Supermarket Accused of Abuses

PACOIMA —  Several former and current employees of the Gigante supermarket chain complained of alleged unfair labor practices during a community forum at the Boys & Girls Club of San Fernando Valley on Saturday.

About 200 people, including public officials and community group members, attended the meeting sponsored by the United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 770 in Los Angeles.

About 100 workers have complained to the union on alleged abuses by Grupo Gigante, said Rene Castro, the union’s organizing coordinator.

Gigante plans to open a store in Arleta in October.

The Mexico City-based chain opened its first California store in Pico Rivera in May. The supermarket has been the target of protests and picketing since it opened, Castro said.

During the Saturday meeting, workers complained of intimidation and lack of promised wages and benefits.

Diane Galvez, who recently quit her cashier’s job at Gigante in Pico Rivera, said she was promised $8.75 an hour when she applied. Instead, she was paid $6.25 an hour--not enough to support her two children, she said.

“I was waiting for some miracle that was never going to happen,” said Galvez, 29, of Whittier. “There was no future in it.”

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Castro said most employees are making slightly more than minimum wage, though the company had promised higher wages to an employment agency that recruited employees.

“Gigante lied to the community and its workers about its intentions,” Castro said.

Stephen Chavez of the public relations firm Valencia, Perez, Echeveste in Pasadena, which is representing Gigante, disputed the allegations on hourly wages. Chavez said Gigante officials were unavailable for comment.

Chavez said the average hourly wage is $8.38 an hour and most workers receive health benefits and time off to visit relatives.

“We know we treat our employees with respect,” Chavez said. “We take their allegations seriously and are committed to our employees 100%.”

Adolfo Telles, 37, said he enjoyed working with a unionized Gigante store in Mexico. But he said it wasn’t the same working at the bakery at the chain’s Pico Rivera store, where he was employed until July.

“[Management] is abusive and treats you very badly,” said Telles, of Pico Rivera.

Telles said he was promised $10 an hour, but got $8.50 an hour at the Pico Rivera store. He said he also didn’t received promised health benefits and no overtime pay.

Public officials expressed support for the workers. “I’m interested in seeing decency and respect for people who work in this area,” said Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles).