Letter by the East Buffet workers

We are the dining room employees of the East Buffet. Some of us are waiters, waitress and others are buspersons. Some of us have worked in the restaurant for years. Each week we work more than 65 hours, but our wages are very low. Some of us earn as low as $66 dollars a week, only a dollar per hour. So, we rely heavily on customers' tips. In the past, even when we worked very hard, our earnings were still very low because the employer took some of our tips.

Our bosses and management know very well that they are not supposed to take our tips. They were able to get away with it because they constantly harassed and intimidated us from speaking out. They run the restaurant like a little kingdom. No one dares to say anything, because if you raise any questions, you will be fired or harassed so much that you want to quit as soon as possible.

§ On August 4th, after so much suffering, we can take it no more. We decided to join the local 318 Restaurant Workers Union and hope the union could help us change our fate. The union filed a petition for election on our behalf. We hoped to have a chance to vote and participate in the union to improve our working conditions. Our boss said she would not allow it.

§ On August 5th, a day after our union filed the petition. Our boss called us into her office to interrogate us one by one. She and her husband threatened us that if we stick with the union, they will change our working conditions for the worst, and they threatened to close the restaurant.

§ In mid-August, our boss changed the meal period for dining room employees so that some of us could not even have a fresh meal. She constantly threatened to fire those of us who supported the union. Workers who supported the union were yelled at even if we conducted day-to-day conversation with co-workers.

§ On August 19th, the employer announced that by August 21, the employer would take ALL our tips away. From then on, waiters and waitresses would not be able to keep any of our tips.

We believe we have a right to join the union. We should have the right for our union to represent us to bargain with our employer without fear of losing our jobs. We believe there is law in this land. It is illegal for the employer to take our tips away. We need your help. We urge you to give us support, spread the word. Please tell your friends, family and co-workers, DO NOT PATRONIZE THIS RESTAURANT until we see that Justice Will Be Served!

We demand East Buffet:

1. Immediately stop all unfair labor practices
2. Immediately stop harassing and intimidating workers who support the union
3. Immediately stop stealing our tips
4. Immediately reinstate the workers who stood up for their rights and got fired

We will strike for our job back, free from harassment!!!