Ten days before Thanksgiving, the employees at Goleta’s iconic Santa Cruz Market have voted to strike, alleging unfair labor practices against its new owner.
The employees and their union, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 770, claim that the owner, Santa Barbara Markets LLC, is attempting to bust the union. Employees at both the Goleta and Santa Barbara stores voted to authorize the strike.
“We’ve had enough of their union-busting tactics that undermine workers and silence our voices,” the union said in a statement. “And if they thought Santa Cruz Markets members could be scared away from standing up for our rights, they just found out that they are very wrong.”
A year ago, previous owner Tom Modugno sold the Goleta store, at 5757 Hollister Ave., and the Santa Barbara store, at 324 W. Montecito St. At the time, he said he expected that nothing would change for employees.
However, since the sale, at least six longtime employees have left, including some who worked at the store for more than 40 years, according to current workers.
Calls to Santa Cruz Markets LLC management were not returned on Monday.
Erik Mendez has worked at the Goleta store for seven years and grocery stores for more than 20 years.
“We feel intimidated, like people are watching you all the time,” Mendez said. “They keep pushing us. They try to divide us.”
Mendez said he was offered cash and a check, and to sign a form to agree to leave the union.
“I really love my job,” Mendez said. “I love serving food to my community. I support my family.”
Mendez said he doesn’t agree with the way they are doing things. He said he was told to ask his friends to also leave the union.
“We want to send a message to the owner that we deserve a fair contract,” Mendez said. “It’s always the right time to do the right thing.”
The Old Town Goleta Santa Cruz Market is a destination for shoppers and is among the oldest businesses on the block. It’s where locals can get chicharrónes and fresh carne asada from the butcher shop, masa and corn husks for tamales for Christmas, ripe produce, Disney-themed piñatas and Mexican menudo. Out front are the merry-go-round and horsey rides for just 50 cents.
A statement from the union says Santa Cruz Market workers are fighting for a “fair contract that rewards their hard work through fair wages, affordable health care and protection of hard-fought gains in their contract with the previous ownership.”
The union “will continue to push Santa Cruz Markets to do the right thing and come back to the table to bargain in good faith.”
The union did not discuss specifics of compensation disputes.
“With this strike authorization vote, we’re prepared to call a ULP strike in the days ahead of the busy Thanksgiving holiday if Santa Cruz Markets continues to commit unfair labor practices,” the statement said.
