Boycott Saigon Grill

6/18/09 @ 1pm - UPPER WEST SIDE WORKERS AND SUPPORTERS PICKET TO DEMAND END TO SWEATSHOPS

2009-06-17T16:46:00.002-05:00

Dear Friends and Supporters,

The Justice Will Be Served! Campaign is calling on you to support beauty salon workers and other service workers in taking action against long hours, health issues and other employment problems they face. On June 18th we will hold a press conference and demonstration in the Upper West Side to launch a weekly picket in front of Simply Nails (aka 167 Nail Plaza) and Kim’s Vegetables that have forced women workers to work long hours, discriminated against and fired women workers who spoke out.

Salon owners Dong Rim Park (aka “Young”) and Mou San Rim are refusing to comply with a federal court judgment to compensate salon worker Susan Kim. Susan was illegally fired for speaking out against long work hours without breaks. The owners have even changed the name of the salon from 167 Nail Plaza to Simply Nails in order to avoid liability. Recently, Susan filed a second lawsuit against the owners for fraudulently selling their two condominiums worth nearly $3 million to their son, Sokho Lim, for $20.

Since the court decision against 167 Nail Plaza, many other nail salon and beauty workers from throughout the tri-state area have been coming forward to expose conditions in the beauty industry, such as long hours without breaks, toxic work environments, sexual and racial discrimination, and retaliation for speaking out. These shops include popular salons like Sa-Sa Cosmetic & Skincare, Belle World Beauty, Beauty Concepts Day Spa, Renaissance, and Always Is Nails. We are currently working with Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal to pass state legislation that will provide better health and safety protections for nail and beauty workers.

Also, more restaurant, deli and supermarket workers in other shops located in the Upper West Side neighborhood have come out against sweatshop conditions. Among them, most recently are a group of women Latina workers from Kim’s Vegetables who were made to work as many as 84 hours a week or as little as $2 per hour, and were harassed and discriminated against by their Korean bosses. Like employers of Simply Nails, Kim's Vegetables and other sweatshops have come together and use the same tactics, such as pretending to sell the business by reopening under a new name, to undermine labor law enforcement.

Please join us on June 18th at 1:00pm in front of Simply Nails at 167 Amsterdam Avenue to call for a Boycott of Simply Nails. We especially invite all Koreans who believe in equal rights and fighting for justice to participate in the picket. We demand Simply Nails owner comply with the federal court judgment, compensate and reinstate Susan Kim immediately to ensure the Upper West Side and New York City are sweatshop free.

To participate, please call JWBS at 212-358-0295.

Sincerely,

Ying Zhu Hoon Kim
CSWA Board Member NMASS Board Member

Justice Will Be Served! Campaign
c/o NMASS, P.O. Box 130293, New York, NY 10013-0995;
Phone: (212) 358-0295 Ý Fax: (212) 358-0297 Ý Email: nmass@yahoo.com

Justice Will Be Served! (JWBS) is a campaign that unites restaurant, hotel, deli, and other service workers in different communities across New York to fight against long hours, second-class wages, stolen tips and other sweatshop conditions.

Kim et. al. vs. 167 Nail Plaza, Inc., et al.
Timeline of the Case

1989 March
Susan Kim begins working at Nail Plaza. While working there, Susan endures sweatshop conditions such as long hours exposed to toxic chemicals, no break time, and poor air quality, and complains on numerous occasions about the long workday.

2005 March
Susan Kim complains to her employer, Dong Rim Park, about the amount of work hours and lack of break time, and she demands break time. The next day, the employer orders Susan to leave in retaliation for her complaints.

2005 April
Susan Kim comes to CSWA with Vietnamese and Chinese coworkers to discuss the retaliatory firing. Her coworkers had also complained to Park about sweatshop conditions.

