NYC Retail Workers and Community Supporters Celebrate Winning RWDSU Voice (5/20/09)

Jesus Quezada (left) and Jonathan Cartagena celebrate winning a union voice.

Workers at New York City retail chain Yellow Rat Bastard joined community supporters at a breakfast meeting yesterday to celebrate winning union representation and their first RWDSU contract. The 135 workers at the chain finally joined the RWDSU via card check recognition on October 3, 2008, after several years of employer interference and obstruction. They ratified their first RWDSU contract on April 16.

A broad coalition of community groups, politicians, and labor leaders who were crucial to the success of the campaign were present at the breakfast. 
According to employee Jonathan Cartagena, winning a union voice has made a significant difference in his life.

"Before, we were working for less than minimum wage, with no overtime or benefits. Since we got our first contract, we are getting overtime pay, paid vacation and sick days, and most importantly, we are guaranteed 40 hours a week," Cartagena said.

"Just last week, I got my first raise in over a year of working there."

Also in attendance were workers from other non-union retail stores in the area. These workers spoke about their own fight to unionize, and the inspiration they have drawn from the Yellow Rat Bastard workers' victory.

"To the other workers here who are involved in their own fight for a union voice, I say stay together, and stay strong," Caragena added. "You deserve better jobs, and you will win!"

Before joining the union, workers at Yellow Rat Bastard, which has eight stores throughout New York City operating under several names, continually suffered abuses including criminally low pay and overtime violations. In early 2008, the clothing chain agreed to pay a $1.4 million settlement to over 1,000 workers who had been cheated out of fair pay. The lawsuit, filed by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, came as a result of the efforts of the RWDSU’s Retail Action Project, a broad coalition led by the Good Old Lower East Side community group.

Dr. Donna Schaper,  senior minister of the Judson Memorial Church, which hosted the event, gave the opening blessing. Damaris Reyes, executive director of the Good Old Lower East Side (GOLES) community group, and RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum were among the speakers, and Imam Samer Alraey, chaplain, Baruch College and program affiliate of the NYU Islamic Center gave the closing blessing. City Council members Rosie Mendez and Alan Gerson were also on hand to join in celebrating the success of the organizing campaign.