KFC - Health Code Violations & Related Unfair Labor Practices

[Guest guest]

Below (and attached) is an email I received from the Monterey Bay Central Labor Council.

 

It cites KFC health code violations and gives links to the articles about them as well as notes its connection to National Frozen Foods Corporation which since 2004 has been cited for unfair labor practices. While some people may not be concerned about the welfare of animals, they are usually concerned about the health and welfare of people.

 

Further, assuming this hasn’t already happened, this could be an opportunity for the labor movement and the animal rights movement to come together on an issue. For an example of the coming together of two traditionally non aligned movements check out The Alliance for Sustainable Jobs and the Environment (ASJE) http://www.asje.org Specifically, their history page which describes why and how the labor and environmental movements united toward a common goal - http://asje.org/asje_his.html

 

~Cybrena

 

cybrena karo

s u s t a i n a b l e l i f e

advocacy, resources, consulting & mentoring

for a compassionate world

 

211 pearl street

santa cruz, ca. 95060

http://www.sustainablelife.org

 

 

Monterey Bay Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO

 

KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) stores from coast to coast have been cited for health code violations.

 

New York – The New York City Health Department closed a KFC/Taco Bell restaurant after a worker reported rats and rodent droppings in the oil in which the food is fried, in the corn and nachos, and on soda machines.

 

California – Inspectors briefly shut down a KFC in San Diego after roaches were found in the restaurant.

 

Washington – KFC stores have been cited for the presence of flies, insects and rodents, rust on the inside of an ice machine, and workers not washing their hands.

 

It’s no surprise that KFC is not watching out for the welfare of its customers.

 

After all, KFC purchases corn from National Frozen Foods Corporation—which has slashed retirement security benefits for its workers in Chehalis, Washington.

See the KFC rat video at:

“Finger-lickin’ Good”?

Join us from 11:30am to 1pm

Tue. 12/11, Wed. 12/12, Thu. 12/13, Fri. 12/14

as we leaflet these local KFC outlets:

 

Salinas: 2050 N. Main St.

Hollister: 191 McCray St.

King City: 1300 Broadway

 

For more information, contact Fritz Conle at 831-262-7076 or fconle.

 

This is not intended to nor does it ask any employees to cease work or deliveries. The Teamsters Office of Consumer Affairs produced this document to publicize serious labor and health conditions at local KFCs and their key suppliers.

 

For further details, please see:

1. Jen Chung, “Health Dept. Releases Rats-at-KFC/Taco Bell Report,” Gothamist, April 10, 2007; Adam Goldman, “Rat reports show NYC health inspection system is flawed,” Associated Press, April 10, 2007; Robin Finn, “‘The Rats will not Win,’ Chief Varmint Hunter Vow,” The New York Times, March 2, 2007.

2. Roaches: www.10news.com/news/13869406/detail.html

3. King County Dept. of Health & Human Services, www.decadeonline.com/main.phtml?agency=skc

 

Fact Sheet: National Frozen Foods Corporation

Company Information

* Richard Grader is President and CEO of National Frozen Foods Corporation, which is headquartered at 1600 Fairview Ave. E., Ste. 200, Seattle, WA 98102. In 2006, Grader was named chairman of the American Frozen Foods Institute.

* National Frozen Foods Corporation (NFFC) is a privately held company that processes frozen corn, peas, carrots, and other products for customers that include food service companies, retail supermarkets, organic consumers, and international customers.

* The company was founded in 1912 and is among the top five private label frozen vegetable processors in the US.

* In 2006, NFFC sales totaled $124.5 million, and the company’s net income was $2.3 million.

* National Frozen Foods Corporation operates three processing facilities in Chehalis, Washington, Moses Lake, Washington, and Albany, Oregon. Both the Chehalis and Albany facilities are represented by the Teamsters union. The Moses Lake facility is not unionized.

* Combined, these three facilities process over 300 million pounds of frozen vegetables annually. In 2006, the Chehalis facility packed 102 million pounds of frozen vegetables.

* NFFC workers process fresh vegetable products for freezing and repackaging for distribution to various vendors and brands, including Boston Market, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Wal-Mart, Sysco Foods, Con Agra, Woodstock Farms, as well as their own brand, Valamont.

* During peak processing season, National Frozen Foods Corporation employs more than 1,000 people.

 

Employees at National Frozen Foods Corporation

* The Chehalis, Washington employees have been represented by the Teamsters since 1945.

* These employees include over 200 full-time, year-round employees as well as seasonal employees who work only during the processing season.

* A majority of the workers have been at NFFC for over ten years, and many have worked with the company for more than 20 years.

* Since 2004, workers at Chehalis have made concessions in the form of pay cuts of up to 16%, the loss of seasonal health care benefits, the loss of retiree health care benefits, and increases in the number of qualifying hours for health care, pension benefits, and pay increases. The concessions have disproportionably hurt those who could least afford them, particularly Hispanic workers and new hires.

* In an attempt to convince the majority of the workers to vote the union out, NFFC has held two elections, in 2004 and 2007. Both times workers voted to stay with the union.

* On July 14, 2007, NFFC terminated its contract with the Teamsters and illegally declared bargaining at an impasse. The Teamsters union has filed unfair labor practice charges against the company.

* NFFC now denies access to any pension plan for workers aged 18-21, eliminated entry of new hires into the defined benefit pension plan, discontinued union mechanisms to settle disputes, and instituted minimal salary increases insufficient to make up for past concessions. By stopping the flow of new funds into the pension plan, NFFC is undermining the financial stability of the pensions of all its long-time employees as many of them near retirement age.

* NFFC employees at Chehalis are represented by Chauffeurs, Teamsters, and Helpers Teamster Local 252 located at 217 E. Main St., Centralia, WA 98531, Mike Mauermann, Secretary –Treasurer, (360) 736-9979.