2005 October
The workers file lawsuit in federal court.

2006 October
The boss, Dong Rim Park, spills scalding hot water on herself and calls the police, falsely accusing the Vietnamese worker in the lawsuit. The worker is arrested and later the case is dismissed in court.

Workers hold press conference and picket at Nail Plaza, launching weekly pickets in front of the salon for the next year. NYC elected officials, students, and Upper West Side community members and residents come out to join the picket line in support.

2007 January
Owner Mou San Rim fraudulently transfers two Lower Manhattan condominiums worth millions of dollars to his son, Sokho Lim, for $10 each.

2007 Spring
One of Susan Kim’s lawyers, Steven Choi, repeatedly tells Susan and her co-workers that they have no retaliation case, and tries to force them to accept very little during pre-trial mediation. The workers insist they should be compensated for the retaliation, and the case goes to trial.

2007 October
Up to the first day of the trial, Steven Choi continues to push Susan that she has no retaliation case and should accept very little from the boss. Susan refuses and goes above him to talk to other lawyers on the case, demanding that the case be heard in trial. But her co-workers fall under pressure. The Vietnamese co-worker accepts around $35,000 and the Chinese co-worker accepts as little as $3,000 which they later regret.

Jury decides unanimously against Nail Plaza owners to compensate Susan Kim for roughly $189,000. Workers hold press conference and rally in front of Nail Plaza to announce court victory.

2008 September
After a whole year of waiting, Susan’s lawyer, Steven Choi, refuses to go to court to enforce the order and to ask for reinstatement.
Susan Kim fires her lawyer, Steven Choi.

2009 January
The judge enters the final judgment, which includes attorney’s fees and interest. The new total is about $366,000

2009 March
International Women’s Day Demonstration and Press Conference is held. Women workers from different trades come together to protest sweatshops and unhealthy working conditions, and to demand that bosses like Dong Rim Park and Mou San Rim comply with the judgment.

The defendants, Dong Rim Park and Mou San Rim, who still own the nail salon under a new name, fearing the public outcry and exposure of their gimmick, approach Susan's lawyer, Barry Kamar, to make a substantial offer to settle the case if Susan and supporters stop the picket. Susan accepts the offer. But at the last minute, the defendants refuse to pay.

2009 April
Susan Kim's lawyer, Barry Kamar, along with Ken Kimerling from AALDEF files a complaint on Rim’s fraudulent transfer of assets.

Saigon Grill Owners Arrested!

2009-01-26T22:21:00.001-05:00

December 3, 2008

The NY State Attorney General arrested Saigon Grill Restaurant owners Simon and Michelle Nget for more than 300 counts of criminal charges.This is sending a notice to all employers in NYC that they cannot get away disregarding the law.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/04/nyregion/04saigon.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion

Vindication for Saigon Grill Delivery Workers

2009-01-26T22:11:00.004-05:00

U.S. District Court Vindicate Labor Struggle of 36 Saigon Grill Delivery Workers With Judgment of $4.6 Million for Labor Law Violations

October 22, 2008

Thirty six employees of Saigon Grill Restaurant, after more than one and a half years of battling with Saigon Grill owners Simon and Michelle Nget, were awarded $4.6 million for federal and state labor law violations by, Magistrate Judge Michael H. Dolinger of the U.S District Court for the Southern District of New York. These workers worked at the Saigon Grills located on Amsterdam Avenue on the Upper West Side and on University Place in the Village until they were fired in March 2007 in retaliation for organizing a union and planning to bring the lawsuit against the owners. The workers were represented by Davis Polk & Wardwell in conjunction with the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF).

