PRESS RELEASE

21 January 2015

Media Contact:

Ruth Silver Taube

rsilvertaube@scu.edu

408-621-5678

SANTA CLARA COUNTY WAGE THEFT COALITION HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE TO DEMAND END TO WAGE THEFT AT SUNNYVALE’S CRAZY BUFFET

San Jose, California -The Santa Clara County Wage Theft Coalition is holding a press conference on Saturday, January 24th, 2015 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Crazy Buffet, 830 East El Camino Avenue, Sunnyvale to demand that the restaurant satisfy the Santa Clara County Superior Court wage theft judgment  for wages owed to Jose Santos Rivera and to work with the Labor Commission to ensure that Crazy Buffet satisfies the 20 other wage theft judgments against it on file in Santa Clara County Superior Court.

According to a November 25, 2014 press release, California Labor Commissioner, Julie Su, issued a citation for $1.6 million against Crazy Buffet within the last 2 years and citations for minimum wage violations in 2007 and 2010.On January 12, 2014, the Labor Commission held another citation hearing against Crazy Buffet seeking almost $100,000,000 in fines.

“We want to let Crazy Buffet know that we won’t tolerate any wage theft in Santa Clara County, let alone this kind of outrageous wage theft,,” said Ruth Silver Taube, Co- Chair of the Coalition’s Policy Committee and Supervising Attorney of the Workers’ Rights Clinic at the Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center  “We urge everyone to attend the rally and press conference and support the workers who are victims of wage theft.”

“This is the first of ongoing actions we will be conducting to let irresponsible businesses know that they cannot continue exploiting workers,” said Michael Tayag, an organizer with PAWIS (Pilipino Association of Workers and Immigrants) and Outreach Co-Chair of the Coalition.

“Wage theft is a crime.  It hurts workers, their families, and responsible businesses who can’t compete with wage theft violators who don’t pay workers.  Wage theft must stop,” said Adriana Garcia, a MAIZ and SIREN Board member and co-chair of the Coalition’s Outreach Committee.

Parking

There is parking in front of Crazy Buffet and in the Safeway parking lot across the road. Program will be provided on the day of.

About

The Santa Clara County Wage Theft Coalition addresses wage theft in Santa Clara County. Its primary goal is to create an environment where workers are paid the wages they earn and responsible businesses do not face unfair competition because of illegal practices.  The Coalition seeks to strengthen member organizations that support workers by bringing visibility to their efforts and to workers’ stories.  The Santa Clara County Wage Theft Coalition, convened in 2013 at the Katharine and George Alexander Community Law Center, includes community-based and worker-based organizations, legal advocacy organizations,, unions, and other entities:

Active Members include:

·    Asian Americans for Community Involvement

·    International Children Assistance Network

·    Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center

·    Movimiento de Acción, Inspirando Servicio

·    Mountain View Day Laborer Center

·    Pilipino Association of Workers and Immigrants

·    9TO5

·    Services, Immigrant Rights, & Education Network

·    Workplace Justice Initiative

·    CAIR

·    WorkSafe

·    Justice at Work Law Group

·    Working Partnerships USA

·    Laborers’ Local 270

·    Santa Clara Building Trades Council

.    International Migrants Alliance

http://wagetheftcoalition.com/

wttfscc@gmail.com

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