Today, the trial of a manager of a Burger King restaurant in Palatine, IL who
allegedly committed a sexual attack against one of our members, Airsa
Pineda, while she was working at the restaurant was postponed. To add
insult to injury, the defendant moved to postpone the trial in order
to examine press statements made by Ms. Pineda, apparently with
intention of trying to discredit her claim. The judge granted the
motion and a jury trial has been set for March 12, 2012.
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Airsa Pineda, above middle, stands outside of Cook County Circuit Court in Rolling Meadows today with CWC Women's Committee members who call on women workers to unite in the struggle against sexual harassment.
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Ms.
Pineda announced that she was filing sexual harassment charges with
the EEOC against Heartland Illinois Food Corporation, a major Burger
King franchise owner back on November 14th. At a press conference held in front of the National Restaurant Association's Chicago headquarters, Ms.
Pineda said that she was sexually assaulted by the male manager on
the evening shift while both were closing the restaurant. According
to the police report, after inappropriately touching her, the manager
followed Ms. Pineda into a small back room, pushed her against the
wall, forcibly kissed her and reached under her shirt to grab her
breast, among other unlawful acts. While the alleged attack took
place in a secluded area of the store, the restaurant’s video
system, seized by the Palatine Police Department, is believed to have
recorded the manager's inappropriate groping prior to the attack.
In a statement released on November 15th, Pineda said, "He
[the manager] knew I was pregnant, so during the attack he put his
hand on my stomach, slipped $30.00 between my breasts, and said that
I would need this money for my baby.”
“Despite
the clear video evidence of the manager's actions in the restaurant,
justice has been delayed because Ms. Pineda spoke out,” stated Ana
Bahena, coordinator of CWC's Northwest Suburban Worker Center.
“Be advised, we will not be deterred from continuing to speak out and call on workers to
unite in our struggle to stop sexual abuse in the workplace.”