Judge Dolinger awarded all the workers' claims, including, failure to pay minimum wage and overtime - most workers received $1.60 per hour for more than 80 hours of work per week. He also awarded claims for charging workers fines and kickbacks for arbitrary reasons such as for rushed deliveries or for slamming the restaurant door. After accusing the delivery workers of extortion and lying to the public all this time, the Court found Saigon Grill’s owners story non-credible. Moreover, the Court found these to be willful or intentional violations, stating that it was unbelievable that Simon Nget, who has been a successful businessman in NYC for more than 20 years would not know what is the labor law. Judge Dolinger: "It was clearly the goal of defendants to minimize their labor costs and to keep a cowed work staff in place. In addition to the corporate owners, the Court found personally liable, owners Simon and Michelle Nget and manager Sung Truong.

Overall, the Court found the defendants' argument that the delivery workers set their own work conditions, and then extorted the owners for more money to be false. The 36 delivery workers, faced with accusations and threats while picketing in front of the restaurant weekly for almost two years, feel vindicated by this victory. Worker Ke said, “We won, because the boss was lying and we spoke the truth. Now, justice should be served for all delivery workers.”
"This ruling is a victory for delivery workers all over the city, who can hold their heads high and know that justice is on their side. I am overjoyed that the Court awarded $4.6 million to the deliverymen, and validated all their claims of having been treated in a despicable and unlawful manner by the restaurant owners and manager," said community supporter and 67th District Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal.

During this long-time battle at Saigon Grill, the struggle emboldened thousands of other delivery workers to come out in support and to fight against common industry-wide problems at their workplaces, as well. These restaurants include Flor de Mayo Restaurant, Ollies' Noodle Shop and Grill, Republic Restaurant, Wu Liang Ye, Rosie & Ting, and Yummy House, amongst many others. Since the start of this struggle, restaurants have reduced delivery workers' long work hours and doubled wages industry-wide. "This is definitely a victory for all workers around the city. We urge other employers, around the city to take notice and change their illegal practices. Ollies, you will be next!"

Boycott

2008-03-07T16:08:00.005-05:00

BOYCOTT SAIGON GRILL!
We Urge You to Continue to Support Until Saigon Grill Reinstates All Delivery Workers

On February 14^,2008 the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a decision ordering Saigon Grill Restaurant to 1) restore its delivery service at its two locations in the UWS and in Union Square, 2) reinstate all 28 delivery workers, and 3) pay workers their lost earnings.

The delivery workers were fired in early March 2007, and have been picketing the restaurant every week for the past year to demand reinstatement. In the past year, their example has inspired countless other workers to stand with them on the picket line and organize workers at other restaurants, including Ollies’ Noodle Shop and Grille, Republic Restaurant, among others. At Flor de Mayo Restaurant on the UWS, Latino delivery workers are uniting with Chinese delivery workers in this united effort to end sweatshop conditions in NYC restaurants. Workers are now calling for a boycott of Flor de Mayo’s two locations. But when workers started to take their fight to the courts, bosses resorted to retaliatory tactics, including firings and blacklisting. This decision is an important step in the restaurant workers’ movement, and sends a message to all bosses that we will not allow them to use firing and business closing as tactics to stamp out worker organizing.

However, Saigon Grill owners Simon and Michelle Nget act as if they are above U.S. labor laws and tax laws. They continue to snub the workers, the community, and elected officials who have given many opportunities for the restaurant to resolve this labor dispute. The owners continue to cheat the workers of their wages and their tax withholding. They continue to cheat the workers and the public. Furthermore, they undermine law-abiding businesses.

We need you now more than ever!

We urge you to continue to honor the boycott of Saigon Grill until owners Simon and Michelle Nget right their wrongs and reinstate all workers.

We also urge you to continue to boycott Flor de Mayo restaurant owner Philip Chu until he pays all stolen wages.

Even at this time when conditions are worsening for working people in this country this movement amongst delivery workers is encouraging workers from different communities to come together to fight for more control over their lives. We urge you to join now to help build this movement.

To support please call 212.334.2333 or 212.358.0295 for more information.

Justice Will Be Served! (JWBS) is a campaign that unites restaurant, hotel, deli, and other service workers in different communities across New York to fight against long hours, second-class wages, stolen tips and other sweatshop conditions.

