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Wage Campaigns
Living Wage NYC
Kingsbridge Armory
Redevelopment Alliance
Queens Center Mall
Campaign
Retail Action Project
Justice for Supermarket Workers in Bushwick (7/2/09)
The owners of two supermarket stores in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn, New York, have agreed to pay over $1.1 million in restitution to its workers after years of violating wage and hour laws in its treatment of supermarket deliverymen. The settlement comes as a result of a lawsuit brought by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's office.
The Associated and Pioneer supermarkets paid the workers no wages, making them rely solely on tips for a living. The stores also routinely worked the deliverymen for over 40 hours a week without paying overtime or even the legal minimum wage. Deliverymen often worked 70 hour weeks without any proper overtime compensation.
The wage and hours violations came to light as a result of the RWDSU's ongoing campaign to protect retail and supermarket workers at stores on Knickerbocker Avenue in Bushwick.
RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum praised the settlement.
“We applaud the attorney general for standing up for these workers and bringing the employers to justice. Other employers should take note: if you violate the law, the sanctions will be severe,” Appelbaum pointed out.
Wednesday's settlement continues a relationship between the RWDSU and New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's office in bringing justice for workers in New York City.
In 2008, clothing store chain Yellow Rat Bastard 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 Cuomo, came as a result of the efforts of the RWDSU and its partnership with the community group Good Old Lower East Side.
Also, in 2005, the RWDSU worked with the Attorney General's office to win $3 million in back wages for supermarket deliverymen throughout New York City at Food Emporium and A&P stores.
Read New York Times article on latest settlement
The Associated and Pioneer supermarkets paid the workers no wages, making them rely solely on tips for a living. The stores also routinely worked the deliverymen for over 40 hours a week without paying overtime or even the legal minimum wage. Deliverymen often worked 70 hour weeks without any proper overtime compensation.
The wage and hours violations came to light as a result of the RWDSU's ongoing campaign to protect retail and supermarket workers at stores on Knickerbocker Avenue in Bushwick.
RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum praised the settlement.
“We applaud the attorney general for standing up for these workers and bringing the employers to justice. Other employers should take note: if you violate the law, the sanctions will be severe,” Appelbaum pointed out.
Wednesday's settlement continues a relationship between the RWDSU and New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's office in bringing justice for workers in New York City.
In 2008, clothing store chain Yellow Rat Bastard 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 Cuomo, came as a result of the efforts of the RWDSU and its partnership with the community group Good Old Lower East Side.
Also, in 2005, the RWDSU worked with the Attorney General's office to win $3 million in back wages for supermarket deliverymen throughout New York City at Food Emporium and A&P stores.
Read New York Times article on latest settlement