Recently, restaurant workers and 318 union members
from the New Silver Palace (NSP) Restaurant won a landmark legal
decision that impacts workers right to sue sweatshop bosses. The
lawsuit set legal precedence on two important matters. First,
the federal judge affirmed the right of a worker to sue the employer
individually (in addition to the company) when the employer violates
New York State labor law. Secondly, the judge ruled that workers
can sue their employer at the same time in both federal court
and the National Labor Relations Board for damages when the employer
retaliates against them for exercising their rights under the
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). With these legal decisions, the
workers were able to recover a half million-dollar settlement
from some of the defendants and are pursuing the remaining defendants
for the $2.9 million they have not yet recovered.
CHANGING WORKING CONDITIONS IN CHINATOWN
The most significant accomplishment of the NSP struggle has been
changing the working conditions in Chinatown restaurants. Wages
have increased and hours have decreased. In fact, a number of
restaurants now have a 40-hour workweek. There has also been an
upsurge in workers organizing in restaurants throughout both Chinatowns
in Brooklyn and Manhattan and as far away as Westchester County.
Clearly, restaurant workers have been encouraged by the historic
and determined struggle at NSP Restaurant where the workers have
fought for so many years for the full enforcement of the labor
laws.
JOIN US TO DEMAND LANDLORDS BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR SWEATSHOP
CONDITIONS
The owner of Eastbank is also the landlord of the New Silver
Palace Restaurant. We learned that the bank "stole"
from the workers by engaging in a scheme involving loans with
the restaurant. This allowed the Silver Palace Restaurant to file
bankruptcy and avoid paying compensation owed to the workers.
NSP workers and supporters now picket Eastbank, at the corner
of Canal & Centre Sts., Chinatown, five days a week to demand
compensation for their "stolen" tips and make the bank
accountable.
See You on the Picket Lines!
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