Workers Group Drops Two-Year Boycott Of Fish Supplier Updated January 21, 2010 7:55am

Pastis will end its boycott of Wild Edibles thanks to a new deal. (Flickr user xymox)

By Nina Mandell

DNAinfo Producer/Reporter

Wild Edibles, one of New York’s leading seafood purveyors, reached a tentative $340,000 settlement with workers, the New York Times reported on Wednesday.

The workers, led by advocacy group Brandworkers International, convinced more than 30 restaurants, including Union Square Café, Pastis and Mermaid Inn to boycott the company, which it accused of overtime violations.

Ending the two-year boycott could help Wild Edibles emerge from bankruptcy.

About two dozen workers at Wild Edibles joined a federal lawsuit accusing the company of a widespread failure to pay time and a half for overtime work. 

Brandworkers also accused Wild Edibles of illegally harassing and firing several workers in retaliation for campaigning to form a labor union.

The settlement states that $137,500 of the money “shall be attributed to emotional distress resulting from alleged retaliation.” 

Wild Edibles denied any labor law violations in the Labor Relations Board case, but last summer it acknowledged that some workers may not have been paid correctly.