U.S. Brings Charges Against Two Restaurants for Firing 22 Deliverymen

[Omaha Steve]

Source: New York Times

By STEVEN GREENHOUSE

The National Labor Relations Board has accused the two Saigon Grill restaurants in Manhattan of breaking the law when they fired 22 deliverymen who complained that they were not being paid the minimum wage, an advocacy group for immigrant workers announced yesterday.

The federal labor board said that the two Saigon Grill restaurants, among the city’s most highly rated Asian restaurants, had illegally retaliated against the workers because they had banded together to assert their rights.

The case will now go before an administrative law judge, with the labor board asking that the deliverymen be reinstated and be given back pay and that Saigon Grill pledge not to engage in future retaliation or intimidation.

In March, the deliverymen began complaining that they were sometimes paid only $120 for a 75-hour workweek, amounting to $1.60 an hour, far less than the federal and state minimum wage. Soon after the deliverymen complained — most of them are immigrants from China — the restaurants fired them.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/04/nyregion/04saigon.html?_r=2&ref=nyregion&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

[PSPS]

1. "The ownership society"

I'm wondering why bush's NLRB is taking any action at all. Maybe the owner of the Saigon Grill didn't pony up his protection money ("Campaign contribution") to Bushco.

[kurth]

2. Restaurants like these should be boycotted

Owners of successful restaurants are filthy rich. Make them pay.

[mark414]

3. i hope no New York DUers (or those visiting) will patronize these restaurants

[ooglymoogly]

4. This is the death nell for a resterant chain in new york

and good riddance to bad garbage...Let someone or entity more responsible take their place.

[Ellen Forradalom]

5. Thanks for your diligence in posting labor stories, OmahaSteve

n/t