curt_b
12-02-2009, 09:41 AM
I've previously mentioned ROC as an example of the Workers Center movement at its most effective. In fact, I hold a minority view of wanting to become a ROC affiliate at our Workers Center. Here's some work they're doing in Detroit. Usually, when they start in a city they keep pushing. So, look out Detroit Restaurantuers.
Detroit Restaurant Workers Hungry for Justice
http://www.inthesetimes.com/working/entry/5246/detroit_restaurant_workers/
Detroit has been the poster child of the economic crisis, depicted as a ruined city, with its population bleeding away or hunkering down in squalid crumbling homes.
But contrary to this stereotype, life and work does still go on in Detroit for thousands of people. Among them are restaurant workers at Andiamo, an upscale Italian chain with several locations in the Detroit metro area. Hard times are not preventing these workers from standing up for their rights, as evidenced during two recent protests and the ongoing campaign of the Restaurant Opportunities Center (ROC) to win tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid wages and end alleged discriminatory employment practices at the restaurant.
ROC-Michigan, an affiliate of the national organization ROC-United, charges the Andiamo restaurant in suburban Dearborn with "a slew" of minimum wage violations and discrimination. They plan to file a federal claim seeking more than $125,000 on behalf of seven workers.
On Nov. 5 about 100 workers and community supporters delivered a letter to Andiamo management demanding a meeting to discuss the grievances of workers from the "front and back of the house," meaning cooks, servers, busboys and hosts. Bringing these usually very segregated parts of the workplace together is a major facet of ROC's work nationwide.
So far the company has not responded to the request for a meeting, according to ROC-Michigan coordinator Minsu Longiaru.
On Nov. 19—the national day of action against wage theft—ROC held a community forum. The next day about 70 workers protested outside the restaurant during the Friday dinner hour, gaining much support from would-be diners and passersby, they said.
"The question is, what is the future of work really going to look like, in a city and region like Detroit," said Longiaru. "Is it going to be a situation governed largely by fear where employers expect workers to be grateful for a job even if it violates basic workers' rights? Or jobs where workers' rights are respected and they are able to support their families? We're saying it will be the latter."
more at link
Detroit Restaurant Workers Hungry for Justice
http://www.inthesetimes.com/working/entry/5246/detroit_restaurant_workers/
Detroit has been the poster child of the economic crisis, depicted as a ruined city, with its population bleeding away or hunkering down in squalid crumbling homes.
But contrary to this stereotype, life and work does still go on in Detroit for thousands of people. Among them are restaurant workers at Andiamo, an upscale Italian chain with several locations in the Detroit metro area. Hard times are not preventing these workers from standing up for their rights, as evidenced during two recent protests and the ongoing campaign of the Restaurant Opportunities Center (ROC) to win tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid wages and end alleged discriminatory employment practices at the restaurant.
ROC-Michigan, an affiliate of the national organization ROC-United, charges the Andiamo restaurant in suburban Dearborn with "a slew" of minimum wage violations and discrimination. They plan to file a federal claim seeking more than $125,000 on behalf of seven workers.
On Nov. 5 about 100 workers and community supporters delivered a letter to Andiamo management demanding a meeting to discuss the grievances of workers from the "front and back of the house," meaning cooks, servers, busboys and hosts. Bringing these usually very segregated parts of the workplace together is a major facet of ROC's work nationwide.
So far the company has not responded to the request for a meeting, according to ROC-Michigan coordinator Minsu Longiaru.
On Nov. 19—the national day of action against wage theft—ROC held a community forum. The next day about 70 workers protested outside the restaurant during the Friday dinner hour, gaining much support from would-be diners and passersby, they said.
"The question is, what is the future of work really going to look like, in a city and region like Detroit," said Longiaru. "Is it going to be a situation governed largely by fear where employers expect workers to be grateful for a job even if it violates basic workers' rights? Or jobs where workers' rights are respected and they are able to support their families? We're saying it will be the latter."
more at link