Orators Denounce Gigante at Rally for Unionism

Union supporters alleging unfair labor practices by a nonunion supermarket chain got a boost from several high-profile speakers Friday during a rally at the company’s Santa Ana headquarters.

About 50 activists from the Gigante Dignity Campaign, a loose coalition of union and community members, waved red flags and cheered as speakers denounced Gigante, a Mexico-based chain that opened its first U.S. store last year in Pico Rivera and has plans for at least 20 more in Southern California.

Addressing the group in Spanish, Assemblyman Lou Correa (D-Anaheim) said: “I represent a community that simply wants to support their families. We don’t want welfare. We don’t look for help. We look for dignity.”

The enthusiastic crowd, occasionally spilling into busy Main Street near the MainPlace shopping center, responded by shouting “Si, se puede!”--”Yes, we can!”

The United Food and Commercial Workers Union has staged numerous community meetings and protests against Gigante, which it accuses of paying its workers less than other supermarket employees in the area.

Rick Eiden, director of organizing for Orange County Local 324 of the union, said the company also has used intimidation tactics and cut work hours of employees who associate with union members.

Miguel Moreno, acting general counsel for Gigante, would not comment on the rally or the union’s position.

Besides Correa, speakers Friday included a spokesperson for Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Garden Grove) and state Sen. Joseph L. Dunn (D-Garden Grove).

Dunn said grocery workers deserve a living wage.

“This is a profession,” he said. “People dedicate their lives to working in the grocery industry. All other competing stores in Orange County pay fair wages and benefits.”

A former Gigante employee, Dolores Moreno of Pico Rivera, said she had earned only $6.25 an hour as a cashier for the company. By contrast, grocers with union contracts typically pay cashiers $10 to $16.70 an hour.

Gigante caters mostly to Latinos and does much of its hiring from the same community.

The food workers’ union filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board in September alleging that Gigante discriminates against its Latino workers. The agency is investigating and may open hearings on the matter in August, officials said.