NLRB Issues Complaint Against Saigon Grill!
Last Friday, September 28th, the National Labor Relations Board
(NLRB) issued a complaint against Saigon Grill Restaurant for
violating labor laws. The complaint states that the restaurant,
at both of its location, "has been interfering with, restraining,
and coercing employees," who engaged in union activities
and/ or protected concerted activities. Specifically, the NLRB
charges that the owners and management:
1) "interrogated" workers, 2) "threatened"
to close delivery department and fire all delivery workers in
retaliation for organizing, 3) offered a raise in wages if workers
gave up their rights to organize, 4) told workers it was useless
to organize, 5) fired all delivery workers and 6) has engaged
in "surveillance" of workers protesting in front of
the restaurant.
The NLRB is seeking an order requiring the restaurant to rehire
all of the workers; pay the workers what they are owed for the
time they have been illegally barred from employment, plus interest;
provide additional relief to the workers for its unfair labor
practices.
The 22 workers were fired in early March, and have been picketing
the restaurant 10 times a week, for the past 7 months to demand
reinstatement. Owners Simon, Michelle, Richard, Leana Nget and
Tony Truong have refused to negotiate with the workers and have
yet to provide an explanation for the labor law violations. Instead
of resolving the matter, the owners have resorted to racist slander
and lies. They called all workers from the Changle village of
Fujian, China, where many of the Chinese delivery workers are
from originally, criminals, "thugs and gangsters." They
issued flyers encouraging customers to report protesters to the
police. In addition to cheating their workers of fair wages, they
have also cheated the workers and the government on tax payments.
Workers call on renewed support from the NYC community to honor
the boycott against Saigon Grill and to support the Saigon Grill
delivery workers in demanding reinstatement.