JWBS! is composed of a coalition of organizations: 318 Restaurant Workers Union,

Chinese Staff & Workers' Association, National Mobilization Against Sweatshops

Endorsed by: (list on formation) Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Senator Thomas K. Duane, Senator Liz Krueger, Senator Eric Schneiderman, Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, Councilmember Gale Brewer, Councilmember Diana Reyna, Comnunity Free Democrats, Park River Independent Democrats, Three Parks Independent Democrats, NYC Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, UAW Region 9A CAP Council, Council, Tenants and Neighbors, the Graduate Student Organizing Comittee, Union of Clerical Administrative and Technical Staff at NYU, Industrial Workers of the World.

c/o CSWA P.O. Box 130401 , New York, NY 10013-0995 ; tel: 212-334-2333; fax: 212-334-1974

NLRB Issues Complaint Against Saigon Grill!

2007-10-03T15:19:00.000-05:00

Last Friday, September 28th, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a complaint against Saigon Grill Restaurant for violating labor laws. The complaint states that the restaurant, at both of its location, "has been interfering with, restraining, and coercing employees," who engaged in union activities and/ or protected concerted activities. Specifically, the NLRB charges that the owners and management:

1) "interrogated" workers, 2) "threatened" to close delivery department and fire all delivery workers in retaliation for organizing, 3) offered a raise in wages if workers gave up their rights to organize, 4) told workers it was useless to organize, 5) fired all delivery workers and 6) has engaged in "surveillance" of workers protesting in front of the restaurant.

The NLRB is seeking an order requiring the restaurant to rehire all of the workers; pay the workers what they are owed for the time they have been illegally barred from employment, plus interest; provide additional relief to the workers for its unfair labor practices.

The 22 workers were fired in early March, and have been picketing the restaurant 10 times a week, for the past 7 months to demand reinstatement. Owners Simon, Michelle, Richard, Leana Nget and Tony Truong have refused to negotiate with the workers and have yet to provide an explanation for the labor law violations. Instead of resolving the matter, the owners have resorted to racist slander and lies. They called all workers from the Changle village of Fujian, China, where many of the Chinese delivery workers are from originally, criminals, "thugs and gangsters." They issued flyers encouraging customers to report protesters to the police. In addition to cheating their workers of fair wages, they have also cheated the workers and the government on tax payments.

Workers call on renewed support from the NYC community to honor the boycott against Saigon Grill and to support the Saigon Grill delivery workers in demanding reinstatement.

10/4/07 NY Times Article

Victory for "Our Place" Restaurant Workers!!

2007-08-09T08:52:00.000-05:00

Workers have settled with Our Place Restaurant!

Our Place delivery workers were the first to stand up against the industry's abusive conditions, and the inspiration for Saigon Grill workers' organizing earlier this year.

Our Place Restaurant is now the first delivery workers' victory. The details of the settlement are confidential, but workers have won back their owed backwages from working years at $1.75 an hour.

This victory is only one of many to come. Across the city, alarmed restaurant bosses continue to raise wages and shorten working hours for their delivery workers.

In the coming weeks, we must intensify the pressure and force Saigon Grill boss Simon Nget to rehire and settle with his delivery workers as well.

Read Jennifer Gonnerman's extensive article in this week's New York Magazine.

Why have so many people identified and taken up the JWBS campaign?

2007-07-25T19:44:00.000-05:00

When you drop by the Saigon Grill picket line, you'll notice that it is not just the Saigon Grill workers picketing. Workers from other restaurants and other trades have also taken up the Justice Will Be Served (JWBS) campaign, along with youth; both have joined the Saigon Grill workers on the picket line. The JWBS campaign brings together workers across the service industry to fight similar problems. Workers from delis, nail salons, groceries have seen the limitations of uniting by trade and profession alone, and have instead chosen to unite across differences to solve common problems.

