26 The Queens Courier • december 19, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com Union workers say Trade Fair STOLE CHRISTMAS BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO [email protected] Rafael Polanco is going to have to tell his two children that Christmas this year might come without presents. The East Elmhurst resident, along with 49 other union workers, all lost their jobs on Tuesday, December 10 when the Trade Fair Supermarket on 37th Avenue in Jackson Heights closed its doors abruptly without giving the workers any notice. According to the workers, when they arrived Tuesday morning, management told them the store had been sold and they had to go home because they no longer had jobs. “They didn’t give us an explanation. They didn’t give us a number to call. They didn’t say anything about the new owner. No one gave us an explanation,” said Polanco, who has been a deli worker at Trade Fair for 14 years. “They treat their workers like animals. We are human, they should give us explanations.” Members of Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW and Local 342 UFCW unions, representing the Trade Fair workers, gathered with local elected officials and community members in front of the supermarket on Friday, December 13 to speak against Trade Fair’s actions and call on the new owner, Amana Key Food LLC, to hire the terminated workers. According to the unions, Trade Fair’s closing and termination of the workers violate the collective bargaining agreements held with the owner, which demands the company to give the union and workers two weeks notice of either sale or closure. Amana filed a November 14 application for a liquor license for the site with the State Liquor Authority, showing the sale has been developing for over a month, according to the unions. In March, meat department workers from all nine Queens Trade Fair locations went strike, fighting for a fair contract and against unfair labor practices. During the strike, the owner was accused of treating workers with disrespect and putting their lives in danger, by More than 50 terminated workers gathered outside the Trade Fair Supermarket in Jackson Heights, protesting because the site’s owner sold the store without notice to its employees. blocking exits. “For far too long he Farid Jaber has been a bad neighbor,” said Councilmember Daniel Dromm. “This is a clear violation of his contractual obligation and labor law. He has betrayed his employees and the community of Jackson Heights.” Last week’s termination happened just weeks before Christmas, leaving workers like Polanco looking for jobs and wondering where they will get money. “You can’t lie to the children, you are giving a large hit to your child,” said Polanco. “We understand the situation, but Photo Courtesy of RWDSU Communications the children don’t understand.” According to a union representative, days after the rally, Amana handed out job applications to the terminated workers, but none have been hired yet. Amana could not be reached for comment and Trade Fair did not respond to a request for comment as of press time. NEW YORK INTERNAL MEDICINE, P.C. 1 7 - 5 2 F R A N C I S L E W I S B L V D • W H I T E S T O N E • 7 1 8 - 7 4 6 - 9 4 9 4 Dr. Ayman Attia Alla & John Kelly, P.A. Specialize In Providing Care For All Your Needs In One Location IN OFFICE SERVICES: • Blood Tests • X-Rays • Ekgs • Echocardiograms • Carotid, Arterial & Venous Dopplers • Abdominal & Renal Sonograms • Bone Density Testing • Allergy Testing • Nerve Studies • EMG • ABI • EEG • Ultrasound Guided Biopsy for the Thyroid Tumor • Stress Testing • Pulmonary Function Testing • Pulse Oximetry • INR (blood thinner) result in seconds • Hemoglobin A1C Testing (In Office) ON SITE SPECIALISTS INCLUDE: Neurologist, Cardiologist, Pain Management, Allergist, Urologist, Gastroenterologist & Podiatrist Our Personalized Weight Loss Program Provides A Board Certified Internist, Nutritionist, A Special Diet & Exercise Team JOIN OUR FREE MEETINGS AND GROUP SESSIONS CALL YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY TODAY TO CHANGE YOUR PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER TO AYMAN ATTIA ALLA, M.D. (OUR TRAINED STAFF WILL HELP YOU WITH THIS PROCESS) OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK : MONDAY, WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY 10-7 TUESDAY & THURSDAY 10-8 • SATURDAY 9-2 EASY RESIDENTIAL PARKING WE ACCEPT ALL INSURANCES FOR AN APPOINTMENT CALL - 718-746-9494 Toy Drive 5 Miler At Forest Park Presented by the Queens Tourism Council As the title stipulates, this IS a toy drive, and being that we are a month and some change from Christmas, we are going to be collecting as many toys as we can to donate to local charities. Distance: 5 Miles Date: Sunday, December 22, 2013 Time: 10:00am Price: $22 non members, $17 Students/QDR Members How To Get There: E/F Train To Kew Gardens/Union Turnpike Stop, walk down Union Turnpike to Forest Park Drive to Metropolitan Avenue to arrive at the starting line. The starting area is approximately half a mile from the train station Register now on queensdistancerunners.org!
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