When workers learned that the City of Houston was scheduling Capital Improvement Project (CIP) meetings in the neighborhoods to address the planning for various improvements, the workers organized to participate in these public meetings in order to call the attention of the City Council members to the Wage Theft issue affecting workers and its widespread impact on the community.

On March 5, workers attended the CIP meeting in District C. Adalinda Guajardo, a daughter of a worker who was a victim of wage theft tried to address this issue.  The staff of City Council member Ellen Cohen was very strongly opposed to letting Adalinda talk in the public meeting. But she did not give up and claimed her right to freedom of speech. She took the microphone and proudly represented her community.

When Adalinda Guajardo stated: “My understanding is that this meeting is to discuss infrastructure improvements in our neighborhood. This is very important because our streets and community buildings need good maintenance, but we think there is also a need to improve some regulations for the wellbeing of our communities.“ Ciy Council Member Ellen Cohen interrupted her several times trying to stop Adalinda’s speech. However, Adalinda was firm in her statement until the end.

“It was challenging when they tried to stop me, but in the end I showed them that we are not alone anymore, we are united and stronger,” Adalinda said.

On March 6, workers decided to attend the District J CIP public meeting. City Council Member, Mark Lester, welcomed workers. He acknowledged the Fe y Justicia Worker Center members attending the meeting saying, “they are bringing an important message to the community.”

Mitzi Ordoñez, a victim of wage theft in the restaurant industry stated,  “Wage Theft is an epidemic in our city and we think that it’s time to fulfill the promises made to our community not just to improve our neighborhood but also to improve our lives.”  At the end many people attending the meeting congratulated Mitzi for her statement. City Council member Lester also approached her and thanked her for her participation.

On March 19, workers attended the CIP Meeting of District B, but when City Council Member Jerry Davis, saw the team of “canaries” (workers wearing the yellow shirts of the Fe y Justicia Worker Center),  he changed the program. At the end he did not let the public take the microphone to put their questions on the floor; instead he closed the meeting as soon the report was made and said that some tables were set out in the back in case the public had questions. Workers approached CCM Davis to talk with him about Wage Theft, but he told them, “I’m busy right now, but you can schedule a meeting with my staff later.”    The workers went to his staff requesting the meeting, but they were told that they can call the office to follow up.

On March 21, members of the Fe y Justicia Worker Center attended the meeting of district K with CCM Larry Green.  Again, workers were told that just projects for improvement in the neighborhoods could be addressed in the meeting. Jose Guajardo raised the point of a big flooding problem at Willowbend and Hillcroft. In the maps given out, this area was marked as an area of greater need, but it did not appear in the list of projects; instead it was marked as not funded.   The CIP speakers responded to  Jose’s concern about the neighborhood with a long story that they do not have money in this cycle for that project, and Jose responded addressing the Wage Theft Problem.

Jose said, “I want to bring an important issue to the floor. We are constituents of your district and wage theft is a big problem in this district. If the wages that we already earned are stolen by employers, we will not be able to fulfill our needs.  As a consequence of this, we will not have money for spending and local responsible businesses’ sales will go down. Furthermore, payroll taxes will not be paid so all of us lose out on important funding for education, public services, and security in our community.”

Jose was honored putting in the spotlight the message of his coworkers and educating the community about Wage’s Theft.

On March 27, Fe and Justicia worker members appeared in the CIP meeting of District E where City Council member Dave Martin told to the workers, “Keep me posted about wage theft. What’s going on?” the workers explained to him and he said. “If a company does not pay the wages to the workers that they already earned, it’s fair what you’re doing.” Griselda Lopez, the wife of a construction worker, took the microphone and stated:  “It’s time to pass an ordinance to sanction abusive employers that steal wages!! NOW!!”

When the team of canaries of the Fe y Justicia Worker Center arrived at every CIP meeting they were recognized as the Wage Theft Workers. Some City Council members tried to stop them, others listened to them. What is important is that what they did mobilizing on the streets and in the CIP meetings gave them the power to be at the table discussing the need for an ordinance with the Mayor Annise Parker.  They were empowered and gained respect for themselves and for the Wage Theft cause. SI SE PUEDE!

