For Immediate Release: Monday July 23, 2007

Contact: John C. Antush or Duncan Smith at (347) 603-2120 or (917) 734-3907

** Press Advisory **

For the First Time Latino Delivery Workers Sue Popular Manhattan Eatery

Workers did jobs of deliveryman and porter and were paid as little as $1.25 an hour at Chinese-Peruvian restaurant, Flor de Mayo

What: In the first case of its kind, Latino delivery workers will announce a lawsuit against Flor de
Mayo, a popular Manhattan restaurant, and their employers, Phillip Chu, Dennis Chu and Jose Chu, for violations of minimum wage and overtime laws.

Where: Flor de Mayo Restaurant
484 Amsterdam Ave. (between W. 83 and W. 84 St.)

When: Tuesday, July 24, 12:30 p.m.

Why: Delivery workers who also filled the duties of a porter at Flor de Mayo were paid as little as $1.25 an hour for working as many as 72 hours a week. Not only did they make deliveries on their bicycles, they were also treated like the bosses’ lackeys–expected to clean the entire restaurant, including the bathroom, and sidewalk, unload stock from delivery trucks, and haul out the garbage. “They treated us like slaves,” said one of the workers. Their delivery work also put them at risk of being robbed and injured on the job.

The workers are demanding their owed wages. They also want higher salaries for the two jobs they are now doing. This is the first case of Latino restaurant delivery workers in New York standing up for their rights. They will be joined by other delivery workers from around New York City.

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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 Eric Schneiderman, Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, Councilmember Gale Brewer, Comnunity Free Democrats, Park River Independent Democrats, NYC Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, Industrial Workers of the World

NMASS Home | Justice Will Be Served | Download Flor De Mayo Flier (PDF)