Many of these workers are paid low and illegal wages, and as a result, are forced to work long hours. Service industry workers also work under poor and hazardous conditions. For example, workers for Nail Plaza in the upper west side are forced to work without breaks, inhaling the noxious fumes from nail products.* The Nail Salon employers, Dong Park and Mou San Rim are just like Simon Nget and his lackies. Both show now regard for the workers health; both are intent on exploiting them for profit.

And it is through these similar working conditions that workers have decided to come together across race and economic demands to change their situations. In fact, the fight at Saigon Grill has inspired Latino workers from Flor De Mayo, a trendy upper west side restaurant, to come out and file a lawsuit against bosses Jose and Dennis Chu. These workers were being paid $1.25 an hour while working as both a delivery worker and a porter. This is the first time in NYC history that Latino delivery workers have sued a restaurant for labor violations. These workers were inspired to fight back after passinb gy a Saigon Grill picket line.

Workers in the JWBS campaign have seen that their commonalities overshadow their differences. While they acknowledge their differences, they see that only by coming together and uniting as workers can they overcome and eradicate racism, sexism and other forms of exploitation.

* http://bridget.jatol.com/pipermail/nyfoil-l_insaf.net/2006q4/000904.html
**http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=8&aid=71969

Party for Justice

2007-07-06T23:01:00.000-05:00

Come party for justice! Help raise funds in support of the Justice Will Be Served! Campaign--in the presence of great music, food, and people! JWBS! is a campaign that unites restaurant, hotel, deli, and other service workers in the tri-state area to fight against long hours, low wages, and other sweatshop conditions.This is an excellent opportunity to join alongside other students and workers who are organizing to end the sweatshop system.

Recently, Saigon Grill workers were locked out of their jobs for organizing to improve working conditions at their restaurant. They have inspired hundreds of other delivery and service workers- nail salon workers, food baggers, and other restaurant workers- across the tri-state area to join them because they see how this struggle has and will impact the industry as a whole. Funds raised during this event will go directly to the JWBS Strike Fund! to support not only the present workers, but also future workers that will come out to ensure these changes are lasting.

Location: NMASS Brooklyn Workers' Center
93 Third Avenue, Brooklyn (corner of Bergen St.) N/W/R or 4/5 or 2/3 train to Alantic/Pacific Ave.

Why Do We Picket Saigon Grill?

2007-07-02T14:16:00.001-05:00

Hello. We've decided to answer some frequently asked questions that we get on the picket line regarding Saigon Grill. This first installment addresses the burning question in everyone's mind.

Why Do We Picket Saigon Grill?

Saigon Grill’s delivery workers have been working under sub- standard conditions for more than ten years. Bosses Simon and Michelle Nget paid the delivery workers as little as 1.60 an hour while his restaurant was pulling in at least two million dollars a month. This pittance of a wage drove the workers to work over 70 hours a week. And in the delivery business, every minute on the street puts your life in constant danger. One Saigon Grill delivery worker was injured on the job, and Nget demanded that he return to work three days after the accident.

If the Saigon Grill workers were hurt on the job, medical expenses came out of their pocket. Simon and Michelle Nget also stole tips from the delivery workers, in form of ridiculous fines. Closing the door too loud would cost the worker 50 dollars, and if a customer called to complain and rush the order the worker would be fined 200 dollars.

Even if the workers found another job, the conditions would still be the same. In the delivery business, workers are often paid under the minimum wage. A woman approached us on the picket line related to us that her daughter, who is also a delivery worker, was paid 1.60 as well. Furthermore all delivery workers also face the same dangerous conditions of New York City. Earlier this year, Shi Yi Yan, a delivery worker from Hollis, Queens was shot while on the job; Ming Kuan Chen, a delivery worker from another restaurant, was trapped in an elevator for three days in 2005.

