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July 28, 2008

DOL To Announce Back Wage Settlement for Restaurant Workers After Crackdown


***For Immediate Release*** July 28th, 2008
 

DOL To Announce Huge Back Wage Settlement
 For Restaurant's Workers After Crackdown

 
Upscale Italian Restaurant Agrees to Pay $136,633.73
In Back Wages to Immigrant Workers

 
WHAT:      
Press conference with New York State Department of Labor Deputy Commissioner Terri Gerstein to announce settlement for Pesce Pasta Restaurant workers. Rodrigo Vázquez, worked 13 hours a day, six days a week in the kitchen of the popular Trattoria Pesce Pasta, on the East Side, and was never paid overtime. Tired of the exploitation, he left in July 2007. Vázquez is a member of Make the Road New York, which organized a protest in front of the restaurant in December.  The Department of Labor became involved after they read the Daily News coverage of the protest and reached out to Make the Road New York about the case.  Their investigation showed that several other workers at the restaurant were also owed back wages.  On May 31, the restaurant's owners agreed to pay $136,633.73 in back wages, $23,000 of which will go to Vázquez.   The employer has paid $60,000 to date.  

 
 
WHEN:          11:30 AM, Monday July 28th, 2008
 
WHERE:          1079 1st Ave at 59th St.
 
WHO:              Terri Gerstein, New York State Department of Labor,     
                      Deputy Commissioner for Wage and Immigrant Services
                      Rodrigo Vasquez, former Pesce Pasta employee
                      Make the Road New York
 
**** PHOTO OPPORTUNITY ****


More on: Workplace Justice 


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