Workers at the Foxtrot and Dom’s Market specialty grocery stores that merged recently under parent company Outfox and then abruptly closed earlier this week say they’re going to fight to get the company to, in their words, “do the right thing.”
Workers gathered outside a closed Foxtrot prep kitchen here in Pilsen, along with Jose Uribe, of the workers’ rights organization Arise Chicago.
“The workers are learning about their rights," Uribe said. "They will not be outfoxed. They are not giving up and they are here to ask what is owed to them.”
Oscar Correa, who worked as a supervisor, explained why he was there.
“You’re home and you’re thinking, ‘What are you going to do with your life right now.’”
He thought the merger would mean more work.
Adella Madarrea, a single mother with three kids, spoke through an interpreter.
“My supervisor told me, 'Hey, I know it’s your day off but I needed to call you and let you know not to come in to work tomorrow.' And I said, 'What? What do you mean not to come in to work tomorrow?' He said, 'Yes, don’t come in to work tomorrow, the company is closed.' 'Closed?' 'Yes, closed forever.' Even at this moment I don’t have the words.”
She said one of her kids is in college and she has lots of bills to pay.
All the workers say they’ll fight to get what they’re owed.
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