Thousands of Janitors Abused by Albertson's, Safeway and other Supermarkets

With a court-imposed April 19th deadline pending, MALDEF (the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) has launched a massive outreach campaign along with SEIU to locate thousands of janitors who were abused while working as subcontractors in several California supermarket chains, including Vons, Safeway, Albertson’s, Ralphs and Pavilions. A trial date has been set for June 15, 2004; the janitors affected are those who worked as subcontractors in these stores between January 1994 and January 2003.

To date, several hundred janitors have already either signed up or expressed interest in joining the labor abuse class action lawsuit. The main allegation of the complaint is that janitors worked excessive hours – many without receiving days off or overtime compensation.

The lawsuit alleges that the janitors who worked evening shifts at these supermarkets worked excessive hours, seven days per week, many times without receiving any days off. Although these workers were placed at the supermarkets by janitorial contracting companies, the plaintiffs allege that the supermarkets knew the janitors were not being paid as required by California wage and hour laws, and permitted the exploitation.

The contractors named in the suit are Building One Service Solutions, Inc., Encompass, United Service Solutions, Inc. (USS), California Professional, and CPC Janitorial Services, Inc.

Direct Action to Stop the War will join an Oakland march on Safeway this Saturday, Jan. 31st to support striking grocery workers and demand healthcare rights for all. 70,000 workers in southern California are on strike or locked-out, many of whom are having difficulty paying rent and feeding their kids, some have even lost their homes due to the strike. Meet at Mosswood Park (Broadway and MacArthur) at 2 p.m. and march to the Safeway at Broadway and 51st St.