In Wayne, an affluent suburb in New Jersey, workers
at King Chef Buffet were paid zero wages, only tips - and were
required to pay the restaurant "kickbacks" out of even
this small income. They were forced to work six days - 80 hours
- a week and the bosses housed them like slaves, 17 people crammed
into an apartment where they often went without power or running
water. The bosses even threatened violence against their families.
In 2003 two undocumented women workers from the restaurant-- immigrants
from the Fujian province of China - fought back. Now, the bosses
who used to call them "stupid Fujianese women" have
been ordered by a judge to pay them $157,411 compensation for
unpaid wages and nearly $3.32 million in compensatory and punitive
damages.
NMASS Home | Justice
Will Be Served
