Bellport, N.Y. – On Friday, September 24, Suffolk County Legislator Jim Mazzarella, joined with Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine, Legislator Nick Caracappa, and Assemblyman Joe DeStefano with Ryan Stanton of the Long Island Federation of Labor, at Quality King Headquarters in Bellport. They assembled with UFCW Local 2013 members and local community organizations, to rally for impacted workers calling on Quality King, to end the culture of fear and intimidation and for its subsidiary, Perfumania, to bargain for a fair contract with a living wage. As Union President Louis Mark Carotenuto said in his statement, “the Nussdorf family (owners of Quality King) is one of the richest in the county and yet time after time as we enter into contract negotiations we have to show up at their headquarters demands FAIR and HUMANE treatment of the workforce they employ-the people they hire and then choose to treat them like animals by forcing them to work at or near minimum wage while they pocket millions in profits and get millions in taxpayer assistance through tax breaks given to create”GOOD PAYING jobs”
Workers Mirna Amaya and Claudia Fernandez said that they need better wages, seniority raisies and no give backs! Workers chanted “what do we need?..a fair contract! When do we need it?..Now!
Suffolk County legislator Mazzarella said, “We joined together to support the working men and women of UFCW Local 2013 in achieving a fair settlement of their contract with Quality King. A contract with reasonable pay increases and the promise of better working conditions.”
Currently, Local 2013 is in a contract fight with Perfumania Holdings, Inc. They are unwilling to fairly compensate the 80 workers at Perfumania. This particular division distributes designer fragrances to mass-market retailers, drug stores and other chain stores, retail wholesale clubs, traditional wholesalers, and other distributors. Perfumania has a large e-commerce presence through a company-owned website that specializes in the sale of fragrances and related products in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. Perfumania also sells its products in approximately 80 countries through a network of international distributors.
“This company is not willing to provide better wages and working conditions. They are offering a contract with no raises for two years and no retro pay. They regularly engage in scare tactics, such as firing workers after they participate in job actions.” Stated Francine Streich – Field Director of UFCW Local 2013. “With each negotiation, it is not uncommon for the union to file numerous charges with the National Labor Relations Board. Furthermore, the company has not investigated reported instances of harassment/sexual harassment.”
Legislator Mazzarella, Senator Alexis Weik, Senator Mario Mattera, Assemblyman Joe DeStefano, Presiding Officer Robert Calarco, Legislator Nick Caracappa, Minority Leader Kevin McCaffrey, and Legislator Samuel Gonzalez all signed onto a letter asking Quality King to negotiate in good faith and to approve a fair and equitable contract for their employees.
“As elected officials we find this situation appalling and will not allow the exploitation of hard working men and women in Suffolk County.” Stated Legislator Mazzarella. “This is purely a case of corporate greed, where a company uses its wealth to take advantage of blue collar workers.”