Comrade Marcel
20th May 2004, 03:38
Recently, OCAP took action to defend a couple of Spanish-speaking
immigrant workers who had been denied wages by a sleazy contractor.
These
two workers spent months cleaning downtown restaurants and, when they
left
their jobs, found that they were not paid for their last month of
work.
Being owed over $3,000, this couple tried going through the official
channels but found that the Labour Board would take up to year to get
them
their money. Once they came to OCAP, we decided to take a quicker
route.
The operation that was holding back their money had a contract with a
plush restaurant in the Financial District where the couple had
worked for
the last month of their employment.
After a letter on the issue was ignored, a delegation from OCAP and
the
Metropolitan Hotel Workers Committee paid a visit to the restaurant
during
their lunch period. The manager smugly informed us that the unpaid
wages
were the responsibility of the contractor and that her restaurant was
not
legally liable. We agreed with this legal opinion but told her it was
of
no interest to us whatsoever. Her restaurant was being cleaned by
people
who did not get paid. Therefore, her business would be held
accountable.
She had one week to ensure the wages were paid or to pledge that the
contractor would not be given any more business. After that time, she
could expect her restaurant to be picketed. Our delegation then left
her
to chew on this information.
The action worked like a charm and the very next day the contractor
phoned
to capitulate. Repeated phone calls had not bothered these people and
the
threat of the Labour Board held no terror for them. The possible
disruption of the upscale businesses they serviced with exploited
immigrant workers, however, got their immediate and undivided
attention.
This direct approach got the job done.
If you are being denied wages or face some similar abuse, don't get
diverted into the appeal channels that are designed to stall you and
make
you powerless. Come to OCAP and we'll work together to win your
rights.
Call us at (416) 925-6939. If you speak a language other than English,
leave a message at (416) 760-6135 and someone will call you back in
that
language.
immigrant workers who had been denied wages by a sleazy contractor.
These
two workers spent months cleaning downtown restaurants and, when they
left
their jobs, found that they were not paid for their last month of
work.
Being owed over $3,000, this couple tried going through the official
channels but found that the Labour Board would take up to year to get
them
their money. Once they came to OCAP, we decided to take a quicker
route.
The operation that was holding back their money had a contract with a
plush restaurant in the Financial District where the couple had
worked for
the last month of their employment.
After a letter on the issue was ignored, a delegation from OCAP and
the
Metropolitan Hotel Workers Committee paid a visit to the restaurant
during
their lunch period. The manager smugly informed us that the unpaid
wages
were the responsibility of the contractor and that her restaurant was
not
legally liable. We agreed with this legal opinion but told her it was
of
no interest to us whatsoever. Her restaurant was being cleaned by
people
who did not get paid. Therefore, her business would be held
accountable.
She had one week to ensure the wages were paid or to pledge that the
contractor would not be given any more business. After that time, she
could expect her restaurant to be picketed. Our delegation then left
her
to chew on this information.
The action worked like a charm and the very next day the contractor
phoned
to capitulate. Repeated phone calls had not bothered these people and
the
threat of the Labour Board held no terror for them. The possible
disruption of the upscale businesses they serviced with exploited
immigrant workers, however, got their immediate and undivided
attention.
This direct approach got the job done.
If you are being denied wages or face some similar abuse, don't get
diverted into the appeal channels that are designed to stall you and
make
you powerless. Come to OCAP and we'll work together to win your
rights.
Call us at (416) 925-6939. If you speak a language other than English,
leave a message at (416) 760-6135 and someone will call you back in
that
language.