The Wage Theft Campaign is driven by a coalition of Houston community, faith, and labor organizations, responsible businesses and individuals who believe in standing up for workers’ rights to a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work and making Houston a zero-tolerance place for wage’s theft and a just and prosperous place to work. The campaign is spear-headed by the Fe y Justicia Worker Center and supported by the coalition. To learn more about the campaign and what you can do to bring down wage theft in Houston, visit www.downwithwagetheft.org

Contact: Jose Eduardo Sanchez

Office: 713-862-8222

Mobile: 832-715-5975

HOUSTON COALITION CALLS ON CITY TO PASS WAGE THEFT ORDINANCE

IN LIGHT OF OVER $20 MILLION IN CITY CONTRACTS TO UNSCRUPULOUS COMPANY

“I’m coming forward not as a victim or even a survivor, but as a community member who knows the human impact of the disregard of workers’ human rights to fair wages and safe working environments. And I am making my voice heard, not to ask for help for myself, but because I don’t want this to happen to any other workers.” – Abraham Rodriguez

Houston, TX – Abraham Rodriguez and Luis Matute worked on city water main pipes that ruptured after last summer’s drought. The pipes are made of a combination of cement and asbestos, a fiber that when inhaled is a proven cancer-causing killer and requires utmost attention to protect workers’ health.  Unfortunately, the City of Houston awarded one of the main contracts for this work out to Reytec Construction Resources, a company with a notoriously shameful safety and health record.  This employer is on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s nation-wide list of “severe violators” of worker safety standards.

While repairing the broken water mains last summer, Reytec Construction Resources and its contractors did not follow OSHA standards relating to trenches and asbestos.  Rodriguez and Matute, and likely workers on other Reytec jobs, were exposed to airborne asbestos and were working in unshored trenches at great risk of the dirt walls falling in and burying them alive.  On top of all that, Rodriguez and Matute’s wages were illegally withheld for over two months.  After much insisting and raising concerns about the hazards they faced, Reytec Construction paid them for their two weeks of work.

As a Coalition, we are shocked and angered to learn that our tax dollars and public money is awarded to a contractor with such an egregious labor record.  Since April 2011, Reytec Construction Resources has received more than $22 million in payments from the City of Houston.  As a Coalition, we are even more frustrated that the City has no system in place to ensure that contractors working in the City have upstanding labor rights records.  This lack of accountability goes beyond city contracts, and on to the hundreds of labor violations that occur every week by Houston employers connected to the city of Houston through various permits and licenses.

The City must develop a system to  check with the government agencies and courts that are charged with enforcing basic labor laws  and ensure that employers seeking permits and licenses or submitting a bid do not have a record of violating labor laws.  We strongly urge Mayor Parker and City Council members to pass an ordinance that includes these basic protections.

City Council Public Session:      9:30 AM, Wednesday, November 14^th

City Hall – Council Chambers      

WHO:                                                    Affected workers – Abraham Rodriguez and Luis Matute

Fe y Justicia Worker Center staff and members, and Down with Wage Theft Coalition

Dr. Celeste Monforton, Dept. of Environmental & Occupational Health, School of Public                            Health & Health Services, George Washington University

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The Down with Wage Theft Campaign is driven by a coalition of Houston community, faith, & labor organizations, responsible businesses and individuals who believe in standing up for workers’ rights to a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work and making Houston a just and prosperous place to work. For more information, visit www.downwithwagetheft.org

Featuring an interactive art project, spoken word performances, original songs from our worker members, dancing and music from The Free Radicals!

Wednesday November 14, 2012

4pm – 6pm

Hermann Square Park – In front of City Hall steps

We’ll have an open mic to highlight your worker stories, songs, music, and experiences! Feel free to bring pictures of your work & your family! WORK ATTIRE ENCOURAGED! 

info@downwithwagetheft.org or 281-940-4329

MOBILE PROTEST CONFRONTS UNSCRUPULOUS EMPLOYERS, CALLS FOR END TO ABUSE OF WORKING FAMILIES

Four Stops, 9 Brave Working Families, Dozens of Community Supporters & Over $97,000 in Stolen Wages

Houston, TX – “He didn’t only steal my wages. He stole my plans with my family, my ability to provide for their basic needs, my being there when they needed me.” These are the words of Olga C., a Houston worker and single mother, who is still owed $2,976.42 in unpaid wages for her work at a popular local restaurant.

Olga’s employer is one of the four stops of this year’s Justice Bus, which is a mobile protest organized by the Down with Wage Theft Coalition to highlight the pervasive problem of wage theft in Houston. Other stops include a home care agency, construction contractor and a retail service shop.

Along the route, affected workers – who are supported by a bus full of faith leaders and community members, students and volunteers – will demand their hard-earned wages and call for action against this growing crime.

