Apr 13, 2007

Food service workers speak out

Employees say company created hardships; panel attentive

By Mark Abramson / Daily News Staff Writer

A local food service company is refuting claims that its workers are being treated unfairly.

A group of local food service company workers told a panel Thursday about how their jobs at local tech companies have created hardships for them.

Employees of Guckenheimer Enterprises, a food service company that serves meals in cafeterias that include Genentech and Electronic Arts, said they have to take on other job duties when co-workers quit and one worker said the company has forced her to cancel doctors' appointments.

The meeting was organized by the UNITE HERE Local 2 and Local 19 unions, which is working with Redwood Shores-based Guckenheimer employees to organize.

The panel, which consisted of state Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Mateo/San Francisco, San Mateo County Supervisor Jerry Hill and other officials heard testimony from nine Guckenheimer employees about the working conditions at the company.

"I am tired of being treated like an animal," said Josefina Espinoza, a 10-year Guckenheimer employee. "I want companies like Genentech to stop looking the other way."

Oscar Merino, who works in a Hewlett-Packard cafeteria, told the panel, "The company has no loyalty and no respect for us as workers."

Guckenheimer officials disputed the workers' and UNITE HERE's claims.

"The forum is about UNITE HERE's efforts to organize, which we believe is backfiring," Frank Lapetina, the company's executive vice president and chief operating officer, said in a press release. "Unfortunately, many of the statements being presented as facts tonight by the union are simply not true."

Guckenheimer argued its wages are up to 40 percent higher than other food service companies and their medical coverage is only $125 for a family.

Guckenheimer employees also have unaffordable health care plans, "inhumane workloads" and some of them only earn $10.50 an hour (California's minimum wage is $7.50 an hour), according to a union press release.

After the testimony, the panel supported the workers' request that Guckenheimer clients adopt a code of conduct policy, which advocates affordable health care, livable wages and other favorable working conditions.

Two other employees refuted their co-workers' testimony.

Rossangeles Garcia, a single mother of three, praised Guckenheimer for helping her when her son battled cancer. She said the company gave her money for his treatment, paid time off and helped make it possible for him to come here from Nicaragua.

"I think the company has done great things for me," Garcia said.

Genentech responded to the concerns in a press release.

"We believe that fair wages, competitive benefits, fair and equitable treatment ... are the hallmarks of a responsible employer," Genentech said. "Guckenheimer ... has assured us that they wholeheartedly endorse these principles."


E-mail Mark Abramson at mabramson@dailynewsgroup.com.