Consigned to the bottom of the ladder, 36 Saigon Grill delivery workers organized themselves and collectively demanded minimum wage and better working conditions. Simon Nget then attempted to coerce them into signing a piece of paper that said they were paid minimum wage. The workers refused, and Nget fired all of them. Instead of looking for another job, the workers decided to fight back and get their jobs back.

With the help of Chinese Staff and Workers Association, and the Justice Will Be Served campaign, the workers have filed a wage complaint against Saigon Grill. However, we cannot rely on just the law to fight for us. The workers have decided to take the struggle into their own hands, and picket Saigon Grill. The picket line, while hopefully discouraging conscious consumers from eating at Saigon Grill, also serves to share the workers’ fight with the public, something that can’t be found in a courtroom.

Saigon Grill Student Sit-In Video produced by NMASS & CSWA's Video Projects

2007-06-01T16:13:00.001-05:00

Check out the video work in progress...

http://blip.tv/file/250049

May 4th, 2007 -- More than 200 students from eight different colleges
in New York City held a sit in and shut down the Saigon Grill
restaurant for an hour in response to its deplorable working
conditions. (11 minutes, produced by NMASS & CSWA's Video Projects)

New Sit-In Video

2007-05-25T21:52:00.001-05:00

shot and edited by Calvin Sun from Columbia

We Need Signs

2007-05-22T22:10:00.001-05:00

Our signs have been getting pretty beat up from the daily pickets, esp after Saturday's picket in the rain. Come to the:

Saigon Grill Sign-Making Party
Thursday 5/24 5pm @ CSWA

Join us for colored markers, card-board, glue & music!

Call (212)334-2333 for directions.

Sit-In Coverage by German Press

2007-05-18T17:01:00.000-05:00

Shout-outs to Christina and all the students who pulled this together!

Yu Guan Ke

2007-05-18T15:10:00.001-05:00

Interview with Yu Guan Ke, Saigon Grill delivery worker and campaign leader

Ken Kimmerling

2007-05-18T15:04:00.001-05:00

Interview with Ken Kimmerling, AALDEF lawyer representing the Saigon Grill workers, by the German magazane Diezuender

Saigon Grill Video @ Anthology Film Archives

2007-05-09T10:15:00.000-05:00

Come see footage of the sit-in protest as part of our Justice Will Be Served special screening at Anthology Film Archives Wednesday, May 16th, 6pm-7pm

A collection of film shorts by National Mobilization Against Sweatshops and Chinese Staff and Workers' Association, exposing the underbelly of New York's restaurant boom. Find out how food service workers are being mistreated – and fighting back. The screening (30 minutes) will be followed by a brief Q&A (30 minutes) with food service workers currently mobilizing for better working conditions.

Anthology Film Archives is located at 32 Second Avenue @ 2 nd Street in the Lower East Side, NYC. (Take the F train to 2nd Avenue)

Summer

2007-05-07T16:40:00.000-05:00

Saigon Grill protests and sit-ins have been shaking up the city, causing many restaurant bosses to raise wages for their delivery workers (see earlier post).

These raises can be taken away just as easily as they were given however, if the Saigon Grill workers do not ultimately win their case. Cases at Ollie's, Republic and Our Place restaurants, for example, are currently pending on the outcome of Saigon Grill.

CSWA and NMASS are now offering summer internships for those interested in working more closely with the JWBS core committee. Opportunity to learn to organize from the delivery workers' campaign, as well as campaigns involving nail salon workers, supermarket baggers, garment workers, injured workers, and young workers. Engage in a community health project with Bellevue Hospital for workers affected by 9-11. Participate in a discussion series exploring what we are fighting for, the role of young people, and how we can connect our day-to-day work with long-term goals. Practice/learn Chinese, Korean, Spanish and Polish. Plan dance parties, cultural events and fundraisers in Chinatown, Lower East Side and Brooklyn. Learn web design and video editing.

For more information, call (212)334-2333

Almost 200 Students Take Over Saigon Grill!

