Food Emporium, which uses about 110 deliverymen at more than a dozen stores in Manhattan, agreed to the settlement after being sued on charges of violating minimum-wage and overtime laws. Many of these deliverymen earned just $2 an hour, working from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. six or sometimes seven days a week. They earned just $150 to $180 a week, even with tips. Under this out-of-court agreement these workers, many of whom hail from countries in West Africa, will receive more than $30,000.

"This settlement is important because it will teach Food Emporium a lesson that this shouldn't happen anymore," stated Mamadou Camara, who made deliveries for five years for the Food Emporium at 68th Street and Broadway. "We were all working like slaves. No one was making much money, there was no medical, no benefits, nothing at all."

The supermarket chain claimed that they did not employ these workers, but that they were independent contractors who had been hired by a delivery company.

In reaching the settlement, the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company, which owns the Food Emporium, Waldbaum's, and A&P chains, got agreement from the deliverymen, who are represented by the National Employment Law Project, to drop their lawsuits against the company.

However, they are maintaining their suit against two other major chain stores--Gristede's supermarkets and Duane Reade drugstores--as well as against two delivery company companies, Hudson Delivery and Chelsea Trucking.  
 
 
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