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Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

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Workers Win Back Wages in "Significant Victory"

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Wednesday, December 28, 2011   

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Six restaurant workers have won most of the back pay they were owed by their former employers at a New Haven eatery.

The men had charged that the proprietors of the Downtown at the Taft restaurant owed them $70,000 in unpaid wages. After the New Haven Workers Association contacted the owners to no avail - and then held demonstrations to publicize the workers' claims - the employers agreed to negotiate and settled for $50,000.

The workers' attorney, Peter Goselin, announced Tuesday that he had checks ready to hand out.

"I think this is a really significant victory - in part, because of the fact that we've demonstrated that even when the employer closes up, that doesn't protect them from having to pay the wages that they are legally required to pay under the law."

The restaurant closed several months ago. Contacted by phone, the former owners' attorney, Robert Golger, said the settlement included a confidentiality clause and declined further comment.

Naftali Palma, who worked as a chef there, said many other workers are in the same situation.

"It's very difficult, and I know places like our place are everywhere. They know people don't have papers and they pay minimum wage, so people take advantage about that."

According to the workers' attorney, under both state and federal law, a person's immigration status makes no difference in employers' obligation to pay what they owe their workers.

Some believe the problem is widespread enough that the surest way for workers to address it is with the grassroots support of organizations such as the New Haven Workers Association. Megan Fountain, a volunteer with that group, says some employers have been caught paying workers less than they're due.

"They're really not afraid to keep underpaying workers, so we're trying to create a situation where businesses know that we're watching them, and we're not going to let this happen."

A recent survey from the National Employment Law Project found that 26 percent of workers in low-wage industries reported earning less than minimum wage, and 76 percent said they were not paid overtime when working more than 40 hours.


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