Mobilizing against EL Super in City Heights

[Catherine Mendonça]

Comrades in the health and food justice field as well as in the
community of City Heights.

As many of you may know, the Albertsons in City Heights closed in
February. In its place, an El Super is coming very soon.

I have many deep concerns over the El Super chain. From what I've
read, (and included in links below) they are detrimental to the health
of both its workers and customers. Everything from routinely selling
out of code (expired) merchandise and other practices such as not
granting sick time to it's workers and other labor issues, consumer
advocacy groups have said El Super is endangering the health of the
community they are in.

I initially found this out by speaking with Sandy Naranjo from
United Food and Commercial Workers

I have copied every organizational and community member I can think of
who may want to know or get involved or if you can forward this vital
information to a more appropriate contact in your orginaization, I
would deeply appreciate it

Also copied on this email is Sandy Naranjo which can be reached
sand...@gmail.com

please see articles below, again I thank you for your time. Please
contact Sandy at the address above or myself, I can also be reached by
phone 401-580-7791


Groups Say El Super Grocery Chain Stores Are a 'Threat to Public Health'
http://egpnews.com/2014/02/groups-say-el-super-grocery-chain-stores-are-a-threat-to-public-health/.

El Super stores are taking advantage of their customers
http://www.examiner.com/article/el-super-stores-are-taking-advantage-of-their-customers
In a report on NBC news in Los Angeles yesterday, Wednesday, February
19 (see http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Markets-Cited-for-High-Risk-Violations-246071781.html),
it was revealed how low some local food store chains have sunk in
their dealings with the public. El Super, which is found in
communities such as Panorama City in the San Fernando Valley, East Los
Angeles, and other low-income areas, has been endangering the health
of their clientele. For those who rely on food stamps, WIC, or who
exist paycheck-to-paycheck, it's of great importance to have access to
food of good quality.
Shoppers at El Super certainly won't find it in these outlets.

ElSuper Grocery Workers Fight for Paid Sick Leave
http://www.calaborfed.org/index.php/site/page/el_super_grocery_workers_fight_for_paid_sick_leave
"Infected food workers cause about 70 percent of reported norovirus
outbreaks from contaminated food." The CDC's recommendations for
containment include, "Requiring sick food workers to stay home, and
considering use of paid sick leave and on-call staffing, to support
compliance."
Yet many of these workers have no paid sick leave and, in some cases,
have claimed they risk losing their jobs if they stay home with the
flu or a cold. From Orange County to South and East Los Angeles,
however, hundreds of workers at El Super, which is the largest grocery
chain in California's exploding Latino food market, are demanding
their employer provide sick leave pay.

ElSuper Food Chain Accused of Selling Expired Food
Protesters claimed El Super Grocery Stores were selling expired products.
Community organizers rallied in front of El Super Grocery Stores
Tuesday claiming the food chain sold expired foods and products.
http://www.atvn.org/news/2014/02/supermarket-selling-expired-food

In service,

Catherine (Cat) Mendonça
401-580-7791
www.facebook.com/mulhercomplexa
Af3irm San Diego; an anti-imperialist, transnational feminist women's
organization, evolving from the organization formerly known as GABNet,
and 20 years of women's organizing, activism, and struggle. af3irm.org
United Against Police Terror; a grassroots organization, dedicated to
educating and organizing the community to fight back against police
terror in SD. uaptsd.org
Black and Pink - San Diego; an organization supporting LGBTQ prisoners
impacted by the prison industrial complex. blackandpink.org
a member of San Diego No More Prisons Coalition and Californians
United for a Responsible Budget (CURB)