Wage Theft – Voices for Civil Justice

Minimum Wage Increases Are Great. But Only If Workers Actually Get Them.

News Story (NATIONAL)

Minimum Wage Increases Are Great. But Only If Workers Actually Get Them.

January 30, 2020 | Elena Botella | TalkPoverty.org
But when cities and states take action to raise wages, they often ignore a pretty obvious problem: across most of the country, employers routinely skirt paying the minimum wage, overtime wages, or contractually promised wages, with little fear of facing consequences.
Tags: Wage Theft

Study: Many Wage Complaints Go Uninvestigated

News Story (Virginia)

Study: Many Wage Complaints Go Uninvestigated

December 5, 2019 | Michael Pope | WVTF (local NPR, VA)
When a worker believes they’ve been cheated out of their pay, they can file a complaint with the state. But a new study finds many of those complaints are never investigated.
Tags: Wage Theft

Report: Virginia rarely helps workers collect unpaid wages from deadbeat employers

News Story (Virginia)

Report: Virginia rarely helps workers collect unpaid wages from deadbeat employers

December 4, 2019 | Ned Oliver | Virginia Mercury
Ronaldo Gonzalez Vasquez says his employer owed him two weeks of pay when his once-reliable boss stopped responding to phone calls and text messages.
Tags: Wage Theft

Behind the minimum wage fight, a sweeping failure to enforce the law

Investigative (NATIONAL)

Behind the minimum wage fight, a sweeping failure to enforce the law

February 18, 2018 | Marianne LeVine | Politico
Raising hourly pay is a rallying cry for 2018, but states often fail to get workers the money that’s owed them.
Tags: Wage Theft | Workers Rights

SF restaurants’ employees hungry for valid paychecks

News Story (California)

SF restaurants’ employees hungry for valid paychecks

April 16, 2017 | Dominic Fracassa | San Francisco Chronicle
With little to show for their efforts, nine workers sued Mission Beach last month, charging that they were being deprived of “the most basic labor protections under state and local law,” according to their lawsuit.
Tags: Wage Theft

The ugly truth about your takeout: NYC’s delivery workers are often exploited and underpaid

News Story (New York)

The ugly truth about your takeout: NYC’s delivery workers are often exploited and underpaid

February 13, 2017 | Caroline Praderio | Business Insider
Many workers are starting to stand up to unscrupulous bosses in court.
Tags: Wage Theft | Workers Rights

In L.A.’s garment industry, ‘Made in the USA’ can mean being paid $3 an hour

Op-Ed (California)

In L.A.’s garment industry, ‘Made in the USA’ can mean being paid $3 an hour

December 14, 2016 | Jessie Kornberg | Los Angeles Times (LA Times)
The idea that “Made in America” could mean made for $3 an hour might come as a shock in 2016. But it does not surprise me and it cannot possibly surprise executives at those three retailers.
Tags: Wage Theft | Workers Rights