them the case of Erendida Silva, who only worked two months and was fired from the Mi Pueblo market in Oakland, Vice-President Rodriguez said: "I am unable to comment due to the legal reasons and the privacy of specific cases.”

Regarding the opening of new "Mi Pueblo" stores during an economic crisis, Public Relations Vice-President Perla Rodriguez assured that "the store has a certain budget, and we make future projections. The idea is to be more efficient. We must be more responsible in our spending decisions and that is where we have to make adjustments in order to maintain our doors open. There is a strong need for employment. We have new projections and we will continue working toward them, and we will not take steps backward. Although these kinds of demonstrations hurt our image, we will continue with the same spirit to create employment and opportunities for everyone."

Coordinator Dominguez, of the UFCW Local 5, assured us that the "the decision to stage this demonstration was the idea of the workers, not of the union or religious leaders. The UFCW Local 5 does not have a campaign against the "Mi Pueblo" supermarket. What we want is that they not distract attention from what has occurred to approximately more than 300 workers, according to the information of Hector Salas, Vice-President of Human Resources of this supermarket. Now they say there were only 150 fired. The point is that an injustice occurred. The people who helped Mi Pueblo prosper are the same that are now without employment. Our message is conciliatory so that this can be resolved in a friendly manner, without injustice, and instead help the people who have helped Mi Pueblo grow."

Among those who participated in the hunger strike was Antonio Martinez, who gave us his version of the firing. "I worked two and a half years in the warehouse of the supermarket, and they called one morning to say that I was being let go because sales were very low. I went to speak with Mr. Juvenal, but he never attended my request. They sent me to speak with Human Resources representative Hector Salas. He told me that things were very slow. When I asked if there was a possibility of returning, he said that, for now, no. During the time I worked for them I never had a problem. I am mostly angry that I was not given proper notice, I was only told I was fired. I have been out of work for three months and I only want justice."

We also wanted the opinion of a current worker of the supermarket. "I don't know why these people were fired. What I can say is that I've been working here ten years and I am paid on time and I receive my benefits without a problem. I am not a director or administrator, I am a simple store worker and I have no complaints," said Javier, a current employee of the supermarket.