The Justice Bus will kick off with a press conference in front of City Hall, highlighting the inaction of the Mayor and City Council to take a preventive approach to this crime. It will continue its tour throughout the city to defend the value of our work, to expose the growing problem of wage theft in Houston, and to demand action from our City and Elected Officials.

WHAT:  Press Conference & Mobile Protest to Defend the Value of Our Work

WHEN: 9:30am, Thursday, October 25, 2012

WHERE: In front of the Houston City Hall steps; followed by stops at 4 employers around the city*

WHO: Houston working families accompanied by faith and community leaders

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The Down with Wage Theft Campaign is driven by a coalition of Houston community, faith, & labor organizations, responsible businesses and individuals who believe in standing up for workers’ rights to a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work and making Houston a just and prosperous place to work. The campaign is spear-headed by the Fe y Justicia Worker Center and supported by the coalition. To learn more about the campaign and what you can do to bring down wage theft in Houston, visit www.downwithwagetheft.org

*Full route and information on individual stops will be released on Thursday morning.

The Justice Bus is a mobile protest organized by the Down with Wage Theft Campaign and the Fe y Justicia Worker Center to denounce labor abuse in our city and demand justice for Houston workers. The Justice Bus visits various employers and companies around the city that have outstanding wage claims, documented worker exploitation, or other types of labor abuse. Employers visited by the Justice Bus have been contacted various times by their workers and the Fe y Justica Worker Center, have attended mediations or court hearings, and some have even received judgments against them, yet they still refuse to pay their workers or resolve the labor dispute. The Justice Bus seeks a resolution to these cases by putting public pressure on these unscrupulous employers, and also spur the Houston community to take action against this ongoing crime.

Who can ride the Justice Bus?

The Justice Bus is open to the entire Houston community who wishes to support worker’s rights. We encourage everyone to sign up beforehand so we can ensure we have enough space on the bus and enough food for lunch.

How are cases chosen for the Justice Bus?

Cases are chosen from the hundreds of cases of labor abuse received every year by the Worker Center. Workers in these cases have exhausted their resources attempting to get their cases resolved, and have decided to pursue public action and support to pressure their employers to do the right thing. Both the workers and the organization have attempted repeated communication and mediation with the employers, and some employers even have outstanding judgments against them.

How do I find out about the cases for each stop?

We will be releasing information on the individual worker stories on the Monday before the Justice Bus. The workers will share details about their experiences, how they were affected, and what improvements and protections they’re fighting for. Due to the sensitivity of the cases, employer information will not be released until the night before the Justice Bus.

When is the Justice Bus?

The Justice Bus will take place on Thursday October 25^th, 2012 from 8:00am – 4:00pm.

Where can I catch the bus?

The Justice Bus will depart from the parking lot of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church (1805 W. Alabama St.) promptly at 8:30am.

What if I can’t ride the whole day?

If you are unable to ride with the bus the whole day, but you would still like to support the Justice Bus, you can follow us in your own vehicle to each individual stop. The full Justice Bus route and maps will be emailed to registered participants the day before the event, and will also be distributed the morning of October 25 before the bus departs. Please note: even if you don’t plan on riding the bus, please sign up so we can have an accurate count of participants.

Is there a cost to ride the Justice Bus?

There is no cost to ride the Justice Bus. Lunch is also included.

What should I bring on the bus?

Please bring your energy and excitement to demand justice for Houston workers. While lunch will be provided, you are encouraged to bring a water bottle and light snacks. Please wear comfortable clothing and your Down with Wage Theft Campaign t-shirt if you have one (Shirts will be available for purchase on the bus. $10). We will provide posters, banners, fliers, noise makers, and other fun protest items. Feel free to bring your own.

How do I register for the bus?

You can register online or by calling 281-940-4329.

Join us for an inspiring story about worker solidarity, hear from Houston workers in the struggle, and support a great local coffee shop fighting to end human trafficking!

WHAT: Screening of the Award-Winning Documentary Made in L.A., followed by a panel discussion

WHEN: Thursday November 8 – 6:00pm

WHERE: A 2nd Cup Coffee (1035 E. 11th St. – inside Vineyard Church)

WHO: Free and open to the public, panel featuring Houston workers and community leaders

For more information: info@downwithwagetheft.org or call 281-940-4329

Sponsored by the Fe y Justicia Worker Center in collaboration with A 2nd Cup

Thinking about the value of our work is not just about the commodity of our skills in the labor market, but about the roles we play in our communities and society as human beings. This has been epitomized in the recent years by the inspirational and transformational movements like those of domestic workers around our country. While fighting for basic protections like overtime and rest breaks, domestic workers have not only moved real policy victories, but more importantly, have succeeded in placing the value of their work at the center of their fight.

