More pressure on Mickey Kasparian

In a lawsuit filed in December, United Food and Commercial Workers Union president Mickey Kasparian was accused of sexual harassment and denigrating employees. Demands for him to step down are increasing, and the protests continue.

On January 25, Donna Frye — former councilmember and current president of government transparency watchdog group Californians Aware — appeared at a scheduled protest at the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace building in Kearny Mesa to call for Kasparian's resignation.

"Serious and disturbing allegations have been made against Mr. Kasparian in his capacity as president of the UFCW Local 135," reads a statement issued by Frye after the protest. "It is our belief that the appropriate remedy is for Mr. Kasparian to resign. At a minimum we urge you to conduct an independent investigation regarding these allegations against Mr. Kasparian. We also ask you to take the actions necessary to protect the current employees, such as placing Mr. Kasparian on administrative leave until this is resolved."

Frye was joined by Irene McCormack Jackson, former communications director during mayor Bob Filner's reign. McCormack Jackson was one of several women to come forward with allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation by Filner during his time in office. She, along with Frye and others, publicly demanded that Filner resign. McCormack Jackson later filed a lawsuit against the city and Filner; she ultimately agreed to settle for $250,000.

In regard to Kasparian, three lawsuits have been filed against the influential labor boss. Among them is a claim from former insurance clerk Isabel Vasquez; she says Kasparian threatened her job if she refused to give him sexual favors in his office and hotel rooms paid for with union credit cards. In another lawsuit, union organizer Sandy Naranjo says Kasparian mistreated her because she is a woman and retaliated against her allegedly siding with Kasparian's political rival, councilmember David Alvarez. More recently, another employee, Anabel Arauz, filed a claim alleging instances of discrimination and political strong-arming by the union chief.

On January 7, as reported by the Reader, 150 people turned out at a protest in Chula Vista to support the women and to urge Kasparian to resign. Kasparian has denied all the allegations.

According to a report by the Times of San Diego, two dozen people attended the January 25 protest.