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PICKETS CONTINUE AT If you're interested in coming or for more info, contact: NMASS at (718) 625-9091, nmass@yahoo.com or 318 Restaurant Workers Union at (212) 619-8081 |
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New Silver Palace Workers Expose Axis of Exploitation Formed by Landlord, Bank & Restaurant |
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The restaurant lease for the New Silver Palace Restaurant (NSP) recently acquired by the workers through bankruptcy proceedings reveals that Chinatown landlord Joseph Chu, who is also the President of Eastbank arranged a scheme with NSP restaurant operator Richard Chan to divert hundreds of thousands dollars from the restaurant to repay a loan secured personally by Chan. In the meantime, restaurant workers had their tips stolen and wages withheld continually over the last 5 years. In addition to this "under the table" arrangement, the restaurant's owners have outright extorted tips from workers, withheld wages and used physical violence against workers.
At the end of the rally the crowd pledged, "We'll be back!" The boycott and pressure on Eastbank will continue until the demands of the workers are met. NMASS Home | Justice Will Be Served Campaign
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Chanting
"Who Got the Waiters' Tips? Joseph Chu!" the enraged crowd
of fifty circled the sidewalk outside of Eastbank on the corner
of Canal Street and Centre Street near Manhattan's Chinatown. It
was Wednesday, December 18th, 2002, noon-time. Customers entering
and leaving the bank peered over anxiously to read picketers' signs
as the workers yelled in unison "Investigate Eastbank!"
and "Boycott Eastbank!" Leaflets in English and Chinese
explained why the New Silver Palace workers and many others were
protesting and shouting "Banker Chu, Same on You!"? 
The
1997 lease between the landlord and the restaurant stipulated that
the New Silver Palace (and essentially its workers) must assume
a $1.25 million loan with interest payments of $10,000 a month that
was taken out by the old Silver Palace Restaurant. Conveniently,
landlord Joseph Chu is also President of the bank that made the
loan, Eastbank. What is wrong with this picture? First, the old
Silver Palace and its debts had been dissolved through bankruptcy
meaning that the new restaurant should not be held liable for the
old Eastbank loan. Second, according to the lease payments for the
Eastbank loan were to be paid to Joseph Chu as landlord. Clearly,
Joseph Chu has used his position as both Eastbank President and
restaurant landlord to weave an elaborate web of greed that resulted
in workers being denied their wages and tips and losing their jobs.
In
a brief press conference held during the rally the New Silver Palace
workers and supporters called for a government investigation of
Eastbank and Joseph Chu. They also asserted that they would continue
to fight on to demand that whoever takes over the restaurant must
reinstate the workers under fair conditions. They also continue
to demand the over $4 million in compensation and stolen tips the
restaurant owes them.