One of their recent battles culminated this past Sunday when California governor Jerry Brown vetoed AB889, the California Domestic Worker Bill of Rights. While the governor’s actions are no doubt an affront to the invaluable work domestic workers perform every single day, it is by no means the end to their fight. The response from around the country has been loud and clear: “Brown can veto a bill, but he can’t veto a movement.”

This kind of visionary strategizing is essential to winning real change for all kinds of workers in the United States. It’s not hard to see the indifference of the governor’s pen stroke facing off against the love, dignity, and strength of the domestic worker movement, and choose a clear winner. But how do we cultivate this strength, and how do we amplify this love and dignity among the workers, organizers, and supporters of all walks of life?

The Down with Wage Theft Campaign believes that all workers should be able to make a living with dignity and respect and that there’s an inherent value in all our work. That’s the kind of movement we’re building and the reason we fight alongside workers to improve conditions on the job and to ensure a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.

Whether we’re at home, in an office, or out in the field, our work is something that connects us all. That satisfaction of contributing to our greater society, that pride of being able to provide for our own well-being and that of our daughters and sons, that respect we seek from being good at what we do, and that financial security we expect from the contribution of our talents are all essential aspects of the value of our work. Why then, if we all share so many of the same needs, do our governments, communities, and individuals (ourselves included), continue to allow the erosion of this inherent value?

Not being paid for our work is a blatant example of this erosion, but what does the prevalence and near impunity of this crime in our city say about the value of all of our work?

At a community forum last month, 10 year-old Cynthia recalled a school assembly where she was receiving an award. As she stood on the stage surrounded by the sound of applause, she looked out to the audience where her mother, Olga, was nowhere to be found. At that exact same moment, Olga was facing off with her boss, who forced her to stay at the restaurant much longer than expected, for work that she would not even be paid for.

We may never get to meet Olga, but we are all more connected to her than we think. Every morning when we wake up to go make a living, every night when we get to put food on our family’s table, we are all sharing in Olga’s same hopes and dreams. Workers like Olga need our city to take action on bringing down wage theft, but our city does not seem to see the value in Olga’s work.

Every time we fight for Olga’s right to see her daughter at a school assembly without having the fear to lose her job, we are fighting for our own family’s right to be there for each other in the most important times of our lives. Every time we fight for Olga’s right to her hard-earned wages, we are fighting for our own family’s right to a prosperous life. Fighting to end wage theft not only helps workers like Olga, but reassures and upholds the value of the work of us all.

As the Houston community comes together to resist wage theft, the need for creative community response and comprehensive public policy becomes ever more urgent. Through dedicated community education, coalition-building, and worker power, we’re working to on not only advancing policies, but also in creating transformative movements in our communities.

This is what we’ve been building here in the city of Houston. We have made the decision to uphold the value of ALL work and make Houston a just and prosperous place to work.  Now it’s time for Mayor Parker and the City of Houston to step up and make theirs.

A group of Houston community members discovered this first-hand Friday morning, as they led a peaceful delegation to speak with representatives from Full Service Construction. The Houston demolition and construction company has refused to pay former worker Oscar Suazo, who reported his case of almost $2,000 owed for work completed nearly 2 years ago.

Since Oscar’s report, the Fe y Justicia Worker Center has attempted to communicate with the company regarding the wage dispute, but has only received excuses, aggressive and dismissive behavior (including “This is my company, I pay my workers whatever I want”) and ultimately, complete evasion. The worker resorted to Smalls Claims Court to recover his wages, but the employer once again simply evaded the court’s attempts to serve him, which resulted in his case being dismissed.

Seeing the impotency of the court, and the growing time without his wages, Oscar decided to appeal to his former employer’s sense of morality. A group of faith and community leaders joined Oscar to visit Full Service Construction on the southeast side of Houston, in an attempt to reach a resolution.

However, they were faced by a disdainful employer, who not only denied knowing Oscar, but once again, attempted to evade the delegation – fleeing the scene in his truck. When community members showed him a company paystub, clearly titled “Full Service Construction” with the amounts of “48 hrs @ 7.00”, he responded by making threats to the worker and the delegation.

