Chipotle Targets Latina/o Workers for Cruel pre-Christmas Mass Firing in MInnesota

[annm4peace]

http://twincities.indymedia.org/2010/dec/chipotle-targets-latinao-workers-cruel-pre-christmas-mass-firing

Chipotle Targets Latina/o Workers for Cruel pre-Christmas Mass Firing

Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAc)
651-389-9174 | mirac1.wordpress.com | [e-mail]

December 9, 2010
For immediate release

MIRAc demands that Chipotle stop their cruel pre-Christmas mass firing of Latino workers in MN

Minneapolis, MN - The Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAc) denounces Chipotle restaurant’s cruel mass firing of Latino immigrant workers at their restaurants throughout the Twin Cities this week. We have confirmation that multiple Latino workers have been fired this week at the Chipotle restaurants on Grand Avenue in St. Paul, at Seven Corners and Downtown skyway in Minneapolis, in Golden Valley, in Coon Rapids, Richfield, Stillwater, and Hudson. These are just the cases we have directly confirmed, which in all add up to over 50 workers fired. There are more cases we have heard about but not confirmed. Please contact us if you have information on any other firings.

These mass firings seem to be part of an immigration-related audit, where Latino workers are singled out and fired if they can’t immediately verify their immigration status. The workers fired so far include many long time dedicated workers who have worked at Chipotle for up to 10 years.

According to Brad Sigal of MIRAc, “We denounce Chipotle for acting like immigration agents and attacking their own long-term dedicated workers. This mass firing of Latino workers right before Christmas is unconscionable. We demand that Chipotle immediately stop this cruel wave of firings.”

MIRAc asks people to contact Chipotle management and demand that they stop firing Latino workers in Minnesota. You can contact Chipotle at 303-595-4000 (press ‘0’ to talk to a person) or email [e-mail].

We also encourage people in Minnesota to boycott Chipotle until these targeted firings of Latino workers stop.

One Chipotle worker at a store that has not yet had any firings this week wondered if the firings were timed so that Chipotle wouldn’t have to pay workers their promised Christmas-season bonus. It is also worth noting that after 3 years workers at Chipotle get vacation time, so this mass firing conveniently removes large numbers of employees with vacation time and replaces them with new workers who get no vacation time.

About MIRAc

The Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAc) organizes Latino immigrants and allies to fight for legalization and full equality for all. MIRAc is currently working on the No More Deportations campaign to stop deportations via the criminal justice system in Hennepin County.

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See also: coverage in City Pages http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2010/12/chipotle_launch.php

[MinneapolisMatt]

1. Disgusting.

Chipotle is gross anyway. Go to a REAL Mexican restaurant run by a family instead.

[Starry Messenger]

2. recommend.

[madrchsod]

3. the best mexican restaurant in my area...

is owned by 7 guys who pooled their money and bought a restaurant.

all of the greek and albanian restaurants around here are all bank rolled by their own banking system.

[madmom]

4. Went to chipotle restaurant ONE time, it was disgusting. Taco bell was better and I literally ..

get sick (terrible indigestion) if I eat there.

[SoCalNative]

5. Considering they were once owned by McDonalds

it's not surprising.