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About Fasting | Reflection & Prayer | Wage Theft | Farmworker Justice | Immigration | Events
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PRAY, REFLECT ACT: Take Steps to End Wage Theft
In many industries – meat processing, retail, restaurants, garment assembly and construction to name a few – there is a rampant crisis of wage theft. Simply put, workers are having legal wages stolen by unscrupulous employers trying to gain a competitive edge (advantage) over their law abiding competitors. The Wage Theft Prevention Act (HR3303) has been introduced in Congress. Please consult the wage theft section for updates on the issue.
Broken Laws, Unprotected Workers: Violations of Employment and Labor Laws in America’s Cities (September 2009) from the National Employment Law Project . Look for the three-page summary, see "Broken Laws, Unprotected Workers" from The American Prospect
The Wage Theft Online Resource Center provides clear information for workers and for worker advocates.
Can My Boss Do That?
is an easy-to-use information source for workers with a special section for workers facing job loss.
Both these sites are connected with the national organization, Interfaith Worker Justice where wage theft resources include bulletin inserts and a Congregational Study Guide for Wage Theft In America—Why Millions of Working Americans are Not Getting Paid and What We Can Do About It, by IWJ director Kim Bobo.
IWJ's 23-page Thou Shalt Not Steal: Toolkit on Wage Theft is available in English and Spanish, No Hurtarás Herramientas Sobre el Robo de Salarios [PDF].
Stop wage theft in New York state
In New York state, former Labor Commissioner Patricia Smith significantly stepped up enforcement of wage and hour violations: for example, when employers have not paid workers for the total number of hours they have worked, or not paid for overtime. Enforcement of wage violations is especially important for minimum wage workers who earn $7.25 an hour and depend upon every dollar to pay for food, clothing, shelter and transportation.
Governor Paterson announces record level of recovered wages returned to New Yorkers in 2009 (Dec. 31, 2009)
Targeted Labor Department investigation finds Ithaca restaurant workers victimized by wage theft (Dec. 10, 2009)
See the site of the Tompkins County Workers' Center for more on the issue plus details on the NYSDOL enforcement effort.
What is wage theft?
"Millions of workers in the U.S. suffer from wage theft – when they are not paid the wages they are legally owed. Wage theft also occurs whenever a worker is paid below the minimum wage; does not receive time and a half for overtime work; has to work 'off the clock'; is misclassified as an 'independent contractor' so that he receives a lump sum without overtime pay or benefits; or when a worker is not paid at all.” - Kim Bobo
During the 2009 FAST, the LRC invited congregations to focus on the issue of wage theft in light of the seventh commandment, Thou shalt not steal.
Media coverage on the issue of wage theft in connection with the 2009 FAST:
"WHEN A WORKER'S SALARY IS LIGHTER: Many employees are involved in wage theft, an unspokem nationwide crime wave," by Kim Bobo and Brian O'Shaughnessy. Perspective section, Sunday, Times Union, Albany, NY, March 29, 2009.
Albany Times Union, "Help wanted: Long hours, no pay"
Legislative Gazette, "Fast calls attention to wage theft" [go to p. 18 of issue as PDF]
New York Teacher, "Labor must take stand against wage theft"
CSEA Workforce, cover and article, "Wage theft: It's a bigger problem than you might think!"
Last Updated:04/07/2010
© Labor-Religion Coalition of New York State
