UPDATE: 8 Activists Arrested During Sit-In at Downtown Minneapolis Chipotle Store

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.seiu.org/2011/01/update-8-activists-arrested-during-sit-in-at-downt.php

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Published January 20, 2011 3:58 PM

Christopher Nulty – [e-mail] | 202.538.1059 (local)

Hundreds Staged Sit-In at Minneapolis Chipotle Store, Call on Company to Treat Workers with "Integrity", Urge Company to Pay Back Wages, Stand Up Publicly for Immigration Reform

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - Today, in protest of Chipotle's mistreatment of immigrant workers, 8 protesters were arrested in an act of civil disobedience at a Chipotle store in downtown Minneapolis. The protesters were joined by fired Chipotle workers and their allies who staged a sit-in urging Chipotle to treat their workers with the same "integrity" as they treat thei ingredients in their food. The action in Minneapolis - which was supported by solidarity events at stores in CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, IL, NY and VA - comes in the wake of Chipotle abruptly firing nearly 700 Latino immigrant workers in Minnesota, without notice and in some cases without paying back wages.

"We are here today with a simple message for Chipotle: You cannot sell Mexican food and then sell out Mexican workers," said Grant Stevensen, Pastor of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in St. Paul. "After years of service, Chipotle has failed to treat these workers with any sense of integrity - in most cases even breaking Minnesota employment statutes by failing to pay back wages."

During the action at a Chipotle store in downtown Minneapolis, activists carried signs with the photos of recently fired workers bearing the slogans: "Chipocrisy: Selling Mexican Culture and then Selling Out Mexican Workers," and "Chipotle Treats their Chickens and Produce Better than they Treat their Employees".

"I worked at Chipotle for over nine years and always treated my job as if I owned the restaurant, wanting to do my best for my managers and for my customers," explained Juanita Cruz, a Chipotle employee fired in December. "But getting fired so abruptly was a disrespect to my nine years of service.

FULL story at link.

[bananas]

1. k&r

I don't eat out a lot, but Chipotle's has always had good food and service here in San Diego.
The employees were always friendly and in a good mood.
The place had a good energy.
Hope the principles reconsider and do the right thing.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

2. From what I have read elsewhere they only let go those without proper documents

after an INS audit. Is that not true? Did they fire every Hispanic surnames individual?