150 SW 13th Avenue, Miami, FL  33135
Phone  (786) 264-1708; Fax  (786) 264-1859
Wage Theft
Help Stop Wage Theft in Miami-Dade County

What would you do if your boss didn't pay you? In this economy, a lot
of people are thankful just to have jobs. However, more and more
workers are being victimized by employers who don't pay them for
the work they've done. Wage Theft takes many forms. Some of the
workers we talk to haven't been paid for weeks, sometimes months,
for their work. Others are paid  less than what was legally required.
I'm sure you can imagine how someone who already has job
insecurity could be intimidated and scared to ask the boss about the
money they're owed.

Next week the Miami-Dade County Board of Commissioners will be
voting on a new law that would give the county legal authority to
intervene and help prevent Wage Theft. The law would give workers
a local access point and an advocate that could help them recover
wages they've earned from the unscrupulous employers that violate
the law.

You can help by sending this letter to the Miami-Dade County Board
of Commissioners asking them to Stop Wage Theft Now by voting
yes to pass the Wage Theft ordinance. Click HERE to send your letter
today.

Please ask your friends to join you in supporting the Stop Wage Theft
Ordinance. You can be instrumental in stopping wage theft in
Miami-Dade County. For more information contact South Florida
Interfaith Worker Justice at 305-598-1404.

Peace,
Jeannette Smith
South Florida Interfaith Worker Justice
What is wage theft and why should we care?

Wage theft is a national epidemic although, until recently, it has not had a name. Wage
theft includes not being paid for overtime, being paid less than minimum wage, or not being
paid what has been promised. Wage theft occurs when an employee must pay for safety
equipment that should be provided or when an employee is misclassified as an independent
contractor. Wage theft includes being forced to go off the clock to continue work, being
forced to work through breaks, or having hours shaved off one's timecard. While the most
egregious cases of wage theft may happen to undocumented workers, wage theft is not
limited to only those workers. Wage theft happens in numerous industries to all types of
employees. And where there is wage theft, it is highly likely that there are also health &
safety violations, violations which endanger all of us.

Wage theft is the crime wave that almost no one talks about.  However Interfaith Worker
Justice has been leading the way nationally on this vital issue, and SFIWJ is a member of
the South Florida Wage Theft Task Force, a group of local organizations working towards a
local systemic solution to this heinous problem. Expect to see this vital issue gain rapid
prominence over the next few months on both a local & a national level.
Stop It Now!!

S.F. Unions, S.F. Interfaith Worker Justice & other
members of the S.F. Wage Task Force Hold Press
Conference in Miami – 1 of 30 Actions Across the
Nation   

On Thursday, November 19, hundreds of interfaith
members, union activists, community groups, and
workers in more than 30 cities will take action to STOP
WAGE THEFT – a national crime wave that takes
billions of dollars out of the pockets of millions of
workers every year.  More.
  • Wage Theft
    Questions and
    Answers
  • How to Talk
    About Wage
    Theft
  • Organizing a
    Wage Theft
    Delegation
  • Educational and
    Religious
    Resources
California

One of PWC's members,
78-year-old caregiver Georgia
working months without pay.

At her age, Georgia should be
enjoying retirement, but she can't.
She goes to work every day, caring
for seniors like herself. All she
wants is honest pay for her honest
work. With the help of PWC,
Georgia and her co-worker Balbert
Quintas won a $104,000 civil court
case against their employer.

I wish I could say Georgia was an
exception. Unfortunately, she's not.
Millions of workers - white collar,
blue collar, young, old, immigrant,
citizen - fall victim to wage theft
every day. Interfaith Worker
Justice-affiliated workers centers
are on the frontlines of helping
workers get paid.

We need your help to stop wage
theft!

On November 19th, more than 20
workers centers will take part in the
National Day of Action to Stop
Wage Theft. I invite you to join us
as we stand alongside wage theft
victims like Georgia, and mobilize
support for the campaign to end
wage theft.

More on this case.
"Broken Laws,
Unprotected
Employment and
Labor Laws in
America's Cities"
testifying at an
Education and
hearing which
Justice Executive
asked if the
Department of  
Director Kim Labor
is effectively
deterring wage
theft.
Miami Herald
Letter to the Editor
from the Rev. Frank J.
UM, Coral Gables
UM, Coral Gables
harvesters fairly"