After threatening community members with phrases such as “This will get bad if you all don’t leave” and “You don’t know what I can do to you”, the company owner, now identified as Fernando Chapa, drove back into his house. After getting out of his truck, Mr. Chapa pulled out a gun and began pointing it at the various community members standing on the public sidewalk.

Organizers of the delegation quickly alerted the Houston Police Department, who showed up to deal with the incident. After speaking with the employer and the persons directly threatened, HPD filed two reports against Mr. Chapa, one for a Labor Dispute and one for Deadly Conduct.

Mr. Chapa of Full Service Construction habitually paid his workers below minimum wage with no overtime, denied his workers of entire weeks’ worth of pay (both resulting in thousands of dollars in stolen wages), and publicly threatened community members with a gun – one would think he’s probably sitting in a jail cell this very moment. Apparently, not in our city.

The employer is free to continue making a business out of exploiting Houston workers, while Oscar, who has still not received a cent of his wages, must go back to Small Claims Court to re-file his case – losing another $104 to pay the filing fee, not to mention his time and energy.

Oscar’s case is unique because he chose to denounce his employer and bring light to his ongoing abuse. However, he’s just one of thousands of workers who undergo this type of labor abuse in the Houston area. As Oscar so eloquently put it, “The consequences are just so many, but so are the needs that people have.”

Most of us at some point have stayed in a job where we weren’t happy or knew that we weren’t being treated the way we should have. The reasons may have varied, but at that point they were enough for us to stay. Now imagine instead that your reasons aren’t saving up for a trip or waiting for a promotion, but rather, the possibility of not being able to put food on the table that evening or missing a payment for your sick family member’s medicine. Add to that equation the threat of physical violence for even attempting to assert basic respect on the job, and you might be getting closer to the reality faced by Oscar and many of his coworkers.

While this employer’s behavior is definitely extreme, worker intimidation is extremely common in silencing workplace abuse. This employer’s brazen unscrupulousness is more indicative of the lack of consequences and culture of impunity when it comes to workplace protections and enforcement of basic wage laws. It also highlights the fact that workers and community members are having to take matters into their own hands, because the systems and institutions charged with enforcing basic protections like safety and pay on the jobs are failing our workers.

As one of the faith leaders part of the delegation so keenly noted as we left: “He [the employer] stole thousands of dollars in wages and pointed a gun at a group of people, and nothing happened to him.”

Let’s remember that wage theft is not an accident; it is a calculated criminal act. Responsible, ethical business is completely possible, but unfortunately is being run down by those who choose to take the easy way out. An employer who knowingly violates labor laws is not an upstanding businessman saving a few bucks. In the end, he is hardly any different from the pickpocket or robber, and the law should treat him as such.

Contact: Jose Eduardo Sanchez, jose@hiwj.org, 832-715-5975

HOUSTON WORKERS STILL SUFFERING FROM WAGE THEFT IMPUNITY 

Diverse Coalition Joins Together to Demand a Fair Day’s Pay for a Fair Day’s Work

Houston, TX – On Friday morning, a broad coalition of Houston workers, community allies, and faith leaders will join together to demand Oscar Suazo’s due wages and denounce wage theft in the city of Houston.  As our city continues to boast of economic prosperity and becomes the new beacon for the world’s millionaires, working families like Oscar’s are being hard hit by the devastating effects of wage theft.

Oscar Suazo worked for doing construction and demolition work at various buildings in downtown Houston for his employer, Full Service Construction. Oscar was not only denied overtime pay by his employer, due to his supposed “independent contractor” status, but he was also being paid at $7/hr, below the federal minimum wage. In total, Oscar is owed $1929.66 dollars for his 6 weeks of work. To Oscar, this meant losing several months of rent, forcing him to borrow from friends and family members; weeks of having to think twice before buying a meal or refueling his car to look for other work.

Two years after he completed the work, Oscar has only a piece of paper from the small claims court and not a single cent of his $1,929.66. Meanwhile, Mr. Chapa continues to operate his business and is allowed to continue exploiting workers with impunity. Oscar decided to come forward with his case and demand justice, because he knows that he’s not the only person affected by wage theft and that thousands of workers like him in Houston deserve their fair pay and a just and prosperous place to work.

WHAT:  Protest to demand Oscar’s due wages

WHEN: 9:00 am, Friday September 7, 2012

WHERE: Full Service Construction, Inc., 6935 Moss Rose St, Houston, TX 77087

WHO: Oscar Suazo, Houston workers, community & faith leaders

WHY:  To demand Oscar’s due wages, denounce the impunity of unscrupulous employers who exploit Houston’s low-wage workers

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