2007-05-05T12:47:00.000-05:00

Students from Columbia, New School, NYU, Hunter, John Jay, BMCC and Sarah Lawrence staged a sit-in protest yesterday at Saigon Grill!

Anthony Hang from Hunter College describes the experience: "When the students had to leave the restaurant, I saw them all walking out. It was large and impressive watching this. There was so much power that I almost cried seeing this unity among people, among workers. I stood there in awe, chanting, "Boycott Saigon Grill!" and the students chanted with us.

They merged with our picket line one by one. All the students and workers stood beside each other and the chants were so loud that people stopped to find out what was going on. It was a great sight to see."

Read Columbia & New York Magazine's blog reports.

Video clip from the sit-in coming soon.

Join us on the picket line

2007-05-04T13:28:00.000-05:00

Supporters and legal observers are needed on the picket line!

The Saigon Grill workers are joined daily by workers from other restaurants, as well as community members and students. Having gone from one job to another only to find the same dismal conditions, delivery workers everywhere see in this fight a promise of widespread changes in the entire industry. Your presence will make a difference!

Legal observers are also needed to monitor police actions.

May 1st

2007-05-03T22:32:00.000-05:00

Saigon Grill workers joined with Latino and Polish workers in the May 1st march to Union Square, calling for equal rights for all workers. View video clip from the march.

Conditions improving across manhattan!

2007-05-01T22:02:00.000-05:00

Restaurants across Manhattan are starting to respond to the daily Saigon Grill pickets. Delivery workers from many other restaurants are reporting their wages have gone up and their working hours have shortened. For example, one restaurant decreased workers' hours while raising wages from $400 a month to $700 a month!

However, Saigon Grill continues the lockout of their delivery workers. In the coming weeks, WE MUST STEP UP THE PRESSURE to insure true victory for the Saigon Grill workers, and to insure recent improvements taking place in other restaurants are here to stay.

Shout-Outs

2007-04-19T19:19:00.000-05:00

to FADER magazine, The Human Giant, NYU Law School, Free Democrats Club and IWW for supporting the boycott. Is your school/office boycotting? Drop us a line.

Donate

2007-04-17T19:17:00.000-05:00

To donate to the workers on strike, make out a check to the Chinese Staff and Workers' Association, earmarked for JWBS Strike Fund. Send to P.O. Box 130401, New York, NY 10013

Upcoming

2007-04-17T14:00:00.000-05:00

JWBS presentations:

Columbia U. April 24th
Sarah Lawrence April 24th
New School April 25th
Baruch College April 27th

For more info, or if you would like to schedule a presentation or teach-in, call (212) 334-2333

Common Q and As

2007-04-17T00:11:00.000-05:00

Q: If the pay was less than $2 an hour, why did the workers stay there?

A: Because the conditions are the same in almost every restuarant. At Ollie's, another chain where workers have started organizing, the pay was even lower - as little as $1.40 an hour. Precisely because they have gone job to job only to find the same dismal conditions, workers from dozens of resturants are now uniting and stepping up to challenge these industry-wide practices.

Q: But don't they receive tips?

A: NYS minimum-wage for tipped employees is $4.85 an hour, so Saigon Grill and many other restaurants fall far short. If customers choose not to tip, the workers cannot request it from them, creating an unstable living for workers to eke by.

In addition, Saigon Grill would fine workers $200 dollars for late deliveries and $50 for slamming the door on their way out. Saigon Grill also refused to take responsibility for robberies or accidents the workers encountered on the road. If they were hit by cars while making delivers, Saigon Grill would force them to pay for their own emergency room care. That could be several months' pay.

Q: Are the workers only organizing for higher pay?

A: No, the workers are fighting to demand their jobs back and demand the employer comply with the law. They are also fighting for better working condition, dignity, health and safety, and right to a 40 hour workweek.

Other questions? Post them below.