The Washington Times
The Mexican government has encouraged thousands of Mexican nationals, including many illegal aliens, who worked as janitors for California's largest supermarket chains to join a class-action lawsuit demanding millions of dollars in additional pay.
Officials at the Mexican Consulate in San Diego urged workers at a news conference last week to come forward and support a pending suit by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF), which accuses the markets of discriminating against the workers because they were employed as independent contractors.
The Mexican government offered its help to the plaintiffs in finding Mexican nationals who are eligible to join the lawsuit, which seeks redress for back wages, overtime and health care benefits.
The targeted markets are Albertsons, Ralphs, Vons, Pavilions and Safeway. The suit also names Encompass Staffing Services and Building One, contracting firms that provided cleaning crews to the supermarkets.
Posted by Suzanne at March 23, 2004