150 SW 13th Avenue, Miami, FL  33135
Phone  (786) 264-1708; Fax  (786) 264-1859
interfaith@sfiwj.org; www.sfiwj.org
Stop Wage Theft

“It's one thing…. if consumers cut back on their weekly expenses. It's entirely another when
employers intentionally shortchange their workers. That's known as wage theft.”  - Dan
Grech – American Public Media  “Market Place”

The economic crisis has brought bleeding of jobs, foreclosures, and has created havoc and
has turned the lives in a downward spiral for far too many hard working people in SF and
the rest of the country but also lead to a disturbing increase of wage theft in South Florida.  
Honestly I was unaware of what wage theft was until I heard personal testimonials from
workers themselves like the ones as you will hear today.

Wage theft” refers to the nonpayment or underpayment of wages and it typically occurs
when workers do not receive the required minimum wage or overtime wages or when
employers cheat workers out of hours, or force workers to work off the clock.
In my world, the union world we have contracts with our employers that have legal and
binding remedies which protect workers from this type of behavior.
The SF AFL-CIO is extremely proud to join these other social justice organizations that are
simply about people, fundamental fairness, enhancing the quality of life and doing all we can
to make sure that all workers have a voice, are treated with respect and not exploited.

Wage theft is immoral, it’s unethical, and further deteriorates our community and its
economy and can and will not be tolerated. The people and their respected organizations
standing here will not sit idly by when our people are being stolen blind by unscrupulous
employers without a conscience and any fear of reprisal. Personally I do not know how they
sleep at night but unfortunately many of them do, many view it simply as a business model!
But while we have the best intentions at heart for all workers, we all realize there must be
political will and passion to make sure wage theft is stopped dead in its tracks.  We did not
have to look very far for that leader…the one who was instrumental in the creation and
implementation of the Living Wage Ordinance in Miami Dade County making a positive
impact on the workers of Miami Dade County….. Commissioner Natacha Seijas.

Now we are steadfast in working with the Commissioner Seijas to pass a pioneering and
revolutionary ordinance in MDC, the first in the nation designed to create a level playing field
where all companies abide by the same rules and for those who don’t will face punitive
consequences making sure workers get paid what they are promised and have a fighting
chance to provide for a better life for their families.

When workers get decent wages they’re able to spend more in the local economy, which
benefits businesses and creates jobs.

While today has been declared National Day of Action to Stop Wage Theft in order to call
attention to this “Crime Wave” which no one talks about and future Federal “Wage Theft”
legislation is being considered, we here in Miami Dade County will lead the nation by our
action and by example on behalf of exploited workers and their families who now are
fighting back because we will be standing shoulder to shoulder with them.

Fred Frost
South Florida AFL-CIO, President
Associated Press
"Miami-Dade leaders to
MIAMI -- Miami-Dade
Commissioner Natasha Seijas
announced a plan to combat the
problem of wage theft - an effort
that could serve as a model for
cities nationwide.

Thursday morning's
announcement is part of a series
of actions across the country to
raise awareness about the issue of
workers being underpaid or forced
to work long hours with no
overtime. Wage theft happens
every day to thousands of mostly
low-income, often immigrant,
workers. The most egregious
cases often go to trial, but most
don't. With the economic
downturn, the problem is only
getting worse.

Community and religious leaders
in Boston, Chicago, Denver, Los
Angeles and other cities will also
hold demonstrations and other
events.

The Miami-Dade County
Commission is likely to take up the
issue in January.

County Commissioner Natasha Seijas on Tuesday, November 19th,
to address wage theft in our community. A press conference that
included testimonies from several victims of wage theft was held at
the Stephen P. Clark Government Building in downtown Miami.
Rabbi Solomon Schiff, a longtime advocate for workers' rights, spoke
on behalf of SFIWJ.

Wage theft is the illegal underpayment or nonpayment of workers’
wages, and is epidemic in our country. South Florida AFL-CIO
President Fred Frost stated, “Wage theft is immoral, unethical, and
further deteriorates our community and economy.  It cannot be
tolerated.”

Commissioner Seijas announced that the county-wide wage theft
ordinance would be introduced by January.

Wage theft, while a national crisis, is especially acute in South
Florida.  SFIWJ President Rabbi Solomon Schiff said, “The problem
we have here is because much of the industry deals with low-wage
employees.  We have hotels, we have immigrant farmworkers,”

Levis Torres of WeCount!, a grassroots organization in South Dade,
introduced two sisters.  Julia and Margarita, along with their sister
Marcella, worked at a nursery, but were not paid for the many hours
they worked.  Currently, Julia is owed $3100, Margarita is owed
$4000, and their sister Marcella is owed $600.

Levis stated, “This is a clear example of the abuse committed by the
exploitation of the most weak among us.  We need a change.  We
need a change so people can collect money that they’ve earned;
money that they deserve.  We should not have to wait for days,
months to collect this money…We need to change these laws that are
exploiting our community.”

Be a part of this much needed change and contact us at SFIWJ if you
would like to know how you can be more involved.